The grand ballroom of the university’s charity gala was bathed in golden light, the soft hum of conversation mingling with the gentle melody of a string quartet. Elegantly dressed students and esteemed guests from the business world gathered for the annual auction, where attendees could bid for a dance with influential figures.
Romance Delacruz, clad in an elegant off-shoulder midnight blue dress that accentuated her delicate beauty, sipped her milk tea—courtesy of Mia, who had smuggled it in for her. She wanted nothing more than to blend into the background, but her mere presence had already drawn attention. She was used to it.
But what she wasn’t used to was him.
Sebastian Monteverde stood on the other side of the room, clad in a sharp black suit that only enhanced his imposing presence. His piercing gaze locked onto her, unwavering, unreadable. Romi quickly looked away, pretending to be engrossed in conversation with Mia and Lucas, who was particularly charming tonight.
"You're sure you're alright?" Lucas asked, concern in his voice. "If you're uncomfortable, we can leave."
Romi smiled softly. "I’m fine. It’s just an event. What could possibly happen?"
Mia wiggled her brows. "Oh, I don’t know. Maybe a certain CEO will find a way to make this night all about him?"
Romi rolled her eyes, ignoring the way her heartbeat quickened. "Not if I can help it."
 
 
 
The Auction Begins
One by one, notable figures were brought to the stage for bidding. Some were famous entrepreneurs, others elite students from prestigious families.
Then came Lucas Rivera.
The host introduced him with enthusiasm, emphasizing his status as a rising star in the medical field. The bidding was fierce, but in the end, Romance’s name was called as the winner.
She turned to Lucas, surprised. "Did you—?"
Lucas grinned. "I may have had a little help from Mia. You weren’t going to bid for yourself."
Romi sighed but smiled. She felt relief wash over her. She could handle dancing with Lucas—he was safe.
Until a deep, smooth voice cut through the air.
"Five million."
The room fell into stunned silence.
Romance’s head snapped toward the stage. Sebastian stood there, completely composed, hands tucked into his pockets. His expression remained unreadable, but his gaze was intense.
Lucas stiffened beside her. "Sebastian—"
"Ten million," Sebastian countered, smoothly cutting off whatever Lucas was about to say.
The crowd gasped. Mia let out a low whistle. "Oh, he is playing dirty."
Romance's stomach twisted. This wasn’t supposed to happen.
Lucas exhaled slowly before turning to Romi. "Do you want me to keep going?"
Romi shook her head. It wasn’t worth the spectacle.
"Sold! The winning bidder is Mr. Monteverde!" the host announced.
Sebastian extended a hand toward Romi. "Shall we?"
Her fingers curled into fists at her sides. Why was he doing this? But she knew better than to cause a scene. Lifting her chin, she placed her hand in his, and he led her onto the dance floor.
 
A Dance of Shadows and Secrets
The moment his hand settled on her waist, her breath hitched. The music swelled, and they moved in perfect synchrony, just as they once had.
The song playing was familiar—one of the many they had danced to as husband and wife. The melody wrapped around them, pulling Romi back to a time when things were different.
"Do you remember this song?" Sebastian asked, his voice softer than before.
She swallowed. "How could I forget?"
It had been their song. The one he had once pulled her close to in their penthouse living room, twirling her around under dim lights as he murmured about how beautiful she looked. The one that played on their honeymoon when he had held her against his chest, whispering about their future.
Her heart clenched. Those memories were cruel now.
"You used to hum it in the mornings," Sebastian continued, his grip tightening slightly as he guided her effortlessly across the floor. "While making coffee. You always thought I wasn’t listening."
Romi’s breath caught. She had thought he never noticed.
"Seb…" The endearment slipped past her lips before she could stop it.
Sebastian froze for half a second. It was barely noticeable, but Romi felt it—the way his fingers pressed ever so slightly against her back, the sharp inhale of breath he took.
She used to call him that. In the quiet moments of their marriage, when no one else was around, when they were just two people learning to love and destroy each other in the same breath.
She stiffened. "I mean—"
"Say it again," he murmured, his voice rough with something unreadable.
She shook her head. "No. This—this doesn’t mean anything."
Sebastian’s lips curved into something almost sad. "Doesn’t it?"
She wanted to argue, to push him away. But the way he held her—the way he had always held her, like she was something precious even when he was too stubborn to say it—made it impossible to ignore the past they shared.
"You’re avoiding me," Sebastian said, his deep voice sending shivers down her spine.
"Can you blame me?" she countered, forcing herself to meet his gaze.
He studied her, as if searching for something. "I never took you for a coward, Romance."
Anger flared in her chest. "And I never took you for a man who throws money around just to control others."
His grip tightened slightly. "You think this is about control?"
"Isn’t it?" she whispered. "You don’t get to do this, Sebastian. Not in this life."
Something flickered in his eyes. Regret? Pain? She wasn’t sure.
His next words, however, shattered the air between them.
"It wasn’t about control or throwing money. It was a little way to get back my wife."
Romi’s breath caught. Her fingers trembled slightly in his grasp, but she forced herself to look away.
The song ended, and Sebastian reluctantly released her. But his gaze lingered, holding a silent promise.
This isn’t over.