Dear Ex-Wife Please Be Mine Again (Christina and Alex) novel Chapter 63

Alexander POV.

It was past ten when I finally decided to walk in.

For most of the evening, I had watched from afar, leaning against the wall of the bar as Christiana celebrated her victory with her staff. The exhibition had been flawless, better than I could’ve imagined, and she had carried out every detail like the brilliant woman I knew she was. The pride I felt was something I hadn’t anticipated, a quiet surge that swelled in my chest as I watched her work the room earlier, now celebrating with her people.

She didn’t need me—not for her success—but I couldn’t deny I’d had a hand in tonight’s guest list. Still, she hadn’t figured that part out yet. I smirked to myself, sipping the glass of water I’d ordered while staying out of sight. The bar was full of laughter, toasts, and the occasional off-key singing from one of her more inebriated staff. Everyone seemed at ease.

Until I made my move.

The moment I stepped inside the rented-out hall, it was like someone had flipped a switch. Conversations halted mid-sentence, laughter died, and heads turned toward me. There was a middle-aged man in the middle of raising his glass, already slurring through some half-coherent toast, but he trailed off when he saw me, blinking as though I’d appeared out of thin air.

I gave him a polite nod, flashing a smile that didn’t quite reach my eyes. “Don’t let me stop you.”

The recognition spread like wildfire. I could see it in their faces—the quiet awe, the nervousness, the uncertainty. My status as a billionaire preceded me, and there was no doubt in my mind that Christiana’s staff knew exactly who I was: her ex-husband. Some looked on with curious gazes, others with a hint of trepidation. It was an old story, one that always seemed to shadow me wherever I went, but I was used to it.

I glanced around, searching for Christiana.

There she was, sitting at the center of the celebration like a queen, her cheeks flushed from the night’s excitement—or maybe the alcohol—and her eyes widened slightly when she saw me. But to her credit, she didn’t flinch. Her lips pressed into a tight line, but she stayed calm, watching me with that same composure she always wore like a second skin.

“What are you doing here, Alex?” Her tone was neutral, but I could hear the edge underneath it.

I walked over to her, ignoring the whispers that had started to circulate among her employees. “I wanted to join the celebration. After all, it’s been quite a night, hasn’t it?”

Her eyes narrowed ever so slightly, but before she could respond, I turned my attention to the man sitting beside her. He looked like he was about to faint from sheer nerves, his hands clenching the edge of the table.

“Excuse me,” I murmured, leaning in close enough that only he could hear me. “Mind if I take your seat?”

He didn’t hesitate. He was up on his feet in an instant, almost knocking over his drink in his rush to move aside. I slid into the now-vacant seat next to Christiana, a casual smirk playing on my lips as I settled in.

Christiana watched me with a raised brow, her eyes flicking toward the empty seat before locking back on me. She still hadn’t fully relaxed, but she was doing a hell of a job keeping her composure.

“Carry on,” I said, glancing around at the staff who were still watching me like I was an alien that had crash-landed into their party. “Don’t mind me.”