6 - Rise of a Phoenix.

“Ex-Husband, We are divorced.”

Her mother crossed her arms, looking pleased. “Well, it's a good thing you finally realized that man doesn’t deserve you as his wife.” She picked up a cup of coffee from the polished mahogany table. “People like him never match our standards to begin with.”

Julian might be a billionaire, but compared to the Steinfeld family whose total wealth exceeded trillion dollars, he was insignificant.

“He divorced me,” Sydney clarified.

Her mother blinked, her hand freezing as she held her cup of coffee close to her mouth. “What did you just say?”

Sydney sighed, dropping her cutlery by her dish. “He divorced me, claiming I cheated on him.”

“Did you?” Her brother asked, looking curious.

“So what if she cheated?” Her aunt demanded, narrowing her eyes at her brother. “It is obvious Sydney must have been going through hell in that marriage!” Her aunt rubbed her forehead and gave Sydney a sympathetic look. “That was why we had advised you not to marry him. He isn't even that good looking to begin with. It is no surprise you cheated.”

“He is actually handsome,” Her brother pointed out, earning a glare from her aunt.

Her mother dropped her coffee, her hand tightening into a fist. “Who does he think he is to divorce you?” She demanded. “Aren't you the one who made him rich?! Does he think that our family can't tear him down now that he is wealthy?!”

“We have to teach him a lesson,” her Aunt said to her mother.

“Don’t worry,” Sydney said, her gaze cold and distant.

“Sydney, you can’t let him get away with this,” her Aunt protested.

Her mother nodded. “Exactly.”

“You don't need to do anything,” Sydney said with a frown. “I will deal with him.”

Her brother shivered, rubbing his arms. “Jeez, I’m not even him yet I’m scared.”

After dinner, Sydney went to meet her father and tried to make peace with him. Fortunately, he had forgiven her for leaving behind everything. Five years ago, he made her choose between her inheritance or Julian. Like a fool in love, she had chosen Julian. But now, after many years of holding on to her love for Julian, she had finally realized she was holding on to something too much for her to carry. Julian wanted to be free and she had set him free.

Luckily, her father gave her back her inheritance, offering her the position of the new CEO of their family conglomerate. The Steinfeld Group. In order to return the favor, Sydney organized a fundraising event where she gave out some of her expensive possessions to be auctioned. Most of the money obtained from the fundraising event would be donated to the Steinfeld Foundation.

It was the day of the fundraising event and Sydney was dressed in an elegant red dress. She had purposely chosen to wear a red dress. It made her feel like a phoenix rising from the fire after it got burned.

When she arrived at the event, it was already filled with notable attendees. Although Sydney was the daughter of the wealthiest man in Vergasca, few knew her true identity. That had made it easy for her to move around about the event venue without the media or the attendees swarming around her.

She was standing by a corridor, looking at a collection of artworks placed on stands. She was about to touch one of the artworks when she heard someone approaching her.

“Who invited you here?”

Recognizing the voice, Sydney had to force herself not to roll her eyes. She didn't expect Ashley to attend the event. But who was she kidding? Ashley claimed to be the Steinfeld family’s daughter so it was obvious she would attend the event with Julian.

“It is none of your concern,” Sydney said, refusing to acknowledge Julian who was standing beside Ashley, wearing a smooth refined brown suit.

Just like every other day, his handsome features made him stand out in the room, but Sydney looked away from him and focused on the artworks.

“Get out of here,” Ashley said. “I organize this event and I don't want bad omen like you bringing misfortune to an event like this.”

Sydney snickered, finding Ashley’s courage amusing. “Why don’t you tell the security to do that if you can?” Sydney challenged, knowing the security wouldn't dare to lay a finger on her.

Ashley’s mouth hung open, confused with Sydney’s confidence. While Ashley was lost for words, Sydney walked away, going into the auction room.

She glanced around the auction room, searching for the man she had organized the fundraising event to meet. She smiled when she saw him sitting alone and approached him.