Billionaire’s Unseen Love (Bella and Alex)

49 A Game of Reputations

Nathan’s anger simmered like a storm as he paced the opulent halls of the charity gala. The very thought of apologizing to Emma in this grand setting, amidst the city’s elite, churned his stomach. His mind whirled with indignation – how had Emma, whom he deemed barely more than a docile housekeeper during her marriage to Alex, ascended to this level of prominence?

“I just don’t see it,” he muttered to himself, watching Emma from across the room, her poise and grace catching everyone’s attention. “What’s so special about her?”

His father, sensing the brewing tempest in Nathan, whispered a stern warning, “Keep your temper in check. We’re in the Smirnoff’s den.”

But Nathan was past caring. His pride, wounded and raw, propelled him forward. As he approached Emma and Wayne, his steps heavy with resentment, the air bristled with tension.

Wayne, ever observant, noticed the hostility in Nathan’s stride. “Emma,” he said softly, “it’s your call. How you want to handle him.’

Emma’s gaze didn’t waver. “He’s made his bed,” she said quietly.

Nathan’s dramatic bow was theatrical, his apology a performance. “I apologize for the harm I caused. It was wrong of me.”

the charade. The apology was as much about saving

steady, accepted the apology. “Thank you, Nathan.

faltered. This was not the

interjected, his tone icy. “Is

jibed, “Just be wary of

crowd gasped. Such a direct insult in such a setting was

woman’s worth is not diminished by

by a

Emma’s arm and exited the gala, his departure a silent but

now isolated, felt the weight of his actions. The guests’ eyes bore into him, their disdain

and Nathan’s father arrived in time to catch the tail end of the

Game of

the