Chapter 4

The charity gala was exactly the kind of event I used to relish crashing. A sea of glittering gowns, fake smiles, and the clinking of champagne glasses. Tonight, however, I wasn't here to start a war. I was here to end one, quietly. The divorce wasn't final for another few weeks, and until then, I was still legally Mrs. Stone. I intended to use the title one last time.

I walked in alone, wearing a simple black dress that stood in stark contrast to the colorful peacocks around me. Heads turned. Whispers followed me like a shadow. I ignored them, my eyes scanning the crowd.

It didn't take long to find them. Mark stood near the grand staircase, a glass of whiskey in his hand. Bella was attached to his side, looking radiant in a white dress that made her look like a bride. She was playing her part perfectly, smiling sweetly at everyone who approached, while her eyes darted around the room, searching for me. She found me, and a flicker of triumph crossed her face before she hid it behind another demure smile.

Mark saw me a moment later. His face tightened, a muscle jumping in his jaw. He clearly hadn't expected me to show up.

A woman I vaguely recognized, one of Bella' s new social-climbing friends, decided to make her move. She glided over to me, her smile dripping with condescension.

"Chloe, darling," she cooed. "I'm so surprised to see you here. I thought you'd be... indisposed. After your little accident at the hospital."

Her words were loud enough for those nearby to hear. The whispers grew louder.

I gave her a placid smile. "I'm much more resilient than I look," I said, my voice smooth as silk. "But thank you for your concern. It's touching, really, how quickly Bella' s friends have learned to parrot her lies."

The woman' s face flushed. She opened her mouth to retort, but I was already looking past her, directly at Mark.

He watched the exchange, his expression unreadable. But he didn't defend me. Instead, he put a possessive arm around Bella's waist, pulling her closer. It was a clear, public declaration. He was choosing her. The crowd saw it, a clear signal that the reign of Chloe Stone was officially over.

The pain in my side was a dull, constant throb, a reminder of my weakness. I took a slow, deep breath, willing myself to stay calm. The old me would have thrown a drink in his face. The new me simply stood there, a serene smile on my lips, letting their actions speak for themselves.

Mark seemed to thrive on the drama. He led Bella onto the dance floor, his eyes never leaving mine. He spun her around, his hand resting low on her back, a smirk playing on his lips. It was a performance for my benefit, a deliberate, cruel twist of the knife. Each move was designed to provoke me, to push me into a reaction he could use against me.

The media, smelling blood, began to circle. Cameras flashed, capturing the silent, tense drama unfolding on the dance floor. They were getting their story: the powerful tycoon, his new love, and the scorned wife watching from the sidelines.

As the song ended, Mark led Bella back toward the staircase, passing right by me. Bella, emboldened by his public display of affection, "accidentally" stumbled, jostling my arm. Her glass of red wine tipped, spilling down the front of my black dress.

"Oh, I am so sorry!" she gasped, her hand flying to her mouth in mock horror. "How clumsy of me."

It was a deliberate, petty act of aggression. Mark, of course, saw none of the malice behind it.

"Chloe, watch where you're going," he snapped, his voice sharp with irritation. He didn't even look at the stain on my dress. He was too busy fussing over Bella, checking to make sure not a single drop had touched her pristine white gown.

The injustice of it was suffocating. He was so completely, utterly blinded by her.

"It's fine," I said, my voice unnervingly calm. "It was an accident."

I turned and walked away, heading for the exit. I couldn't breathe in that room anymore. The air was too thick with hypocrisy and lies. I had made a mistake coming here. There was no quiet end to this war. There was only retreat.