Chapter 10

The luxurious restaurant in the heart of the city glimmered with candlelight and the soft rhythm of jazz that floated through the air. At the center of the room, a long table draped in white flowers and crystal glasses became the evening’s focal point — where Ethan, Alyssa, and a circle of high-profile investors gathered for an elegant business dinner.

Alyssa sat beside Ethan, her presence effortlessly commanding attention. The simple black dress she wore accentuated her natural grace, while her faint smile radiated quiet confidence. Every word that left her lips carried precision and poise — calm, clear, and full of conviction. She spoke about their international project with the composure of someone who truly believed in her vision.

“The success of this project isn’t just about numbers,” Alyssa said, her voice soft but firm. “It’s about vision — about creating something that lasts, not something that fades with profit.”

The guests nodded in admiration. Some looked at her with genuine respect. Ethan, however, simply watched her in silence — proud, like a man who knew just how far the woman beside him had fought to be here.

But that calm was shattered by the sound of heavy footsteps near the entrance.

Heads turned almost in unison.

And there — standing in the doorway — was Rafael, with Maya beside him.

He wore a charcoal-gray suit, his expression unreadable but laced with arrogance. That half-smile on his lips was the same one that had once made Alyssa believe in him — but now it only stirred something dark in her chest. Maya, meanwhile, clutched her purse tightly, eyes downcast, as if wishing she could disappear.

“My apologies for being late,” Rafael said smoothly, his voice carrying that familiar, performative charm. “I heard Ethan was hosting some important people tonight. Naturally, I couldn’t miss it.”

Alyssa’s eyes met his — cold, unreadable. She knew Rafael wasn’t invited. He never needed to be. He always knew how to show up where he didn’t belong.

Ethan straightened, a polite but icy smile forming on his face. “You’re not on tonight’s guest list, Rafael,” he said evenly. “But since you’re already here, you may sit — as long as you can behave yourself.”

The words were civil, but the warning beneath them was sharp as glass.

Rafael’s smirk tightened. Without a word, he pulled out a chair — directly across from Alyssa — and sat down. Maya followed, still avoiding everyone’s gaze.

The warm, lively air from before turned heavy and cold. Conversations died down, replaced by the faint sound of clinking silverware.

Rafael broke the silence with a mocking tone. “You’ve become quite the speaker, Alyssa. I remember when you couldn’t even lift your head during negotiations.”

Several guests exchanged awkward glances — his words were clearly an insult.

Alyssa didn’t flinch. She simply smiled faintly and replied, “Maybe that’s because I used to be surrounded by the wrong people. Now, I know exactly who deserves to stand beside me.”

Ethan turned toward her, his gaze soft but filled with meaning. Beneath the table, his hand found hers — a silent gesture of reassurance and pride.

And Alyssa didn’t pull away.

Instead, she let their joined hands rest on top of the table, visible for everyone to see — a gesture more powerful than any declaration.

The room fell silent again. Rafael’s jaw tightened. His eyes darted from their intertwined hands to Alyssa’s face, then to Ethan’s. The flicker of rage in his gaze was unmistakable, though he forced himself to remain composed.

Alyssa stared back without a blink — calm, unyielding, untouchable.

Ethan’s voice broke the silence, steady and deliberate. “I’m fortunate to work with Alyssa,” he said. “She’s not only brilliant but brave — the kind of courage you don’t find often.”

A soft smile appeared on Alyssa’s lips. She knew those words weren’t meant for the investors — they were a message for Rafael.

Rafael leaned back in his chair, feigning ease. “Bravery,” he echoed, his tone dripping with disdain. “Or is it bravery to move on so… quickly?”

The air froze.

A few guests glanced at one another, unsure how to react.

But Alyssa’s reply came before anyone could breathe. “It’s bravery,” she said quietly, “to walk away from something that was never worth holding onto.”

The words struck like a slap — soft but searing.

Rafael’s smirk faltered. Maya’s face went pale, her fingers tightening around her purse. She knew what would follow later — that cold, punishing glare Rafael reserved for when he felt humiliated. But for now, the entire room’s attention belonged to Alyssa.

Ethan gave her hand a gentle squeeze, grounding her. Then he looked up at Rafael, voice steady. “I suggest we keep the discussion professional. Some of us still have reputations to maintain.”

A few guests muffled chuckles behind their wine glasses. Rafael’s jaw clenched, but he said nothing more. He knew if he pushed further, he’d only embarrass himself.

Dinner resumed, but the tension lingered. Alyssa carried herself with effortless grace, her words smooth, her demeanor unshaken. Rafael, on the other hand, sat in silence — his usual dominance stripped away, replaced by the quiet realization that his power over her was gone.

When the event finally ended, the guests began to leave one by one. Maya slipped out almost immediately, nearly tripping in her haste. Rafael remained seated, his eyes fixed on Alyssa and Ethan as they rose and walked toward the exit.

Alyssa turned once — just once — her gaze cool, resolute, and full of unspoken triumph.

It said everything:

You no longer have power over me.

Rafael downed the rest of his drink in one gulp. In his eyes, something cracked — pride, ego, perhaps even the last fragments of love he refused to admit still existed.

That night, for the first time, he understood what real loss felt like.

The control he’d once wielded so easily was gone — shattered. And the woman he thought he could break now stood tall among the ruins of what he’d destroyed — stronger, brighter, and completely beyond his reach.

Outside, under the glittering city lights, Alyssa linked her arm through Ethan’s. Neither spoke, but silence was its own language — a quiet, victorious symphony.

Her revenge wasn’t loud. It wasn’t cruel.