SUPRISE SUPRISE

Genevieve’s POV

It’s been two days of absolute silence, hiding behind closed doors and nursing a morning sickness that seemed to intensify with my growing dread for whatever was going on.

With each morning that passed, I hoped Elias would call me and beg me to come back because he had come back to his senses, but it never came and now, with the Whitmore annual gala here, I didn’t know what to do.

Felix however, had insisted I attend. “Let them see what they threw away, Vivi,” he had said with that chilling, unreadable smirk. “Let the match catch fire because that’s the beginning of our plan.”

Now, I stood just inside the double doors of the ballroom with my fingers clutching my purse. Felix had provided the dress, which was a breathtaking, emerald-green gown that draped elegantly over my slender frame, hugging my waist and dipping slightly at the back. It was far more glamorous than anything I had ever worn during my marriage because Elias never allowed me to wear stuff like this, but inside, I felt like an impostor.

The room was filled with people who were having a good time, but my eyes continued roaming until I found him.

Elias stood near the center of the ballroom, surrounded by some wealthy investors. He looked entirely in his element, wearing a black tuxedo that accentuated his imposing height. His dark brown hair was perfectly styled, his jawline sharp and clean-shaven, and he looked like a king. And right beside him, her hand wrapped possessively around his arm, was Bianca, who wore a glittering silver gown with a smug look on her face, as usual.

Seeing how perfect they looked, I couldn’t bear to watch them anymore as I took a step backwards, hoping to stay invisible, but I was interrupted by a voice.

"Well, well. I didn't think the outcast would have the courage to show her face here tonight."

I turned to find Arthur Vance, a notorious, middle-aged billionaire investor known just as much for his stories with various women. He stepped into my path with a glass of wine in hand as he raked his eyes over my form.

"Mr. Vance," I said as I tried to step around him. "Excuse me, I have business with the legal team."

"Legal business can wait, sweetheart," he murmured, stepping closer and blocking my exit as he reached out with his thick fingers and boldly brushed my shoulder. "Now that Elias has foolishly traded a classic beauty for a loud-mouthed socialite, you’re a free agent. Why don't we find a quieter room upstairs to discuss your... financial future?"

I frowned as repulse filled me.

"Remove your hand," I whispered, my eyes flashing with anger as I tried to pull away, but he only tightened his grip on my arm, leaning in closer.

Before I could scream, a powerful hand gripped Arthur Vance’s wrist and twisted it with a brutal force that the older man gasped, dropping his scotch glass which shattered on the floor.

Horrified, I looked up to see it was Elias.

His blue eyes were completely black with so much rage as his chest rose and fell as he looked like he was about to explode.

"If you touch her again, Vance," Elias ground out. "I will personally ensure your firm is bankrupt by morning. Get out of my sight."

Arthur turned pale and stammered an apology before scrambling away into the crowd.

The silence between Elias and me became suffocating as the entire ballroom was watching, but I couldn't look away from him. As our eyes met, a look of confusion crossed his features and then, slowly, as if under a spell, Elias reached out and touched my bare arm.

The moment his fingers met my skin, an electric shock seemed to pass between us. Elias visibly flinched, his breath hitching audibly as he let go of me immediately, as if he finally remembered me.

"Vivi..." he breathed, using a tone he only used for me.

“Elias—"

"Elias! What on earth is the meaning of this?!"

The spell shattered instantly as Bianca stormed over and her face contorted in a scowl as she grabbed Elias and pulled him away from me.

"Why are you making a scene over her? Everyone is staring!"

Elias looked down at Bianca’s hand on his sleeve and his expression suddenly twisted into a mask of discomfort, like her touch felt entirely wrong. Then, he looked back at me, like his mind was disoriented.

He was about to speak but was interrupted by a loud gasp from the crowd.

Startled, we all turned to see Felix stride into the ballroom.

He looked devastatingly handsome, wearing a relaxed, unbuttoned black shirt underneath a red blazer that hid none of his dangerous and mouth-watering build. His messy dark brown hair fell carelessly into his eyes, and a dark tattoo peeked from the neck of his shirt. He scanned the room, his eyes entirely bypassing his parents, Julian and Reyna, who had gone completely rigid with horror on the dance floor.

Julian looked as though he were having a stroke, as he stared at the son who had gone into exile years ago.

Felix walked with a lazy and relaxed stride, clearly unaffected by all the attention he was getting as he ignored everyone else and walked towards me, with his eyes entirely on me.

Time seemed to slow as he got to me and before I could form a word, Felix reached out and wrapped a strong arm around my slender waist and pulled me flush against his hard chest, the sudden intimacy making butterflies erupt in my belly.

Felix then looked out at the stunned crowd and his lips curled into a knowing smirk.

"Good evening, everyone," Felix called out in a loud voice. "I apologize for the dramatic entrance, but I couldn't resist introducing the new line of succession. After years of exile, the black sheep is officially back."

I tried to move away but he tightened his grip on my waist with his fingers pressing firmly against my hip, and that simple action made all eyes land on me.

"And more importantly," Felix added, his gaze dropping to Elias, whose face had gone entirely pale. "I wanted you all to be the first to know that Genevieve and I are formally engaged."