A New Beginning

Chapter 2

6 years later.

I learned something important about humiliation.

It doesn’t disappear overnight.

It lingers.

Sometimes it hides quietly in the back of your mind, pretending to be gone. Then suddenly, in the most ordinary moment, it returns like a sharp knife to the chest.

I was reminded of it almost every day.

At the grocery store when someone recognized me.

At cafés when strangers whispered.

Even online.

Someone had uploaded a video of my wedding day. The moment when the priest awkwardly cleared his throat and the guests began murmuring.

The moment when people realized the groom wasn’t coming.

The video had thousands of views.

“Bride Abandoned at the Altar.”

That was what they called it.

For weeks, I couldn’t leave the house without feeling like everyone was staring at me.

Like everyone knew.

Like everyone pitied me.

Eventually, the whispers died down.

But the memory never did.

That was why I needed a fresh start.

A new job.

A new routine.

A new life.

I stepped out of the taxi and looked up at the tall glass building in front of me.

Montefalco Holdings.

The name gleamed in silver letters above the entrance.

I hadn’t noticed it during the interview process.

Or maybe I simply didn’t want to.

Because the last name Montefalco still made my stomach twist.

Donn Montefalco.

The man who had disappeared from my life like I had meant nothing.

I inhaled slowly.

This company was large. Powerful. Influential.

But Donn wasn’t involved in the business.

At least that was what the internet said.

His older brother ran everything.

Sebastian Montefalco.

I didn’t know much about him, except that business magazines described him as ruthless, brilliant, and dangerously ambitious.

Which meant he was probably intimidating.

But that was fine.

I wasn’t here to make friends.

I was here to work.

I walked through the revolving doors and into the lobby.

The inside of the building was just as impressive as the outside.

Marble floors.

Tall ceilings.

Employees moving quickly with tablets and folders in their hands.

The receptionist smiled politely.

“Good morning. How can I help you?”

“I’m Avah Alfonso,” I said. “I’m starting today in the marketing department.”

She typed something quickly before nodding.

“Yes, Miss Alfonso. Welcome. The HR assistant will meet you shortly.”

A few minutes later, a cheerful woman named Carla led me toward the elevators.

“You’re lucky,” she said as we walked. “The marketing team is one of the best departments here.”

I smiled faintly.

“That’s good to hear.”

“And the CEO personally approved your hiring.”

I blinked.

“The CEO?”

Carla nodded enthusiastically.

“Mr. Montefalco is very selective about new employees.”

Something in my chest tightened slightly.

“Does he review everyone?”

“Only the promising ones,” she said with a grin.

The elevator doors opened.

We stepped inside.

The ride felt strangely long.

Maybe it was just my nerves.

When the elevator finally stopped, Carla led me down a sleek hallway lined with glass offices.

Employees looked up briefly as we passed.

“Your desk will be here,” she said, stopping beside a modern workspace.

Before I could respond, another voice spoke behind us.

“Miss Alfonso.”

The sound of my name made me turn immediately.

A tall man stood a few steps away.

For a moment, the entire world seemed to pause.

He was striking.

Dark hair.

Sharp jawline.

A perfectly tailored black suit that made him look powerful without even trying.

But what caught my attention the most were his eyes.

Cold.

Intense.

Observing me like I was something he had already judged.

Carla straightened instantly.

“Mr. Montefalco.”

Montefalco.

The name hit me like a sudden gust of wind.

My heart skipped a beat.

This was him.

Sebastian Montefalco.

The CEO.

The older brother of the man who left me at the altar.

His gaze remained fixed on my face.

Unblinking.

Evaluating.

“You must be Avah Alfonso,” he said.

His voice was calm.

Controlled.

But there was something sharp beneath it.

“Yes,” I replied carefully.

A silence passed between us.

Something in his expression hardened slightly.

Then he spoke again.

“You worked for the Rivera Group before this.”

It wasn’t a question.

“Yes,” I said.

“Your performance there was impressive.”

“Thank you.”

Another pause.

Then his eyes narrowed slightly.

“And you were previously engaged.”

The words made my stomach drop.

Carla shifted awkwardly beside me.

I felt my pulse quicken.

“Yes,” I answered quietly.

Sebastian’s gaze didn’t soften.

If anything, it grew colder.

“Engaged to my brother.”

The hallway suddenly felt too quiet.

Too still.

Carla looked like she wished the floor would swallow her whole.

I forced myself to stay calm.

“Yes.”

Sebastian took a slow step closer.

His presence felt overwhelming now.

Intimidating.

“You should know something, Miss Alfonso,” he said.

His voice was low.

Dangerously calm.

“My brother’s disappearance caused significant problems for this family.”

My heartbeat pounded in my ears.

“I understand,” I said.

His eyes studied me carefully.

Like he was searching for something.

Maybe guilt.

Maybe weakness.

Finally, he spoke again.

“And yet,” he said slowly, “you decided to work here.”

There was no mistaking the meaning behind his words.

Why would the woman who was supposed to marry his brother work for his company?

I lifted my chin slightly.

“This was a professional opportunity,” I said.

Another silence fell between us.

Then Sebastian gave a faint smile.

But there was no warmth in it.

“Let’s hope,” he said quietly, “that you don’t bring the same chaos into my company that you brought into my brother’s life.”

The words hit harder than I expected.

Before I could respond, he turned and walked away.

Leaving me standing there with a racing heart.

And one terrifying realization.

Sebastian Montefalco believed I had ruined his brother’s life.

Which meant working here wasn’t going to be easy.

Because the man who now controlled my career…

was the brother of the man who abandoned me.