A Divorce He Regrets (Alissa Nexus) novel Chapter 3

ALEXANDER

Watching Eliza practically bursting with joy made me sick. Her being over the moon— like this wedding was a dream come true, was something I'd expected, but it was still annoying to behold. I didn’t want this marriage—not now, not ever—but she was too blind to see that, of course. She never did. To her, this was the beginning of some grand fairytale. But to me, it was a burden.

A charade.

I wouldn't be marrying out of love, but because it was expected.

If I wanted to get her pregnant without a ring, I knew she’d agree without hesitation. But the blowback… the whispers in society, the looks from people I cared about— even those I despised at times— would be enough to corner me into marrying her anyway. My reputation was worth more.

As much as I didn’t care about her or the wedding, my name mattered. So I’d do what I had to, even if it meant chaining myself to a… woman such as Eliza.

My phone buzzed, and I inwardly sighed in relief. A call. Finally, an escape from the room filled with too wide smiles and Eliza’s empty chatter.

"Excuse me," I muttered, barely glancing at either of the women as I left them to the excited conversation they were having— after practically clawing at each other’s throats a few minutes ago.

It was my assistant on the other end, reminding me of the Golden Ball Charity event I was to attend that night. Shit. I had completely forgotten.

“Right, thanks. I'll be there.”

Returning back to the women I announced curtly, “I hope you didn't forget we have the Golden Ball charity event this evening. I think it's time we left to start preparing.” I didn’t wait for their reactions, already moving to the door and then out to my car.

Eliza, of course, squealed with excitement— probably already imagining herself announcing to everyone there that we had fixed a date for the wedding— and the shrill sound followed me outside. I shook my head.

The drive home was quiet, for the most part. Eliza, thankfully, stayed glued to her phone, likely ordering another overpriced gown she didn’t need.

Vanessa was grinning like a Cheshire cat when we arrived.

“Excited for the ball?” I asked, raising an eyebrow. I hadn’t seen her this animated in months.

“Oh, very,” she said, winking. “I might meet my future husband tonight. You know, Alexander, this event is for elites, the one percent. The kind of place paupers and wannabes— like Raina— would never dream of attending.” She spat my ex-wife’s name with such venom it actually startled me.

Raina.

I clenched my jaw but said nothing, a familiar irritation creeping into my chest. No matter how hard I tried to push her out of my mind, she always found a way to worm her way back in. My family— they all hated her. Despised her. She had become the villain of my family’s soap opera, and they loved to remind me at every turn.

The thing was, I didn’t give a damn about Raina as my wife anymore. The divorce made that clear. But I was tired of hearing their slander, of watching them twist the knife, over and over again. She was still Liam’s mother, and despite everything, I was the one who had been left with unanswered questions.

What had happened to her? Where the hell did she go after the divorce? Was she alive? Was she suffering, struggling like she deserved to be? And the child… the one she had run off with. What was her name? Was she still sick? Did she still… look like her mother?

I sighed inwardly.

But then, I’d never stood up for Raina back then— there was no point doing so now.

When we got home, Eliza trailed behind me into the room, prattling on about how excited she was for tonight. She hadn’t worn her engagement ring in weeks, a silent protest against my coldness, but tonight, she’d be flaunting it like a prize, as if the glittering diamond could fix everything wrong between us.

I sighed, tuning her out— only half listening. I just wanted some peace. That was the one thing I had taken for granted in my marriage with Raina— she knew when to leave me be when silence was necessary. Eliza, on the other hand, didn’t have a clue when to shut up and seemed incapable of understanding just that.

Shaking my head, I forced thoughts of Raina away. I couldn’t afford to let her ghost haunt me this evening— not when I had more important things to think about. Namely, securing the Graham family— New York's most influential elites— as business partners, and tonight, they would finally be in attendance.

For years, I had tried to penetrate their inner circle or gain their favor, to close a deal that would elevate my standing, but each time I thought I was close to garnering their attention, something always got in the way. Canceled meetings, vague excuses… but tonight, I felt different. I was almost certain they’d take notice of me. The Vince Project… It was my golden ticket. I hadn't sacrificed it for nothing, and tonight was the night it would all pay off.

I could feel it.

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