He Chased His Ex, I Axed the Vows

Dusk painted the sky, and Riverside buzzed awake with its raucous nightlife. At the city’s plushest five-star hotel, a glitzy gala was in full swing, celebrating the fifth wedding anniversary of Rayan Spencer—heir to the legendary Spencer Group—and his wife, Maya Spencer.

Rayan cut a devastating figure in his tailored black suit, sharp jawline and striking features radiating that quiet, effortless power only old money can pull off. Beside him, Maya was every bit his equal: her gown sparkled under the chandeliers, the massive diamond necklace around her throat oozed A-list glamour, and her flawless features paired with sophisticated makeup made her impossible to look away from.

"You actually love these flashy parties? What’s even fun about all this?" Rayan muttered, face completely unreadable.

Maya knew big social events made him uncomfortable. She tucked her hand gently around his arm and smiled up at him. "C’mon. Just get up there, say a quick thank you to everyone, and leave the rest to me. Can you do that much for me?"

"Do I really have to give a speech? What am I even supposed to say?"

"Tell everyone you love me."

"..."

Undeterred, Maya nudged him with a playful little grin. "Honey, it’s our fifth anniversary. I’ve been planning this for three whole months, and you haven’t even kissed me in public once this whole night."

To the guests watching them from across the ballroom, they looked like the perfect couple—silly, in love, bantering like any pair that’s been married five years. Envy, real or performative, rippled through the crowd; everyone couldn’t stop gushing that they were made for each other.

Then Rayan’s phone rang, and the whole mood shattered.

Maya’s stomach dropped straight to her shoes. That bright, cheerful smile slipped right off her face. Rayan glanced at the caller ID, turned his back to her, and answered, "Hello?"

Maya couldn’t make out a single word on the other end, but the tight furrow of his brow said it all. It was probably Elina Guzman again. Ever since she’d waltzed back into town three months ago, she’d had a knack for showing up at the worst possible times.

Sure enough, the second he hung up, Rayan clipped, "I have to go."

Maya tried to stop him, that smile still glued to her face, her voice steady as steel. "Darling. Is anything really more important tonight than our anniversary?"

Rayan hesitated for half a second, his face impossible to read. "It’s urgent. Let go."

Maya felt his unshakable resolve, and she reluctantly loosened her grip. "At least finish the speech, okay? Everyone’s watching. Can’t you just give me this one night, save a little face?"

But Rayan couldn’t wait another second. He wrenched his arm free, didn’t even care that half the room was watching, and walked straight for the exit.

"Rayan!" Maya called out suddenly, her voice ringing sharp and clear over the music. "If you walk out that door, I’m filing for divorce tonight."

Dead silence dropped over the ballroom. Every head snapped toward her. No one could believe those words had actually come out of her mouth. It felt as unreal as walking into a talking dog on the street.

Rayan paused for just one beat. He didn’t even bother to turn around. "Are you serious?"

He kept walking, brisk and unhurried, and Maya felt a deep old wound tear open inside her—one that had been festering quietly for five years, now bleeding out all over the polished marble floor.

The crowd started whispering, gossip curling through the room like smoke.

"What the hell just happened?"

"No idea—are they actually fighting?"

"On their anniversary? Couldn’t they keep this mess behind closed doors? Why air dirty laundry in front of everyone?"

"Rayan bails on his own anniversary dinner… are all those rumors true?"

"It was always a marriage of convenience, wasn’t it? Never any real love. The rift between them was always too big—you can’t force someone to love you."

"Elina’s back in town."

"Well, that explains it then…"

Staring out at a sea of curious, judgmental stares, Maya felt heat creep up her neck—but she forced herself to stay calm. She took a deep breath, fixed that perfect smile back in place, and walked gracefully up to the podium, taking the microphone into her shaking hand.

"Good evening, everyone," she started, steady as anything. "Today is my fifth wedding anniversary, and Rayan and I are so grateful that all of you came out tonight to share this with us and send your well wishes."

Maya hadn’t been born into old money, but five years as a Spencer wife had taught her how to hold onto grace when everything inside you was breaking. No one would have guessed how raw her chest felt just from looking at her.

"And today, it also doubles as my divorce celebration. After tonight, Rayan and I will be going our separate ways. Thank you all for coming, and I wish every single one of you a happy, whole life with your families."

The ballroom went completely still, stunned into silence.

Before anyone could say a word, Maya was already walking out the door.

What was supposed to be an anniversary celebration had morphed into a messy divorce announcement, leaving chaos in its wake.

Maya cruised down the tree-lined streets of Riverside, tears streaming hot and fast down her cheeks. This would be the last time she ever cried for this man. She swore it.

From the day she’d married Rayan, Maya had known exactly what her role was: pay off her family’s crippling debt, and be the good luck charm that pulled Rayan through after that terrible car accident.

That accident had happened when Rayan tried to run off and elope with Elina. By some cruel twist of fate—some might call it destiny—he woke up from his near-death coma three days after he and Maya walked down the aisle. Everyone called her the Spencer family’s miracle.

As the years went by and Rayan made a full recovery, they’d built the public image of the perfect, loving couple. But Maya had felt a thorn in her heart grow sharper and sharper every year. The more she loved him, the more it ached— a constant, throbbing reminder that his heart would never be hers. It belonged to someone else.

And now that Elina was back in his life? It was time to yank that thorn out once and for all.

***

Maya kept driving down Riverside’s Main Street, ignoring the endless, insistent buzzing of her phone in the cup holder. She pressed harder on the gas, speed matching the tornado of emotions churning in her chest.

Her father Gustavo Walker had ridden her marriage to Rayan all the way to the top of the city’s social ladder. He’d never be happy that she’d announced her divorce in front of the whole town. But Maya was done living for everyone but herself. It was time to stop.

Finally, she answered the call. Gustavo’s furious roar burst out of the speaker immediately.

"Maya, what the hell do you think you’re doing? You can’t just throw the word divorce around like it’s meaningless! Where are you? You get over to Rayan’s place right now and apologize."

"My Lakeside Mall project is half done! All my deals with Warmlight Investments and Hayworth Projects only exist because of Rayan’s name! If you divorce him, you’ll ruin me!"

Maya stayed quiet. Gustavo realized he’d let his temper get away from him, and softened his tone. "Look, couples fight. You don’t joke about divorce. Talk to me, tell me what’s wrong. I’m your dad, I’m always here for you—you just can’t go through with this divorce."

Listening to her greedy, opportunistic father talk about being there for her made Maya want to laugh until she cried.

Then, out of nowhere, someone darted out from the side of the road.

She slammed on the brakes without thinking.

Screech—

Thud—