Loraine's POV
Drey picked me up at 6:00 p.m. sharp. He looked devastatingly handsome in a tailored suit, but I kept my armor tight.
I wore a backless, emerald-green gown that commanded attention and carried my poise like a weapon.
The car ride was thick with unspoken tension; he was trying so hard to be the "perfect husband," and I was trying just as hard not to let it soften me.
"You look breathtaking, Loraine," he murmured as he helped me out of the car. I didn't say thank you. I just walked toward the restaurant, my heels clicking a rhythm of pure defiance.
The restaurant was the crown jewel of the city's dining scene-the kind of place where power was displayed as much as the food.
We were seated at a prime table, and for a few minutes, the normalcy was almost intoxicating.
"I've been a fool," Drey said, his voice dropping as he reached across the table. His hand hovered over mine, hesitant.
"I spent so long chasing a ghost that I didn't see what was sitting right in front of me. I don't expect you to forgive me tonight, but I need you to know that I am finally seeing clearly."
I felt a genuine ache in my chest. He sounded so sincere, and for a split second, I wanted to reach out. I wanted to believe him.
Then, the air in the restaurant shifted.
The sound of sharp heels on marble signaled their arrival before I even turned around.
Samantha and Angelica didn't just walk into the room; they staged an invasion.
They were seated at the table directly adjacent to us, loudly enough for the entire room to hear.
"I simply can't imagine why anyone would be so shameless," Samantha's voice carried, cold and brittle. She was looking right at me, though she addressed the table.
"Some people don't know when they are unwanted, especially when they aren't of the right pedigree to carry the Stranton name."
Drey's face darkened, his jaw clenching as he started to rise.
"Sam, don't."
I put a hand on his forearm, stopping him.
"Sit down, Drey," I said, my voice eerily calm.
"Let them talk."
Angelica leaned in, her voice rising to a staged whisper.
"It's tragic, really. Drey is only married to her because he's a man of his word. He told me it was the biggest mistake of his life, being trapped with someone so... common."
The room went silent.
All eyes were on us.
Drey was trembling with suppressed rage, his eyes darting between his sister and the woman who had ruined our lives.
He looked ready to throw them both out of the building.
I stood up slowly, picking up my wine glass. I didn't yell. I didn't cause a scene. I walked over to their table, my gown trailing behind me like a regal mantle.
"Angelica," I said, my tone as sweet as poison. I glanced down at her bag-the same "Chanel" she'd been carrying.
"Still keeping up appearances with that fake bag? It's a shame. You know, if you spent as much time on your integrity as you do on your knock-offs, you might actually be a threat."
Her face turned a sickly shade of white.
I turned my attention to Samantha.
"And as for the 'Stranton name,' Samantha, I find it fascinating that you talk about pedigree while associating with a woman who has built her entire life on a foundation of lies and extortion. Does Dad know about the debts she's been trying to hide, or should I show him the files I have in my office?"
Samantha's composure shattered. Her mouth opened, but no words came out.
"We are having dinner," I said, loud enough for the nearby tables to hear.
"If you don't vacate this establishment in the next sixty seconds, I will have the manager escort you out, and I will personally ensure that every major fashion house in this city knows exactly what kind of person you align yourself with. Your reputation is far more fragile than you think."
The silence in the restaurant was absolute. Angelica looked ready to cry, and Samantha looked like she'd been slapped.
They didn't say another word-they just stood up, humiliated, and fled toward the exit.
I turned back to our table. Drey was staring at me, his eyes wide, his expression a mix of shock and total, unadulterated awe.
I sat back down, picked up my menu, and looked at him.
"You were saying?" I asked coolly.
"About being a fool?"
Drey just shook his head, a slow, dangerous smile spreading across his face.
"I think," he rasped, his voice thick with pride, "that I am the one who is lucky to be with you."
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A/N: long time no update? I am so sorry. I wanted to inform everyone who had been waiting for this update to check out the previous ones for I made a slight edit. Doesn't really change the plot of the story but just wanted you guys to know. Thank you if you are still here after all these years. I hope you guys have a lovely day. Please feel free to leave a comment. I would love to read them.
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