Chapter 8

CHAPTER 8

***A Public Reunion***

The charity gala is massive. Crystal chandeliers. String quartets. Women in designer gowns. Men in expensive suits.

Money everywhere. Power everywhere. The elite of the city gathered in one ballroom.

Lucia stands at the entrance. Silver gown flows down her body like water. Hair swept up. Diamonds at her throat. Not borrowed. Hers. She bought them herself.

Adrian stands beside her. Dark suit. Confident. His hand rests light on her lower back. Protective but not possessive.

Luis bounces between them. Tiny tuxedo. Bow tie crooked. He looks adorable.

"Mommy Lucia, you look like a princess." Luis grins up at her.

"Thank you baby." Lucia smooths his hair. "You look very handsome."

"Papa said I have to behave." Luis whispers. Serious. "Because important people are watching."

"Just be yourself." Lucia kneels down. Eye level. "That's enough."

Cameras flash. Reporters swarm. Questions fly.

"Lucia Monroe! Over here!"

"Is this your family?"

"Tell us about LUXÉA's charity initiative!"

Adrian handles them smoothly. Gives statements. Poses for photos. All while keeping Lucia close.

They enter the ballroom. Heads turn. Whispers spread like wildfire.

"That's her. The Phoenix Woman."

"She's even more beautiful in person."

"Is that Adrian Castellanos with her? The trillionaire?"

"They look like royalty."

Lucia keeps her head high. Shoulders back. Smile polite but distant.

She's not the same woman who crawled out of this world broken. She's someone new. Someone stronger. Someone untouchable.

Across the room. Movement. A familiar face.

Marco.

He stands frozen. Champagne glass halfway to his mouth. Staring.

Beside him Sandra. Red dress. Too tight. Too much. Fake smile plastered on for the cameras.

But her eyes. Her eyes burn with hatred.

Lucia sees them. Her heart stutters. Just for a second. Then steadies.

She knew they'd be here. Prepared for this. Rehearsed it in her mind a thousand times.

But seeing them. Actually seeing them. Still hurts.

Adrian feels her tense. His hand presses firmer against her back.

"You okay?" He murmurs. Quiet. Just for her.

"Yes." She breathes deep. "I'm fine."

"We can leave."

"No." Lucia's voice is steel. "I belong here. They don't get to chase me away."

Adrian smiles. Small. Proud. "That's my girl."

My girl. The words warm something inside her.

Luis tugs her hand. "Mommy Lucia, I'm hungry. Can we get food?"

"Of course." She lets him lead her toward the buffet. Away from Marco. Away from Sandra. Toward safety.

But she feels their eyes. Following. Burning into her back.

The evening progresses. Dinner. Speeches. Auction items.

Lucia sits at a table near the front. LUXÉA sponsored this event. Donated products. Money. Support.

She's not just a guest. She's a benefactor.

The emcee takes the stage. "And now, a few words from tonight's platinum sponsor, Lucia Monroe of LUXÉA."

Applause. Loud. Genuine.

Lucia stands. Walks to the stage. Every step measured. Controlled.

She reaches the podium. Looks out at the crowd. Hundreds of faces. Watching. Waiting.

Her eyes find Marco. Find Sandra. Hold their gaze.

"Thank you all for being here tonight." Her voice is clear. Strong. "This charity supports women escaping domestic violence. Women rebuilding their lives after trauma. Women learning they're worth more than they were told."

Pause. Let it sink in.

"I understand their journey. Intimately." Lucia's hands grip the podium. "Because I was one of them. Not long ago I had nothing. Was told I was nothing. By people who should have loved me. Protected me."

Gasps ripple through the crowd. Whispers.

"I was betrayed. By family. By a spouse. Left with wounds that should have killed me. Almost did."

Marco's face goes white. Sandra's goes red.

"But I survived. And I learned something." Lucia's voice gets stronger. "Betrayal can destroy you. Or it can forge you into something unbreakable. I chose the latter. Rose from the ashes. Built an empire from nothing."

She looks directly at Marco now. At Sandra. At her past.

"So tonight I stand here not as a victim. But as proof that you can rebuild. That rising from betrayal into power is possible. That no one can take your worth unless you let them."

The room erupts. Standing ovation. Cameras flashing. People crying.

