chapter 6

CHAPTER 6: THE PARTY

The party was at the Hayes house. Mia's old house. The house where she grew up. The house where she had laughed, cried, and dreamed of her wedding. Now she was going back there, not as a daughter, but as a wife of another man.

When the car stopped in front of the house, Mia's hands were shaking. She looked at the big gate. She remembered all the birthdays she celebrated there. She remembered her mother smiling at her. It felt like a lifetime ago.

Adrian held her hand. It was not for love. It was for the cameras. But he held it tightly, like he knew she needed strength.

"Remember," he whispered in her ear. "Smile. Do not look down. You are the queen today. They are small people. You are bigger than what they did to you."

Mia took a deep breath. She smiled. She stepped out of the car with her head high.

When they entered, everywhere went quiet.

The music stopped. People turned. Mouths opened. Glasses paused in the air. Nobody expected to see her.

It was Mia. The bride Daniel had left in the rain. But now she did not look like a woman who had been abandoned. She looked rich. She looked beautiful. She looked dangerous. Her dress was elegant, her hair was perfect, her eyes were confident.

And the man holding her hand was Adrian Cole. The richest man in the city. The man everyone feared. The man no one dared to challenge.

Daniel was in the corner with Lily. Lily wore a red dress. She had been smiling before, laughing with her friends, enjoying her victory. But when she saw Mia, her smile died. Her face turned pale.

Mia walked past them. She did not greet them. She did not even look at them. She walked like they did not exist.

But Daniel could not control himself. He walked over to meet them, his face full of shock and anger.

"Mia? What is this? You married Adrian? When? How? You were supposed to marry me!"

Mia turned slowly. She smiled like a queen who had just seen a servant.

"Daniel. Long time. You look... tired. Is Lily not feeding you well? You look like you have not slept."

Lily's face changed. She stepped forward. "Mia, you cannot talk to us like that. We are your..."

"My what?" Mia cut her off, her voice calm but sharp. "My sister who slept with my man? Or my ex who left me at the altar in front of everyone? Please, do not call my name again. You lost the right to call my name that day."

Everyone at the party was watching. Some people were recording videos. Some were whispering. This was better than any movie.

Adrian placed his hand on Mia's waist. He pulled her a little closer. "Baby, are you okay? Do you want us to leave?"

Baby. He called her baby for everyone to hear. Mia's heart almost fell, but she held herself together.

"I am fine, baby," she said, smiling at him. "I am just greeting old friends."

Old friends. She called Daniel and Lily old friends. Not enemies. Not family. Just old friends. People from the past.

Daniel's eyes turned red. "Mia, do you think you have won? Adrian will leave you too. He does not love you. It is just money... He is using you!"

Adrian looked at him. Cold eyes. A voice that could freeze water. "Daniel, if you speak to my wife like that again, I will buy your father's company tomorrow morning and fire you by evening. Do you understand? And I do not make empty threats."

Daniel went silent. He did not speak again. His hands were shaking.

Mia looked at Adrian. Was this man... really protecting me? Or was it just acting? She did not know. But it felt good. It felt like someone was finally standing up for her.

Then her father came. Richard Hayes. He looked at Mia, then at Adrian. He did not smile. His face was hard.

"Mia. In my house? With my enemy? Have you forgotten who you are?"

Mia looked her father straight in the eye. For the first time in her life, she was not afraid of him. "Dad, good evening. It is your party. I came to greet you. With my husband."

Dad almost choked. His eyes widened.

Adrian shook Richard's hand. "Good evening, father-in-law. We will work together soon. Very soon. I hope you are ready."

Mia and Adrian walked out. Outside, Mia's legs were shaking. She almost fell. The strength she showed inside was gone.

Adrian held her. "You did well. You did very well. I am proud of you."

Mia laughed, but tears were in her eyes. "I did it. I really did it. I faced them and I did not cry."

Adrian looked at her. He wiped one tear from her cheek with his thumb. It was a small thing, but it was soft. "Come, let us go home. The war has started. And we have won the first round."