Chapter 3 - The Ex-Fiancé’s RegretThe grand ballroom seemed to shrink as Daniel pushed his way through the sea of tuxedo-clad guests, his face pale with disbelief.
Three months ago, Daniel had stood in our small apartment, looking down at me as if I were a minor inconvenience he had finally managed to sweep under the rug. Now, as he walked toward the VIP table, his eyes darted from my fitted burgundy dress to the multi-carat diamond ring Ryan had silently slid onto my finger just seconds ago under the cover of the table linen.
"Ellie?" Daniel gasped out, stopping three feet away, his breath coming in ragged hitches. "What... what is this? Vanessa called me from the bathroom weeping, saying you showed up here with... with..."
He couldn't even bring himself to utter Ryan Blackwood’s name.
Ryan didn't flinch. He stood beside me like an immovable mountain, his arm resting over my shoulders with an aura of casual, undisputed ownership.
"Daniel," I said coolly, holding my champagne glass steady. "I didn't expect to see you here. I thought you were far too busy enjoying your new, ambitious life in California."
"Ellie, stop playing games," Daniel hissed, taking a step forward, his eyes flashing with desperate anger. "Who is this guy? What are you doing with Ryan Blackwood? Did you hire an actor to humiliate my family?!"
Ryan let out a low, cold laugh that sent a chill through the surrounding tables.
"An actor?" Ryan murmured, taking a slow step forward, forcing Daniel to look up to meet his eyes. "Mr. Whitmore, I assure you my time is far too expensive to be spent acting. But I must thank you."
Daniel frowned, confused. "Thank me for what?"
"For discarding a diamond because you were too blind to realize its value," Ryan said, his voice dropping into a dangerous, lethal register. "If you hadn't walked out on Ellie three months ago, I wouldn't have had the privilege of making her my wife."
"Wife?!" Daniel shouted, drawing the attention of every major guest, including my cousin Sophia and her new husband. "That's impossible! We were engaged three months ago! You can't just marry a billionaire in ninety days!"
"Actually, Daniel," I spoke up, stepping forward until I stood shoulder-to-shoulder with Ryan, "when a man treats you with respect, values your mind, and supports your dreams, ninety days is more than enough time to realize what real love looks like."
Daniel looked at me as if he were seeing me for the very first time. The quiet, timid girl who used to massage his aching shoulders after his corporate shifts was gone. In her place stood a striking, radiant woman wearing a billionaire's ring, standing beside the most powerful man in the city, looking at him with absolute indifference.
"Ellie... please," Daniel stammered, his voice cracking as the reality of his mistake began to crush him. "Can we talk outside? Just five minutes. Please. I made a mistake. LA isn't... Chloe isn't who I thought she was—"
"Mr. Whitmore," Ryan interrupted, his tone as cold as an Arctic winter. "You are bothering my wife. Security will escort you to your vehicle now."
Two hulking security guards in dark suits instantly stepped out from the shadows, grabbing Daniel firmly by the arms.
"Ellie! Wait! Ellie!" Daniel screamed as he was dragged backward across the ballroom floor, guests staring at him with contempt and laughter. "Ellie, look at me!"
I didn't look back. I took a slow sip of my champagne, leaning my head gently against Ryan’s broad shoulder.
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"Satisfied?" Ryan whispered in my ear.
"Not yet," I replied softly, looking up into his dark eyes. "That was just the warm-up."
