Chapter 5

Elena's pov

The elevator ride down felt unreal.

The glass walls reflected my face over and over agian—

I was now pale, shocked and my feelings?— hollow.

A woman who had just discovered that the man she loved had traded her like a merchandise.

And even worse….

He was celebrating his engagement to her sister while she stood in another man's penthouse. 

My hand tightened around my purse. Inside it, was my engagement ring which now felt heavier than before.As if it carried all the weight of the lie Matteo had ever told me.

When the elevator doors opened into the lobby, the receptionist glanced up again.

Her polite smile returned.

“Good evening , Miss Rivera.”

I nodded stiffly and walked towards the glass doors.

Outside the building, the cold night air slapped my face and for a moment there, i just stood on the side walk, staring up at the towering building behind me.

I could have just gone home, crawled onto my bed and pretend none of those happened.

But the thought of it, made something inside my chest burn.

“Not at all..” I whispered.

If Matteo was celebrating tonight….

Then I was going to be there.

My phone buzzed in my hand again.

It was Matteo— he was calling.

The irony almost made me laugh.

After a moment, I answered.

“Elena!” His voice sounded breathless. “How did it go?”

My grip tightened around the phone, my anger almost spilling out of my tone.

“How did what go?” I asked.

“With Adrian, Darling,” he said quickly. “Did you meet with him?”

“Yes.” 

The single word came out colder than I had expected.

“Oh good, “ he said with relief. “That's great.”.... “That's really great.”

“Great?” My jaw clenched

“Where are you right now, Matteo?” I asked.

“Uh… just out with some business associates.”

I closed my eyes briefly, trying hard to digest the lie he was just spoken.

Business associates.

“That's funny,” I said quietly.

“Why?”

“Because I just saw a photo of you.”

There was a pause— it wasn't long, but long enough.

“What photo?” he asked carefully.

“The one from your engagement party.”

The silence exploded on the other end of the line.

All of a sudden, he blurted.

“Elena, I can explain.”

I let out a sharp laugh filled with disdain.

“Oh, I'm sure you can.”

“It's not what it looks like.”

“Really?” I asked. “Because it looks exactly like you proposed to my sister while sending me to sleep with another man.”

His voice dropped immediately.

“You weren't supposed to find out like this”

Those words made my stomach twist, in a more awful manner.

“Find out?” I repeated slowly.

“Yes, I was going to explain everything later.”

“After what?” I snapped. “After I ruined myself for your investment?”

“Elena, calm down.”

The command made my blood boil.

“Calm down?” I said, “ Hold on, let me ask you something, were you ever going to get married to me or was that another lie?”

“Hold on, Elena..”

People passing by on the sidewalk glanced at me as my voice rose.

“Hold on.? hold on? You sold me, Matteo.”

“I didn't sell you.”

“Adrian told me everything.”

Just then, the call went silent, and then he sighed.

“Well,” he muttered, “I guess that complicates things.”

The casuallness of his tone stunned me.

“Complicates things?” I repeated.

“Yes,” he said. 

He wasn't even sounding guilty, no regrets. Then I felt it, something inside me finally broke.

“Where is the party?” I asked.

“Elena, I don't think—” he hesitated.

“Tell me.” I demanded.

When he finally spoke again, his voice had strangely hardened.

“The Grand Regent Hotel.”

One of the most expensive venues in the city.

“Elena , listen to me— you shouldn't come here,” he added quickly.

“Oh, I'm definitely coming.” 

“Elena–” he yelled through my speaker as I hung up the call.

***

Twenty minutes Later, a taxi stopped right in front of the Grand Regent Hotel.

The building glowed with golden lights along with the fleet of luxury cars lined up at the entrance.

The guests we're dressed in elegant evening wear, chatting and laughing.

The sight made my chest tighten.

Once upon a time…

I thought Matteo and I would celebrate our wedding somewhere like this, but I guess I had a crazy big dream.

I stepped out of the taxi.

My heels clicked sharply against the pavement as I walked towards the entrance.

Inside, the lobby buzzed with activity and a large sign stood near the ballroom doors.

Engagement Celebration

Matteo Alvera & Sofia Rivera.

My stomach twisted violently at the sight of my own last name beside his.

Sofia– my sister.

I pushed open the ballroom doors as the noise inside hit me almost immediately.

The Music, laughter and glasses clinking.

The room sparkled with chandeliers and white roses The guests were all over the dance floor and tables.

And right there, at the centre of the room—

Stood Matteo.

His arms were wrapped around Sofia's waist. She even looked stunning in her white evening gown. Her long hair laid over her shoulders and in her finger…. 

A diamond ring.

It glittered brightly under the lights and my presence didn't go unnoticed for long.

A few people near the entrance turned toward me and just like that— more heads followed.

Whispers began to spread through the crowd and I could hear it lod and clear.

“Is that not Elena?”

“Isn't that Matteo’s ex?”

“What is she doing here?”

The music continued playing, but the mood in the room shifted instantly.

Matteo noticed the movement first as his eyes lifted towards the entrance and when he saw me…

His face went pale.

Sofia followed his gaze and the moment her eyes landed on me, her lips curved into a small but satisfied smile.

Like she had been expecting this.

I began to move forward, every step felt calm in a strange way, like I was watching someone else move.

The crowd slowly parted as I approached the stage.

Matteo immediately stepped forward.

“Elena,” he hissed under his breath. “ What are you doing here?”

I stopped a few feet away from him.

“What does it look like?”

“You shouldn't be here.”

“That's funny,” I said.

“Why?”

“Because earlier tonight, you begged me to do anything for you.”

His jaw tightened, almost moved to anger.

“This isn't the time—” he said, trying to drag my arms.

I reached into my purse and pulled the engagement ring. The same one he had given me three months ago.

The sound of shock rippled through the nearby guests as Matteo’s eyes widened.

“Elena, wait—”

I didn't wait for him to finish, I threw the ring directly at his chest.

I watched it bounce off his suit and clattered onto the stage floor.

The sound echoed loudly through the suddenly silent ballroom.

“You forgot something,” I said calmly.

Everyone now stared at us.

The music had stopped completely as Sofia stepped forward slowly.

Her smile seemed sweet, but I knew her too well. 

“Elena,” she said gently, “ You are making a scene. I was going to invite you to our wedding, but here you are making it difficult.”

My eyes moved to her with disgust.

“To be fair,” I replied quietly, “ You started it.”

Her smile faltered slightly as Matteo ran his hand through his hair.

“This isn't necessary,’ he muttered.

“Oh, really?” I said.

“Yes.”

He then glanced nervously at the guests watching us.

“You are embarrassing yourself.”

I laughed softly “Embarrassing myself?” I repeated.

“Yes.”

His expression immediately hardened all of a sudden.

“You slept with another man tonight, Elena, don't be an hypocrite.”

A shocked murmur rippled through the crowd.

“There's no point pretending to be innocent now.”

The accusation hung heavily in the air, my chest tightened then a soft voice spoke again.

“Matteo’s right,” she said gently. “You should just go home.”

Sofia's eyes gleamed with amusement.

“After all,” she added softly, “You're not exactly a responsible woman anymore.”

The words landed like a slap as the room went completely silent.

And for a moment…

I wondered if this humiliation was really the end of my story.

Just then, a deep voice spoke from behind me.

“I do agree to disagree at this point.”

The single word cut through the silence like a blade and tge entire room turned towards the entrance.

And my heart stopped.

Because standing there… at the doorway of the ballroom was ADRIAN LAURENT.