Lucia walks off stage. Head high. Heart pounding.

She did it. Said it publicly. Owned her story. Her pain. Her victory.

Adrian meets her at the bottom of the stairs. Luis beside him. Both clapping. Both beaming.

"That was incredible." Adrian pulls her close. Kisses her forehead. Right there in front of everyone.

More cameras flash. Tomorrow's headlines writing themselves.

Lucia doesn't care. Lets herself lean into him. Just for a moment. Drawing strength.

"Lucia."

The voice. That voice. The one that used to make her feel small.

She turns. Marco stands there. Too close. Invading her space.

"You were amazing up there." His smile is wrong. Desperate. "You're glowing, Lucia."

Glowing. The word feels dirty from his mouth.

"Thank you." Cold. Polite. Nothing more.

"I need to talk to you." Marco glances at Adrian. At Luis. "Privately."

"We have nothing to discuss."

"Please." His voice cracks. "Just five minutes."

Adrian steps forward. "The lady said no."

"This doesn't concern you." Marco's face hardens.

"It concerns me if you're bothering her."

"I'm not bothering anyone. I'm talking to my wife."

"Ex-wife." Lucia's voice cuts like glass. "We're divorced. Remember? You had papers drawn up. I signed them."

"That was a mistake."

"The only mistake was marrying you in the first place."

The words land like bombs. Marco flinches. Actual pain crossing his face.

"Lucia please. Can we just talk? Away from everyone?"

Against her better judgment, Lucia nods. "Five minutes. No more."

Adrian looks concerned but lets her go. "I'll be right here."

Lucia follows Marco to a quiet corner. Behind a pillar. Away from prying eyes.

"You look incredible." Marco starts. "Really. I've never seen you like this."

"Like what?"

"Confident. Powerful. Like you own the world."

"I own my world. That's all that matters."

"Come home." Marco's voice drops. Pleading. Desperate. "We miss you."

We. Like he speaks for everyone. Like he has that right.

"Home?" Lucia's laugh is bitter. "I don't have a home with you."

"You do. It's still your house. Your family."

"That stopped being my house the day you let Sandra into our bed. Stopped being my family when you turned my son against me."

"Thomas misses you. He cries for you."

The words stab. Sharp. Deep. But Lucia doesn't let it show.

"You taught him to hate me. To call Sandra mommy. To treat me like I was nobody."

"That was wrong. I know that now. I'm sorry."

Sorry. Such a small word for such big damage.

"Your apology means nothing."

"I love you." Marco reaches for her hand. She pulls away. "I made a mistake. Let me fix it."

"You can't fix this."

"I can try. We can try. Together. Like we used to be."

"We were never together Marco. I was alone. Always. You just used me until something shinier came along."

"That's not true."

"It's completely true. I helped build your company. Brought in clients. Made deals. And you pushed me aside. Said I was boring. Useless. Nothing."

"I was wrong. You're amazing. Look what you've built." Marco gestures wildly. "Imagine what we could do together. Your business mind. My resources. We'd be unstoppable."

"I'm already unstoppable. Without you."

"Lucia please." Marco's voice breaks completely. "Honey, come back home. We miss you. I miss you. Thomas needs you."

Honey. The pet name he hasn't used in years. It sounds wrong now. Foreign.

Lucia looks at him. Really looks. Sees a desperate man. Failing business. Failing relationship. Grasping at anything to save himself.

She feels nothing. No love. No hate. Just emptiness where he used to live in her heart.

"Your honey is Sandra." Her voice is calm. Final. "I am not your wife anymore. And as for home." She pauses. Lets it sink in. "I already have one."

"What?"

"I have a home. A real one. Where I'm valued. Loved. Respected. Where I'm not just useful but cherished."

"With him?" Marco's face twists. "That man out there? You barely know him."

"I know him better than I ever knew you." Lucia turns. "We're done here."

"Lucia wait."

She doesn't. Walks back toward the ballroom. Toward Adrian. Toward Luis. Toward her real life.

Marco follows. Catches her arm. "This isn't over."

Adrian appears instantly. Steps between them. "Let her go."

"Stay out of this."

"You're making a scene." Adrian's voice is low. Dangerous. "Step back."

"Or what?"