chapter 3

Tonight was the gala night. The grand ballroom glittered under chandeliers, filled with the most powerful people in the city. But tonight wasn’t just about fine wine and gowns, it was also the night Greg would sign the contract that could change his entire life.

Lucy arrived alone, dressed in a sleek gown that hugged her curves. Her heels clicked softly against the marble as she walked into the venue, holding her head high. Her heart beat fast, but not from nerves, from everything she was about to reveal.

Her phone buzzed. It was her father.

"Lucy, where are you?" Richard Bennett's voice came sharp through the phone. "Don’t tell me you're skipping tonight’s gala. Do you know how important this night is?"

"I'm already here, Dad. I just walked in," she replied, trying to keep her voice calm.

"Good. I hope you’re not coming alone. I wanted to meet that boyfriend of yours. What’s his name again, Greg?"

She sighed. "Greg and I broke up, Dad."

"What?" his voice boomed in her ear. "That boy broke your heart and you didn't think I should know? Lucy"

"Dad, calm down. I'm not heartbroken anymore."

He paused. "What do you mean?"

"I’m married," she said firmly.

"What?" the man gasped. "Married? When? Who? You just broke up with a guy and now you're married? Is this a joke, Lucy?"

"I’m serious. I’ll introduce him to you tonight. He’ll be at the gala," she said and ended the call before he could explode further.

She took a deep breath, adjusting her dress as she made her way to enter.

…✿……✿…

Lucy stood at the entrance of the grand ballroom, frozen.

Embarrassed. Breathless. Humiliated.

Just moments ago, the guards had blocked her path.

“No invitation, no entry,” one had said, arms crossed.

“Strictly by list only,” the other added, not even looking at her.

She had pleaded, first calmly, then desperately but they didn’t care.

Her heart had begun to sink. Eyes burned. Whispers started.

And then

“Stop right there! She’s with me.”

Austin’s voice sliced through the tension like a hot blade.

All heads turned.

The tall man in a sleek black tuxedo stepped into view, commanding and unapologetic.

“Austin?” Lucy breathed, her eyes wide.

Whispers erupted through the crowd like wildfire.

“That’s him…”

“The son of Antonio DiMarco?”

“No one’s ever seen him before…”

Austin walked up to the guards with slow, purposeful steps. “She’s my wife,” he said firmly. “Let her through.”

The guards’ eyes widened.

“Mr. DiMarco… we didn’t know”

“You do now,” he interrupted smoothly. “Next time, don’t embarrass my wife.”

He turned to Lucy, holding out his hand with a warm smile. “Shall we?”

Lucy swallowed hard, her heart pounding as she took his hand and stepped into the dazzling lights of the gala.

But her mind was spinning.

Wife of Austin DiMarco? The only son of Antonio DiMarco?

How had she missed this?

They walked through the glittering ballroom, filled with the city’s most elite. Crystal chandeliers sparkled overhead, and music floated softly from a live orchestra.

The scent of fresh roses and expensive perfume hung in the air.

Lucy leaned in as they walked. “You didn’t tell me you were Austin DiMarco.”

“I didn’t want to,” he replied calmly. “Not yet.”

“Why?” she asked, eyes still wide.

Austin looked at her, his voice low and honest. “Because I needed to know if you’d still choose me without all… this.” He gestured around at the wealth, the recognition, the power.

Lucy blinked. It made sense now, the money, the confidence, the way he handled Greg without fear. It wasn’t just boldness. It was bloodline.

“You were testing me?”

“I was protecting myself,” he said simply. “I’ve seen too many people love my name… but never me.”

Lucy gave a small nod, trying to process everything. She barely had time to, before chaos struck again.

From across the room, Greg walked in with Vanessa glued to his arm, both of them dressed like they were about to shoot a red carpet movie. Greg’s smile vanished the moment he spotted Lucy.

“What the hell?” he muttered, already storming toward her.

Vanessa’s heels clacked angrily behind him.

