The next day.
The city's top business leaders gathered for an exclusive negotiation meeting.
Blake Corporation.
Carter Group.
Face to face.
The doors opened.
And Elena walked in.
Every eye turned.
Whispers spread instantly.
"That's her?"
"She's the CEO?"
"She's Adrian Blake's ex-wife!"
But Elena didn't react.
Didn't acknowledge anyone.
Her gaze moved forward—
And landed on him.
Adrian Blake.
For a brief second…
Time froze.
Adrian stood slowly.
His eyes locked onto hers.
Sharp. Searching.
"You're Elena Carter?" he asked.
His tone was calm.
But his gaze was anything but.
Elena tilted her head slightly.
A faint, polite smile appeared on her lips.
"Yes, Mr. Blake."
Mr. Blake.
Not Adrian.
Not her husband.
Just a stranger.
The meeting began.
But it wasn't a discussion.
It was a battlefield.
Every proposal Adrian made—
Elena countered effortlessly.
Every advantage he tried to secure—
She blocked with precision.
The room slowly shifted.
Power was changing hands.
Finally, Adrian spoke again.
"You've changed."
Elena met his gaze calmly.
"No," she replied. "You just never knew me."
Silence.
Heavy.
Uncomfortable.
Unforgettable.
At the end of the meeting—
Carter Group won.
Completely.
As everyone left, Adrian stepped forward.
"Why hide it?" he asked quietly.
Elena paused.
Then she turned slightly, her expression unreadable.
"Because I loved you."
The words hit harder than any attack.
Before he could respond—
She added calmly:
"But that was my biggest mistake."
And then—
She walked away.
For the first time in years—
Adrian Blake felt something crack inside him.