Chapter 122 The Gathering Storm
Chapter One Hundred and Twenty Two
Valenticia’s POV~
The night of the charity gala arrived faster than I expected. I spent the whole afternoon preparing speeches, checking donations, signing documents, and trying to push all the chaos out of my mind. I wanted tonight to be simple. I wanted to focus on work. I wanted to breathe without someone pulling me into another argument.
When I stepped into the ballroom, soft music filled the air, and warm lights covered the room. People were dressed in expensive gowns and suits. Cameras flashed. Everyone was smiling.
I tried to smile too.
But the moment I walked in, my smile disappeared.
Stefan was standing near the entrance.
His eyes found mine almost immediately. His shoulders straightened. His face softened in a way that made my chest tighten.
“Val,” he said as he approached me.
I forced myself to breathe. “Stefan… good evening.”
“You came,” he said quietly, like he wasn’t sure I would.
“This is my event,” I reminded him.
He nodded. “Right. I… I’m glad you’re here.”
I didn’t know what to say. The silence between us stretched until it became uncomfortable.
Then I heard footsteps behind me.
I turned and saw Dimitri walk in.
His eyes found me instantly. He paused for a moment, taking me in from head to toe, and then walked over slowly.
“Val,” he said softly. “You look good.”
“Thank you,” I said.
Stefan’s eyes darkened. “You were invited?”
“Yes,” Dimitri said. “I’m still part of the partners’ circle.”
Stefan gave a stiff nod. Dimitri didn’t break eye contact.
I felt the tension grow between them like the air was getting tighter.
“Let’s all just… enjoy the night,” I said, trying to keep my voice steady.
But they didn’t step back. They stayed too close. Both of them. Watching each other. Watching me. Hovering.
I walked toward my table, hoping they would take the hint and leave me alone. But of course, they followed.
Stefan sat on my right.
Dimitri sat on my left.
I almost groaned.
A donor tried to speak to me, but Stefan kept leaning in to whisper things like, “Are you okay?” or “Do you need water?”
And Dimitri kept doing the same from the other side: “Do you want to step out for a moment?” “You look pale. Are you tired?”
They talked over each other. Interrupted each other. Ignored each other.
I finally snapped. “Both of you, please stop talking at the same time.”
They fell silent, but only for a few seconds.
Then Stefan leaned closer. “Val, can we talk privately?”
Dimitri sat up straight. “About what?”
“That’s between me and me,” Stefan said.
“No,” Dimitri said. “Not with the way you’ve been acting.”
My head started to hurt.
“Val,” Stefan said again, ignoring Dimitri, “please. I need five minutes.”
Before I could answer, Dimitri stood up. “No. If you want to talk to her, you can talk here.”
“That’s not your decision,” Stefan snapped.
“It is when you keep dragging her into your mess,” Dimitri said.
Stefan glared. “You aren’t her protector.”
“And you’re not her savior,” Dimitri shot back.
I stood up. “Enough. Please.”
But they didn’t stop. They were locked in their own fight. They didn’t even hear me anymore.
I walked away before I screamed in the middle of the gala.
I stepped toward the hallway to get air, but another presence appeared in the corner of the ballroom.
Natasha.
Her eyes were sharp. Cold. Focused. She watched Stefan and Dimitri argue like she was studying a puzzle. Then she shifted her gaze and saw me walking away.
She didn’t approach me.
Instead, she walked toward Dimitri.
I could see her speaking to him quietly. He stiffened. She leaned in closer and whispered something into his ear. His jaw clenched. He looked away. Then she said something else, and his face fell even more.
I could see it clearly:
Natasha was getting into his head.
Just like she wanted.
I stepped outside onto the balcony and took a deep breath. The cool air felt good on my face. But the relief didn’t last long.
Footsteps approached from behind me.
I turned, expecting Stefan or Dimitri.
But It wasn’t either of them.
A man I had never seen before stepped out of the shadows. Tall, well-dressed, calm, confident. He looked like someone important. He held a glass of water in his hand, not wine.
“Miss Hart?” he asked gently.
I blinked. “Yes?”
He stepped closer but kept a respectful distance. “My name is Lucas Ryder.”
I froze. I recognized the name. Everyone did.
Lucas Ryder was a billionaire investor. Young. Brilliant. Influential. People said he made decisions that could change the economy. People said he never wasted words.
“I’ve heard good things about you,” he said. “I wanted to introduce myself tonight.”
I nodded slowly. “I’m surprised you know who I am.”
He smiled slightly. “I make it my job to know people who matter.”
I felt my cheeks warm, but I looked away. “Tonight has been… a lot.”
“I noticed,” he said. “The two men at your table. The way they look at you. The way they keep circling around you.”
My chest tightened. “They’re just—”
“I know who they are,” Lucas said gently. “One is your ex-husband. One is the man who left his bride at the altar.”
I swallowed.
He continued, “And both of them want your attention. But neither of them is thinking about what you want.”
I stared down at my hands. “It’s complicated.”
“No,” he said softly. “It’s exhausting.”
I looked up at him, surprised.
He didn’t look at me with pity. He didn’t look at me with jealousy. He didn’t look at me with ownership like Stefan and Dimitri did.
He looked at me like he saw the pressure I was under… and didn’t expect anything from me.
“Why are you telling me this?” I asked.
“Because I’ve watched you for weeks,” he said simply.
My heart skipped.
“I’ve seen how hard you work. How much weight you carry? How many people pull on you. You have strength, but your life is full of noise.”
I didn’t respond. I didn’t know how.
Lucas stepped closer, still keeping a respectful space. His voice lowered.
“You are surrounded by men who want pieces of you. But none of them are offering stability.”