My Husband Chose His Ex I Became His Regret novel Chapter 28

Chapter 28

Chapter 28

Lila

He’s next to me before I know it.

Alone this time, Sienna must be in the bathroom or avoiding me.

“Lila,” he says. His voice is different. Softer. Desperate. “Please. Just give me five minutes.”

I should say no. Should tell him to leave. Should maintain the power I just earned.

But curiosity wins.

“Two minutes,” I say. “And only because I’m feeling generous.”

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He looks… smaller than I remember. Less intimidating. Just a man who’s realized he made a catastrophic mistake.

“You look…” He trails off, staring at me. “I don’t even have words. You look…”

“Like myself,” I finish. “For the first time in years, I look like myself.”

“I didn’t know,” he says. “I didn’t know you could be this. This confident. This beautiful. Thi”…”

“I was always this, Mark.” My voice is calm. Cold. “You just didn’t bother to look.”

He flinches. “That’s not fair-”

“Fair?” I laugh. It’s not a kind sound. “You want to talk about fair? You humiliated me at this exact gala weeks ago. You moved your mistress into our home while I was still your wife. You told reporters I was unstable. Controlling. And now you want to talk about fair?”

“I made mistakes…”

“You made choices.” I lean forward. “Conscious, deliberate choices. Every time you criticized what I cooked. Every time you looked through me like I was furniture. Every time you made me feel like I should be grateful you tolerated my existence. Those were choices.”

His face is pale. “Lila, I’m sorry…”

“I don’t care.” And I realize, with stunning clarity, that I mean it. “I genuinely don’t care if you’re sorry. You taught me something valuable, Mark. You taught me exactly how I don’t want to be treated. So thank you. Sincerely. Thank you for being such a spectacular failure of a husband that you made it easy to leave.”

“You didn’t leave. I…”

“Divorced me. Yes. Best thing you ever did for me.” I stand. Look down at him. “Now I think your two minutes are up. Enjoy your evening with Sienna. I hope you two are very happy together.”

Chapter 28

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I turn to walk away. I need to breathe.

“He’s using you.” Mark’s voice stops me. “Storm. He’s using you to get to me. To destroy Knight Group. You’re just a pawn in his revenge plot. You know that, right?”

I turn back. Smile. That predator smile I learned tonight.

“Oh, I know.” I say sweetly. “The difference is, Aidan Storm makes me feel powerful while he’s using me. You just made me feel worthless. I’ll take being a useful weapon over being a doormat any day.”

I walk away. Don’t look back. Don’t give him the satisfaction.

My hands are shaking. My heart is pounding. But I feel… God, I feel incredible.

I just told Mark Knight exactly what I thought of him. Didn’t apologize. Didn’t soften it. Didn’t make it easier for him.

I just spoke my truth and walked away.

This is what power feels like.

I’m halfway back to the table when I see Aidan. He’s finished his conversation, standing near the bar, talking to another group. But his eyes find me immediately.

Our gazes lock across the ballroom.

And he smiles.

Not his CEO smile. Not his professional smile. Not the calculated expression he wears like armor.

A real smile. Genuine. Proud. Warm.

A smile that reaches his eyes and makes them crinkle slightly at the corners.

A smile that makes him look less like an intimidating CEO and more like a man. A devastatingly handsome, impossibly perfect man who just watched me eviscerate my ex-husband and looks proud of me for it.

My heart does something complicated in my chest. Flips. Stutters. Races.

Oh.

Oh no.

This is bad.

This is really bad.

Because I’m not just grateful to Aidan Storm for this opportunity. I’m not just impressed by his business acumen or thankful for his investment in me.

I’m attracted to him.

10:05 Wed, May 13 N

Chapter 28

Dangerously, inappropriately, completely attracted to him.

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To the way his tuxedo fits like it was painted on. To the sharp line of his jaw. To those gray eyes that see too much. To the way he touches the small of my back like I’m something precious. To the way he says my name. To the way he smiled just now, like I’m the only person in this ballroom that matters.

Fuck.

I’m attracted to my boss.

The man who hired me as part of a revenge plot.

The man who’s been planning Mark Knight’s downfall for fifteen years.

The man who just spent three minutes dancing with me like we were the only two people in the world.

Aidan excuses himself from his conversation. Starts walking toward me. Each step confident, purposeful, predatory.

My pulse kicks up. Higher. Faster.

He reaches me. His hand finds my waist, automatic now, natural.

“Saw you talking to Mark,” he says quietly. “Everything okay?”

“More than okay.” I’m breathless. From the confrontation with Mark? Or from Aidan standing this close? “I told him exactly what I thought of him.”

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