Chapter 3

For the next four months, I still had to play the perfect Hayes wife.

Like tonight-Ethan dragged me to the Mellon Family Foundation charity gala, a huge event where old money and new money pretended to care about orphans while networking like crazy.

I hid in a corner, eating mini cupcakes.

"Is that her? The Hayes wife nobody talks about?"

"She looks so ordinary. No wonder Ethan cheats."

"Who eats cupcakes at a gala? So embarrassing."

"Probably because he never takes her anywhere. She's from nowhere-just a trophy wife."

A group of rich girls whispered nearby.

I ignored them. The Upper East Side scene was toxic.

The whispers kept going.

"What bracelet is that? I've never seen the brand."

"Probably from Etsy."

"No, that's Lunara. You can't even buy it with money-she must be wearing a fake."

Suddenly a clear voice cut in.

"What are you all whispering about? If you have something to say, say it to her face."

Miraculously, the nasty girls shut up. They actually looked scared.

Ava Chen.

She gave me an apologetic smile, her gaze lingering on my bracelet for two seconds before sliding away.

I didn't engage.

I finished my cupcake, stood up, and went looking for Ethan.

A server bumped into me, spilling red wine all over my dress.

We both froze.

The server apologized profusely.

Ava appeared, holding a garment bag. "Are you okay? That stain won't come out. I just picked this up from the dry cleaner-emergency change?"

She pressed the bag into my hands.

Huh. Ethan's first love actually seemed... decent?

I thanked her and headed to the restroom.

As I wove through the crowd, I spotted a familiar figure.

My pupils shrank.

Same face.

Exactly the same.

Alexander...

I'd known the name for a while-the Mellon family was old New York royalty, into real estate, finance, media, everything.

I'd always assumed my boy toy just happened to share the name.

But now... he stood there in a custom tux, radiating old-money arrogance, nothing like the naked guy I knew.

My fingers shook as I pulled out my phone and dialed "Hot & Hung."

Across the room, Alexander excused himself from his conversation, checked his phone, then stepped aside.

"Hey?"

That low, familiar voice.

I froze.

Silence.

He turned, scanning the crowd until his eyes locked on me.

He smiled.

My eyes widened.