Chapter 8
It was Anita.
Leister’s mouth curved into that familiar predatory smile as he grabbed her waist possessively.
“Miss me that much, huh?”
“Stop teasing… let’s go inside.”
They kissed right there on the sidewalk like the rest of the world didn’t exist.
Noelia stood paralyzed, tears welling up as her heart felt like it was being shredded by razor wire.
She’d always known Leister as this controlled, unshakeable force.
Only with her had he ever shown his softer side, let his walls down.
Now he was completely unraveling for another woman.
After what felt like an eternity, Leister broke away and guided Anita inside.
Noelia forced herself to breathe and followed, masochistic as it was.
At the VIP room entrance.
The second Noelia cracked the door and glimpsed inside, her world imploded.
Leister and Anita were playing some ridiculous kissing game with a napkin, their lips meeting again and again while his friends cheered them on.
“Another round! Come on!”
“Damn, Leister’s got skills!”
The guys were loving every second. “So Anita, how’s our boy treating you behind closed doors?”
Anita giggled and buried her face against Leister’s chest. His shirt was half unbuttoned, looking completely wrecked as he palmed her ass and pulled her closer, smirking at his friends.
“Ease up, you’re making her blush.”
“Man, we told you to ditch the ball and chain ages ago! Way better than being stuck with boring ass Noelta at home, right?
Noelia’s grip tightened on the door handle as tears carved tracks down her cheeks.
This narrow hallway felt like her personal execution chamber.
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Baby Ex Don’t Cry. I’m Smiling at My Wedding with Tycoon Knight
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Chapter 8
They’ve all known. His entire friend group has been watching him cheat and treating me like the village idiot.
She couldn’t stomach another second. Spinning around, she fled.
Inside the room.
The instant his boys mentioned Noelia’s name, Leister’s expression went arctic.
“I told you fuckers–keep her out of this shit.”
“And what happens here stays here. Anyone runs their mouth, we’re done. Crystal clear?”
“Yeah, yeah, we get it.”
But the mood had shifted completely. Leister looked ready to murder someone.
Even when Anita tried climbing all over him, he barely reacted.
Noelia was sacred territory. Nobody got to disrespect that.
Voelia burst onto the street and immediately started retching into the nearest trash can, tears streaming.
God, it was so fucking vile. All of it.
the scrubbed at her skin where Leister had touched her, then stumbled toward the waiting cab.
Collapsing against the seat, she felt completely hollow. “Change of plans. Take me to a bar.”
The driver studied her in the rearview mirror.
He’d witnessed the whole sick show–watched her husband kiss her goodbye, then immediately start mauling some other
woman. Unreal.
He shook his head sympathetically. “Look honey, men are all the same garbage. You two seem like you’ve been together a while though. Maybe he’s just going through something? Might be worth talking it out?”
Noelia laughed bitterly, her eyes raw and red.
‘Why the hell would I waste my breath on cheating scum? I don’t negotiate with trash.”
The driver knew better than to argue. Just drove her where she wanted to go.
Leister had already paid the fare–triple the normal rate, actually.
After some concerned warnings about staying safe, the cabbie left her there.
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Baby Ex Don’t Cry, I’m Smiling at My Wedding with Tycoon Knight
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Chapter 8
Years of corporate schmoozing had given Noelia a serious tolerance. Plus she’d been doing Krav Maga since college–otherwise she’d never risk a place like this solo.
She ordered a Bloody Mary and claimed a corner booth.
Drinking alone, letting the bass line numb everything.
Right now, only alcohol could burn away those disgusting images.
“Damn, gorgeous. Drinking solo’s no fun at all.”
Some sleazeball in an obnoxious tropical shirt slid into the booth uninvited, eyes crawling over every inch of her–the silk charcoal blouse, that curve–hugging black dress, honey–colored waves spilling over bare shoulders.
Noelia glanced up, immediately clocking the pale band on his ring finger where a wedding ring usually sat.
Her smile could’ve cut glass.
‘Married and still dropping lines that pathetic? Your moral compass is more fucked than a broken GPS.”
The guy’s face contorted with rage as he grabbed her wrist, staring pointedly at her diamond wedding band.
Right back at you, sweetheart. You’re married too, dressed like that, prowling bars. Takes one to know one.”
We’re both hunting tonight, so drop the virgin act and let’s have some fun.”
Joelia’s eyes flashed lethal. She drove her knee straight into his balls.
While he was doubled over gasping, she bolted.
Fucking bitch!”
The asshole wheezed and stumbled after her,
lla power walked around the corner and slammed face–first into what felt like a marble statue. The impact sent stars oding behind her eyes.
hit…”
she clutched her throbbing nose, catching the faintest hint of expensive cologne–something dark and sophisticated.
A strong hand settled on her shoulder.
A voice like aged whiskey drifted down from somewhere above her head.
‘Easy there. You hurt?”
Still seeing stars, Noelia waved him off without looking up and tried to keep moving.
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Baby Ex Don’t Cry. I’m Smiling at My Wedding with Tycoon Knight
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Chapter 8
“Hey! You’re not going anywhere, you psycho bitch! Nobody kicks me in the-”
The angry tirade died mid–sentence when the guy spotted whoever was standing behind Noelia.
He pointed at her with shaking rage.
“I knew you were a fucking slut! Acting all righteous, then hooking up with random dudes two seconds later!”
Noelia’s blood went molten, but before she could unleash hell, two massive security guards materialized and sent the creep crashing to the floor.
A nervous manager came rushing over, going pale as death when he recognized the towering figure beside her.
‘Mr. Montclair! Jesus, I’m so sorry about this clusterfuck. We’ll have him banned immediately.”
Montclair?
That name didn’t ring any bells in New York’s elite circles.
Noelia finally looked up-
The man was absolutely devastating. Razor–sharp cheekbones, patrician nose, the kind of bone structure that belonged in nuseums. His charcoal Tom Ford suit was flawless, every line tailored to perfection. Everything about him screamed old noney and lethal competence.
Christopher’s steel–gray eyes assessed the groveling manager with cool amusement.
When your clientele can assault women without consequences, that’s a management problem. Anyone walking in here would hink you’re running a strip club, not an upscale establishment.”
The manager broke into a cold sweat, unable to meet those arctic eyes.
‘Absolutely, sir. This will never happen again. We’ll review all our security protocols immediately…”
arted nervously to Noelia. “Is this your… companion? We’re deeply sorry for any distress. Tonight’s entirely on the
ourse.”
ristopher and Noelia stiffened,
No!” Noelia jumped in quickly, mortified. “You’ve got it completely wrong. I can handle my own tab.”
She dove into her purse, searching frantically for her phone.
After coming up empty–handed, her stomach dropped.
Only Leister had been near her purse tonight. That bastard must have taken her phone.
Why would he…?
Then it clicked–he’d stolen her phone to delete those photos of him and Anita.
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Chapter 8
Did it ever occur to him what would happen if I got into trouble with no way to call for help?
The realization felt like drowning in acid.
The manager looked confused. “Miss?”
Noelia forced herself back to reality, cheeks burning with embarrassment. “I’m sorry, my phone’s missing. I can’t pay right now. Could I leave my driver’s license as collateral and settle up tomorrow?”
“I’ve got it.”
The stranger’s voice cut through her humiliation like a blade,
Noelia felt her face flame even hotter as she risked a glance at him.
His expression remained perfectly neutral–clearly pocket change to someone like him.
“Thank you,” she managed, biting her lip.
“Could I get your number? I really need to pay you back.”
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Baby Ex Don’t Cry I’m Smiling at My Weddine with Troon Kalabe
