The marble steps leading into the Crystal Hall shimmered under the golden lights of chandeliers. Photographers crowded the red carpet, eager to capture every angle of the extravagant event.
Ethan Ward stood proudly in his tailored ivory suit, flashing his confident grin for the cameras. The son of a wealthy banker turned real-estate mogul, Ethan was used to being the center of attention. Tonight, he wasn’t just celebrating love—he was showing off his success.
And, deep down, he was staging a show for one person: his ex-wife, Claire.
It had been six years since their divorce. Back then, Ethan was a struggling dreamer, juggling failed ventures and unpaid rent. Claire had worked nights as a nurse, kept their tiny apartment running, and believed in him when no one else did. But when fortune finally favored Ethan, he began shedding his old life like a snake’s skin. Claire, he decided, was part of the “old Ethan.”
