The One They Ignored Who Came Back Stronger

I calmly made a call. Moments later, the manager rushed over, wiping sweat from his forehead. He spoke carefully.

“Sorry, Miss Hayes. Mr. Stanton instructed you not to enter. How about I arrange a private room for you…”

I gave a sharp snort, lips curling into a cold smile.

“Do you think the Hayes family can’t crush a few Stantons? Think carefully.”

The manager froze, then quickly nodded and stepped aside.

The moment I walked in, my disheveled state drew every eye.

“Isn’t that Mrs. Stanton? Why does she look like that?”

“Then who’s the guest of honor today?”

“I heard it’s one of Mr. Stanton’s close friends, even older than him. Who’d believe it…”

The last voice dripped with sarcasm.

I spotted Gregory across the room. Our eyes met. I smiled.

“Gregory, care to explain?”

The slightly plump hands clinging to his arm abruptly let go. Charlotte’s eyes welled with tears.

“Ms. Hayes, don’t be angry with Gregory. This is all my fault…”

Gregory strode over, gripping my arm and lowering his voice.

“If you hadn’t posted that Instagram update, I wouldn’t have brought her out to clarify things.”

“And you’re pregnant. At an event like this, drinking is unavoidable. I’m thinking of your health.”

This was the same man who once declared—word by word—that he loved only me.

Now, that passion was for someone else.

Charlotte pleaded again, while Gregory, his face etched with concern, shielded her.

I took a deep breath, swallowing my tears.

Then, I grabbed a glass of champagne from the nearest table and poured it over both of them.

The room went still.

Through clenched teeth, Gregory’s voice rang out.

“Sylvia, what the hell are you doing?”

I set down the empty glass and looked at the woman now frozen on the floor. Her makeup was smeared beyond recognition.

I laughed.

“Gregory, you bring her here like this? Such a grand love story—defying the world together.”

I looked around. “Strange… no applause?”

“Sylvia!” he barked.

My smile vanished.

“I’ve signed the divorce papers. Sign them now, take your little bastards, and get out of my sight. We’ll never meet again.”