Chapter 22
The sound of shattering glass snapped through the elegant silence of the gala like a gunshot.
Ellie turned instinctively toward the source, her eyes catching the familiar face in the crowd. Colton.
He stood frozen, a broken champagne flute at his feet, wine dripping from his fingers. For a moment, their gazes locked across the sea of glittering gowns and sharp tuxedos.
But she felt nothing.
No heat. No fear. No heartbreak.
Just… emptiness.
Without missing a beat, she turned her head away, her arm sliding through Sebastian’s with effortless grace as if the moment hadn’t happened at all. If Colton had come here to make a scene, he was going to find himself irrelevant. Just as he had made her feel for
years.
The music swelled, and Sebastian leaned down. “You okay?”
“I am,” Ellie said, lifting her chin. “Let’s enjoy the night.”
Sebastian’s fingers lightly skimmed Ellie’s back as he led her onto the dance floor, the warm golden lights casting a soft glow over them. A slow, elegant waltz filled the room, and for a moment, they were the only two people in the world.
“You look breathtaking tonight,” Sebastian murmured, his voice low against her ear as he took her hand.
Ellie smiled, cheeks tinged with a blush. “That’s just the dress doing all the work.”
He leaned in just enough to whisper, “No. It’s you. The dress is just lucky to be worn by you.”
She tried not to laugh, biting her lip as he twirled her gently under the chandelier. “You’re laying it on thick tonight.”
“Only because you’re mine tonight,” he replied smoothly, brushing his thumb across her knuckles as they danced. “For real. No pretending.”
Her eyes met his for a moment longer than they should have. She looked away first.
“You always know what to say,” she murmured.
He chuckled. “Because I mean every word.”
Sebastian pulled her a little closer as the music shifted, their bodies now barely apart. His hand found the small of her back again, and her breath hitched at the contact. They moved slowly, perfectly in sync.
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Sebastian’s fingers lightly skimmed Ellie’s back as he led her onto the dance floor, the warm golden lights casting a soft glow over them. A slow, elegant waltz filled the room, and for a moment, they were the only two people in the world.
“You look breathtaking tonight,” Sebastian murmured, his voice low against her ear as he took her hand.
Ellie smiled, cheeks tinged with a blush. “That’s just the dress doing all the work.”
He leaned in just enough to whisper, “No. It’s you. The dress is just lucky to be worn by you.”
She tried not to laugh, biting her lip as he twirled her gently under the chandelier. “You’re laying it on thick tonight.”
“Only because you’re mine tonight,” he replied smoothly, brushing his thumb across her knuckles as they danced. “For real. No pretending.”
Her eyes met his for a moment longer than they should have. She looked away
“You always know what to say,” she murmured.
He chuckled. “Because I mean every
word.”
first.
Sebastian pulled her a little closer as the music shifted, their bodies now barely apart. His hand found the small of her back again, and her breath hitched at the contact. They moved slowly, perfectly in sync.
“Everyone’s watching us,” Ellie whispered, her lips barely moving.
“Let them,” Sebastian said. “Let the world see how I hold my wife.”
The words made her heart stutter.
He twirled her again, and this time when she landed back in his arms, their faces were close. Too close.
“You’re dangerous,” she said softly, looking up at him.
Sebastian grinned. “Only to people who try to take you away from me.”
Their laughter mingled like warm honey as the music dipped again. And when Sebastian dipped her low–graceful, confident–he paused.
He didn’t lift her right away.
His hand slid to cradle the back of her head, his eyes locked on hers.
And then–he kissed her.
It wasn’t rushed. It wasn’t for show. It was slow, lingering, like a promise finally spc
aloud.
Ellie’s hands curled into the fabric of his suit. When he finally pulled back, her eyes fluttered
open.
“That… wasn’t in the script,” she whispered.
“Good,” he said. “Because I don’t want to pretend anymore.”
A soft laugh escaped her lips, and she leaned her forehead against his chest. She was
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A soft laugh escaped her lips, and she leaned her forehead against his chest. She was glowing. Her laughter was real. Her smile reached all the way to her eyes.
And across the room–Colton snapped.
He’d been watching every second from the shadows, drink frozen halfway to his lips. The moment Sebastian’s hand slid along her waist, the way Ellie smiled at him like that–like she used to smile at Colton years ago–it hit him like a punch to the gut.
But the kiss?
The kiss shattered him. Colton snapped.
He shoved his drink into a waiter’s hands and stormed across the ballroom floor, shoving past stunned guests and ignoring the murmurs that rose around him.
He reached them just as Sebastian pulled Ellie upright again. With one violent motion, he grabbed Ellie by the wrist and yanked her back.
“What the hell is the meaning of this?” he barked. “Are you out of your mind?”
Ellie staggered slightly but straightened herself, not flinching from the furious man in front of her. “Let go of me, Colton.”
Sebastian stepped forward, instantly protective. “Unhand my wife.”
Colton’s glare didn’t waver. “Your wife? Don’t make me laugh. She’s my wife. Mine.”
People were gathering, phones raised, voices buzzing.
Sebastian’s jaw tightened. “You forfeited that title the moment you let her walk out of your life. The moment you chose another woman over her.”
“You don’t know anything,” Colton spat. “She left without a word! She didn’t even file the divorce to my face.”
“Because you were with someone else when she needed you the most!” Sebastian thundered.
Ellie stood between them now, voice rising. “Stop. Both of you.”
But Colton wasn’t done. “You disappeared. You left me, and now you’re playing perfect wife to my rival?”
“You cheated on me, Colton!” Ellie screamed back. “You made me feel invisible for years! You gave my place to Shania like I was nothing!”
He looked stunned, but she wasn’t done.
“You brought her into our home. You made our anniversary about her. You gave her the things you promised me. And now, you stand here acting like I’m the one who betrayed you?”
Colton’s face contorted with pain, but Sebastian pulled Ellie gently behind him.
“She’s with me now,” he said coldly. “And I will never make her feel like she’s nothing.”
Colton lunged. “You don’t deserve her either!”
Sebastian was ready.
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Colton couldn’t breathe.
