—Samantha’s POV—Mira blinked, startled by my sudden change. “Zeke Frost. He… he reached out through his assistant earlier this morning. Requested a private meeting. He said it’s urgent.”The name echoed in my ears like a curse. My fingers curled into fists at my side.Zeke Frost.My ex-husband.The man who crushed me, used me, and called my daughter a mistake.And now he wanted a meeting?My voice was cold. “Did you agree to it?”“I—I didn’t confirm it yet,” Mira stammered. “I was going to check with you first.”I turned away, walking slowly down the hallway now, tension radiating from every step.What did he want now?To mock me again?To crawl back because I was finally powerful enough to matter?Or maybe… he was scared.I stopped just outside my office door and turned to Mira. “Reschedule everything else. I’ll deal with Zeke Frost… personally.”Mira nodded slowly, her expression unsure. “Should I prepare the meeting room?”“No,” I said, voice firm. “Have him wait for me in the sma
—Samantha’s POV—The sun was beautifully bright. The white luxurious car pulled to a smooth stop right in front of the tall, gleaming building of Star Galaxy.I sat still for a moment, watching the morning light bounce off the glass like a promise. Today wasn’t just another workday.Today, I was going to tear down everything fake. Every lie. Every snake hiding in the garden I planted with my own hands. “Ma’am” My new driver said, stepping out and opening the door for me.I nodded, stepping out in a sharp black suit, heels clicking like thunder across the tiled entrance. Ryan had gone to headquarters earlier that morning. Something urgent had come up, and he’d insisted I go ahead without him. So I did.And I came armed.The moment I entered the building, every eye turned. Some faces paled. Some tried to smile, as if the night before had been a dream. But I wasn’t here for greetings.I was here for war! “Call Virginia to my office,” I told one of the receptionists as I stepped into th
—Zeke pov—I slammed the front door shut behind me and tore off my suit jacket, tossing it somewhere I didn’t care. My tie followed next. The top buttons of my shirt popped open as I ran my hand through my hair, pacing the living room like a madman.I couldn’t breathe.I couldn’t think.How the hell had I not seen it?! Samantha—Samantha! — my ex-wife, the woman I thought was a poor, weak little countryside girl, turns out to be Alice McQueen, the damn CEO of Star Galaxy, a company worth billions!And not just that.She was standing there tonight like she owned the world. Beautiful. Powerful. Cold. Like she’d never known pain. Like she wasn’t the same girl I used to humiliate, the same woman I threw away for—“Zeke…” a soft voice came from behind.I didn’t turn.I didn’t need to.I could feel Ophelia standing there, watching me like a scared puppy.She stepped closer, her hand rising to touch my back, but I moved away before she could.Ophelia gasped at my cold reaction, of course, it
—Samantha pov—The door clicked shut behind us. I was still catching my breath from the storm of applause, compliments, and fake smiles out there.But here, in this dimly lit room… it was just us.Dalton.His tall frame stood between me and the door like a wall I couldn’t break through.The air between us burned. My heart pounded wildly as he stepped closer, his gaze fixed on my body like he could peel the layers off me.“What the hell are you doing?” I snapped, trying to steady my voice. I yanked my wrist from his grip.He didn’t flinch.“You think you can lie to me?” His voice was low, rough. Dangerous. “You think I wouldn’t recognize you? Alice McQueen.”My heart froze.So he knew.“I didn’t lie,” I said, standing straighter. “You never asked properly.”A bitter chuckle escaped him. “You used a fake name. Hid right under my nose.”“For my protection,” I said quickly.“Don’t give me that crap,” he hissed. “You were playing everyone. Including me.”I folded my arms. “And you’ve never
—SAMANTHA— Silence.It swept through the hall the moment I stepped onto the stage. Every eye widened in disbelief. Every whisper died on the lips it formed on. I stood powerfully at the center of it all—owning that silence like it belonged to me. Their faces said everything: shock, confusion, fear… disgrace. Zeke looked like he’d seen a ghost. His jaw hung slack, blinking like his mind refused to accept what he was seeing. Ophelia stood beside him, frozen mid-smile, stiff and cold like a statue that was about to shatter. Virginia had dropped her champagne, the sound of it breaking echoed beneath my heels, but no one moved. Mr. Zhao, Mrs. Petra, Donavon... they all stared at me like I had risen from the dead. I could see the fear crawling over them, replaying every rumor, every insult, every attempt to pull me down. In that moment, they all knew—they had messed with the wrong woman! But amid that chaos, one man didn’t look surprised.Dalton Montclair.He sat there dressed in a s
—Samantha pov—I had just turned to leave, the corners of my lips still curled from the private war of glances between Dalton and me, when the sharp voice of the announcer echoed across the glittering hall.“Ladies and Gentlemen,” he said, full of flair. “Please put your hands together as we welcome Miss Grace Arden, the official right-hand of the mysterious CEO of Star Galaxy!”A wave of chatter rippled through the hall like a sudden gust of wind. Heads spun. Eyes widened. Murmurs filled the air instantly—everyone was eager, hungry even, to catch a glimpse of her. After all, Grace was known to be the closest anyone had gotten to the enigma that ruled this empire.I stood still, still as a shadow, observing as Grace walked into the room.Her heels clacked against the marble floor, her posture regal. Her fitted dark green dress hugged her perfectly, her long hair in a high sleek ponytail. Grace looked composed, fierce, and in control as she always did.People leaned forward.Some men