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Somehow, they had gotten an invitation to my party. My business partner, Julian, spotted them. The story o how they had almost killed me was well–known, and Julian had no love for Alex. He was about to have secu
rity throw them out.
But Diane, with an astonishing level of confidence, puffed out her chest. “Do you know who I am? You wan
to throw me out?”
She pushed her son forward.
“This is her husband. You have no idea how much your boss used to worship my son. She probably workec
this hard just to get his attention again.”
She pointed to the head table. “For my son’s sake, we shouldn’t be sitting in a corner. We belong at the mair
table.”
Alex’s eyes, however, were scanning the room, searching for me. He looked around frantically until I emerg ed in a stunning evening gown.
He immediately walked towards me.
“Clara!”
He called my name, but I was on the arm of a man younger and more handsome than him, deep in conversa-
tion.
Julian intercepted Alex. “The woman you threw away has had a line of suitors since she left you. This gentl- eman here is not only from a wealthy family, but he’s brilliant in his own right. He and Clara have spearhead- ed several major projects together.”
Alex didn’t seem to process the words. He just turned to his parents. “I knew it. She couldn’t have done this on her own. She’s still relying on men.”
His parents nodded in agreement. His father added confidently, “She definitely hasn’t gotten over you. She only sent you to prison to teach you a lesson. She’s probably about to burst into tears seeing you now.”
9/10
16:17
Chapter 2
Buoyed by this delusion, Alex strode towards me.
“Clara! It’s me, Alex!”
16.17
He clearly expected me to rush into his arms, just like I used to. He even opened them, waiting for an embr
ace.
Instead, I walked to the center of the room with Julian. He helped me onto the stage, adjusted the microph
one, and gave me a nod.
I looked out at the crowd. “Welcome, everyone, to my celebration. The success of this latest venture is than ks to the support of all our partners, but most of all, it’s thanks to my own hard work.”
My eyes found Alex in the crowd.
“I’d also like to thank my former self,” I continued, a smile playing on my lips, “for having the courage to aba
ndon a toxic relationship and throw away a piece of trash who tried to kill me. And now, to see him standing before me, fresh out of prison…”
I pointed directly at him. “Seeing him so miserable… I just can’t help but laugh. To all the single women here
tonight, remember this face. Do not, under any circumstances, date this man. He is the single most disgusti
ng person on the planet.”
The room erupted. Alex, his face a mask of fury and humiliation, grabbed his parents and fled.
Later, Julian and I made plans to expand our business overseas.
As for Alex, he eventually married Isabelle. But during childbirth, she was caught in another disaster, a build
ing collapse. She was buried underground. While trying to save her, Alex was crushed by falling debris anc left paralyzed.
In the end, his parents signed the papers to cease his life support.
On the day of his funeral, I went to take one last look. Seeing his black–and–white portrait, I could only think of the old saying.
Justice may be slow, but it always arrives.
My life, finally free of their poison, got better and better. Julian and I got engaged, married, and had children My future, I knew, would be brilliant.
(End of Story)
