His chiseled, handsome face—cold and aloof—instantly outshone every other man in the room.
Standing beside this god-like man, Mya Walsh became the object of envy for every socialite present.
She savored the looks of envy and jealousy coming from all directions as she entered the reception on Damian Xavier's arm.
Several business partners immediately swarmed them. "Mr. Xavier, this must be your wife. You two make a perfect couple."
"Indeed. A talented man and a beautiful woman. You have excellent taste, Mr. Xavier."
"I hear you're looking to invest in some land today, Mr. Xavier. My company, the Alden Group, happens to have a plot available. Perhaps you'd consider it?"
...
The business partners crowded around Damian Xavier, and by extension, Mya Walsh found herself the center of fawning attention.
Just as Mya Walsh was smugly lifting her chin, a voice suddenly rang out. "Everyone, look! It's that girl who betrayed the Sterling Family all those years ago!"
At these words, every guest's gaze snapped in unison toward the entrance. Damian Xavier looked over as well.
Two elegant, well-matched figures were gracefully entering the hall, dressed in coordinating formal attire.
The man was gentle and refined, his handsome, clean-cut features capturing the hearts of many of the socialites.
Beside him, Aria Sterling wore a blue, mermaid-style evening gown that perfectly accentuated her figure. Her already fair skin seemed to glow, and her delicate features were enhanced with light makeup. She was breathtakingly beautiful.
A flash of stunned admiration crossed Damian Xavier's eyes.
It was the first time he had ever seen Aria Sterling so exquisitely dressed; he almost didn't recognize her.
Noticing the change in the way Damian was looking at Aria, a spark of jealousy ignited within Mya Walsh. She gritted her teeth. "She just divorced you and already has a new lover. How shameless."
Mya watched Damian's expression. Seeing that he remained unfazed, she added, "Judging by how familiar they look with each other, I wonder if they've been together for a long time..."
She intentionally drew out her words, a look of feigned shock on her face.
Hearing this, a cold glint flashed in Damian's dark eyes.
For some reason, hearing Mya Walsh speak ill of Aria Sterling, he felt a flicker of annoyance. "She's not that kind of person."
'What?'
Mya Walsh stared at Damian Xavier in astonishment, thinking she must have misheard.
'Doesn't Damian hate Aria? Why would he defend her?'
'It must be because she's dressed up like a seductress and caught his eye!'
Mya clenched her fists, her long nails digging into her palms, but she didn't feel the pain.
Maintaining the gentle, yet phony, smile on her lips, she stuck her tongue out playfully. "Okay, okay, I was wrong."
After speaking, Mya closed her eyes, waiting for Damian's usual affectionate pat on the head.
But this time, Damian didn't act as he usually did.
When the expected gesture didn't come, Mya opened her eyes. She saw Damian staring intently at Aria, and the flames of her jealousy nearly boiled over.
She bit her lower lip, forcing herself to calm down as she shot Aria a venomous glare.
Feeling two intense gazes on her back, Aria Sterling felt a prickle of discomfort. She turned around and met Mya Walsh's jealous eyes.
Aria was baffled.
'Didn't I already divorce Damian and let them be together? Why is she looking at me like that?'
Aria found it completely baffling.
But when she noticed Damian Xavier staring at her as well, Aria suddenly understood.
She gave Damian a cool, indifferent glance, her pretty face betraying no emotion.
But the next second, as she linked her arm with Julian Grant's, a radiant smile graced her pink lips.
At the sight, Damian's face darkened.
'What is this woman playing at?'
Damian instantly lost all interest in discussing business deals. His eyes remained fixed on Aria.
'She can smile so brilliantly for others, but why is she always so stern and unsmiling with me?'
Damian couldn't understand it at all, and time began to drag on endlessly.
No matter how Mya tried to engage him in conversation, Damian's gaze never left Aria.
Watching her toast others and have her hand kissed by another man, his handsome face grew darker and darker.
Just then, a few business partners moved, blocking Damian's view.
"Mr. Xavier, about that plot of land... What are your thoughts?"
Damian furrowed his sharp brows in annoyance. He pushed aside the partner blocking his view and replied dismissively, "Hm."
"Does that mean you agree?" The partner was ecstatic and immediately presented a contract and pen to Damian.
Preoccupied with locating Aria, Damian just wanted to get rid of them. He quickly scanned the contract and signed his name on the last page.
Watching this scene, Mya was so furious she could have breathed fire. Her resentment for Aria deepened.
—
The moment the end of the reception was announced, Damian shot to his feet.
"Damian—" Mya started to say, reaching to take his arm, but he walked straight toward Aria Sterling.
Mya stood frozen in place, her expression twisting into a contorted mask.
"Aria Sterling."
Damian walked up to Aria, grabbed her by the wrist, and demanded, "Who is he?"
The sudden action and aggressive question left Aria bewildered.
She tried to pull free, but Damian only tightened his grip.
Aria's delicate brows furrowed. "What does it have to do with you?"
"The divorce papers haven't been finalized. You are still a member of the Xavier Family," Damian said, his face cold and his voice low and flat. "And as a member of the Xavier Family, you have no right to be fooling around with other men."
"Huh?" Aria looked at Damian in surprise.
'I can't believe words like that are actually coming out of his mouth.'
Her frown deepened. Beside her, Julian Grant saw that Aria's wrist was turning red from the force of Damian's grip and spoke up. "As far as I know, Mr. Xavier, you and our Aria have already signed the divorce agreement. On what grounds can you still claim she is part of the Xavier Family?"
Maintaining his smile, Julian Grant reached out and forcefully pried Damian's fingers away. "Please let her go, Mr. Xavier."
Damian remained unmoved. He stared straight at Aria. "How does he know we signed a divorce agreement?"
Recalling what Mya had just said, Damian suddenly thought it wasn't impossible. "Aria Sterling, when did you start hooking up with him?"
'Hooking up?'
Hearing the derogatory term, Aria's expression turned cold. She forcefully yanked her hand free. "You don't need to know."