Chapter 3

Chapter 3

My phone buzzed with a text from Gavin asking where I was.

I didn't even bother explaining to these people that the luxury hotel they were standing in belonged to me.

Caleb blinked in surprise, his brows furrowing.

"Look at you. With so many elite business opportunities right in front of you, you're just going to walk away?"

"After all these years apart from me, have you really made zero progress in life?"

Fiona chimed in with fake sweetness.

"Don't be too hard on her, Caleb. Maybe Audrey is just busy trying to close a small deal. Still, if you need any financial help, just ask. After all, you took care of Caleb for me in the past, so I owe you that much."

The man with gold-rimmed glasses looked me up and down, sneering.

"Seriously, Miss Mercer, that outfit looks so cheap. How about I lend you a dress from my maid? Even her clothes would look far more decent than whatever this is."

Laughter erupted around the circle again.

I looked down at what I was wearing.

It was a simple, handcrafted cream-colored cashmere top, custom-made by Gavin himself.

Despite his hectic schedule as a billionaire CEO, he had spent weeks learning tailoring just to surprise me, staying up late into the night.

To me, this piece was priceless.

"No, thank you," I replied calmly.

"I have no need for your charity."

Even if I wore a burlap sack, the city's top executives would still line up begging to work with me.

Yet in Caleb's eyes, I was merely putting on a brave face to salvage my pride.

Frowning, he pulled a checkbook from his pocket, scribbled on it, and held it out to me.

"Fine. For the sake of our past together, take this. I wouldn't want people saying my ex is struggling on the streets."

I glanced at the check.

A measly thirty thousand dollars. He might as well have tossed spare change at a beggar.

I pushed the check back toward him, my voice completely flat.

"Keep your money for someone who actually needs it."

"We agreed to sever all ties eight years ago, so let's keep it that way."

Caleb froze, a flash of irritation crossing his face.

"Audrey, do you really have to draw such a hard line between us?"

I looked at him, completely speechless.

How absurd. He was the one who drew the line first.

In our past life, I was over the moon on our wedding day, but he refused to touch me from night one, using exhaustion as an excuse.

Watching his frustrated expression now, I found it hilarious. He threw me away, yet now he was mad that I wasn't begging for him back.

Not wanting to waste another second on their nonsense, I turned to leave. Just then, my phone rang.

It was Gavin calling directly.

"Sweetheart, where are you? Tommy and I are by the fountain in the courtyard. He really wants to see the lights."

My voice softened instantly.

"I'm on my way. Give me two minutes."

When I hung up, I noticed Caleb staring at me with a complicated look in his eyes.

"A new boyfriend?" he asked, his tone laced with probing jealousy.

Before I could answer, Fiona let out a soft giggle.

"It looks like Miss Mercer has a date. No wonder she's in such a rush to leave."

Caleb's expression darkened even further.

Suddenly, a voice echoed from across the ballroom.

"Hey, did you hear? Someone said the billionaire CEO of Mercer Group is in the hotel with her husband and son tonight!"

The crowd instantly erupted into excited whispers.

"You mean the elusive Audrey Mercer? The one who owns half the city's commercial real estate?"

"Oh my god, she never appears in public! Are we actually going to see her in person tonight?"

Another executive let out an awed laugh.

"She's the founder of Mercer Group! This entire five-star hotel is just one of her side investments!"

"And her husband, Gavin Brooks, is equally powerful. Their empire is unstoppable!"

I couldn't help but smile to myself. Well, they weren't wrong.

"Look! Someone just snapped a picture of her little boy outside! He looks adorable!"

I frowned, wondering if the paparazzi were hovering, when a sweet, childish voice rang out across the quiet hall.

"Mommy!"

A three-year-old boy in a crisp mini-suit came running over on his little legs, throwing his arms around my knees.

His hair was neatly combed, and his cheeks were rosy with excitement.

I bent down and scooped my son into my arms, gently pinching his soft cheek.

"Why did you run inside, baby? Weren't you waiting by the fountain with Daddy?"

"Daddy got tired of waiting," Tommy pouted.

"He told me to come rescue Mommy from all the annoying strangers so we can go home."

The entire ballroom fell dead silent.