Greg got close, jaw tight. “Are you following me now? Seriously, Lucy? This is desperate, even for you.”

Lucy took a step back but held her head high. “I’m not following you, Greg. I was invited.”

“By whom? The janitor?” Vanessa hissed.

“She’s with me,” Austin said, stepping protectively in front of Lucy.

Greg looked at him and laughed. “You again? What, you two are trying to crash a billionaire event now?”

Austin’s eyes didn’t even blink. “I don’t crash events I own.”

Greg's smile faltered.

Vanessa’s face twisted. “You’re lying.”

“Am I?” Austin reached into his jacket and showed his engraved DiMarco family insignia. “I’m Austin DiMarco. And Lucy is my wife.”

Gasps exploded from the guests nearby. Even some of the security guards exchanged shocked glances.

Greg’s face turned pale. “Wait… you’re the Austin DiMarco?”

Lucy raised her brow, lips curling slightly. “Surprise.”

Vanessa’s nose flared. “This is a joke. They’re impostors! Security, throw them out right now!”

Two guards began to step forward.

Lucy’s heart skipped. “You can’t be serious—”

“Throw them out,” Vanessa barked. “They don’t belong here!”

But the guards stopped halfway.

“We’re sorry, ma’am,” one said slowly, “we can’t touch Mr. DiMarco.”

Vanessa’s jaw dropped. “Then throw her out! She doesn’t belong either!”

Before anyone could move, a voice thundered from the grand staircase.

“Who's trying to harass my daughter?!”

Heads turned as Richard Bennett, Lucy’s father, stormed down the staircase, dressed in a crisp white agbada lined with gold embroidery. His presence turned the room cold.

Right beside him, another powerful figure appeared. Antonio DiMarco himself, Austin’s father. Dark suit, silver cufflinks, and the kind of face that said he’d crushed empires before breakfast.

The crowd parted like the Red Sea.

Lucy’s hands trembled slightly as her father reached her, eyes burning with fury.

“Lucy, who dared to lay a finger on you?” he growled.

Before she could answer, Austin stepped forward respectfully. “Sir, there was a misunderstanding. But I handled it.”

Richard’s sharp eyes pinned Austin first, then shifted to Lucy.

"You said something on the phone… about getting married?" he asked slowly, like he wasn’t sure he heard right.

Lucy swallowed hard and nodded. “Yes. I wanted to tell you properly tonight, Dad.”

Austin turned sharply to her, eyebrows raised. “Wait… hold on, Lucy Bennett?” he asked, his voice rising with disbelief.

She nodded again, more firmly this time. “Yes. I’m Lucy Bennett. The only daughter of Mr. Richard Bennett.”

The room fell dead silent for a second. You could hear the clock ticking.

Greg stood frozen, his face turning pale. “What?” he choked out. “You… you’re that Lucy Bennett? The one nobody’s ever seen in public?”

Lucy’s eyes didn’t waver. “Yes.”

Greg’s voice cracked with rage. “So you lied to me? All these years? You made me believe that you were just a roadside food vendor, struggling, ordinary…”

“I was trying to live a normal life,” she said, her voice low. “And I tried to tell you the truth more than once… but you made it clear someone like me wasn’t good enough for your dreams.”

Greg stepped back like she slapped him. “No… No, you don’t get to flip this. How could you?

Lucy’s eyes filled with tears, but her voice didn’t shake. “You never really saw me. Not for who I am. Not for who I could be.”

Austin looked between them, stunned.

Greg suddenly picked up the contract from the table and waved it in the air. “This contract, this deal with Mr. DiMarco, what the hell is this, Lucy? What else are you hiding?!”

Lucy crossed her arms slowly. “That deal? “That opportunity you worship? She stepped closer. “You didn’t earn this.” “I begged my father to tell Mr. DiMarco to give you a shot. You didn’t earn it, Greg. I wanted to help you.”

Greg’s mouth dropped open, speechless.

“You’re lying…” he said, but it came out more like a whisper.