From abandoned girlfriend to tycoon’s lover (Copy)

🥀 Chapter 8 — A Gentleman Among Vipers

I left the stage without looking back.

I could still feel every pair of eyes on me — some full of awe, others of pity, and many… just thirsty for drama.

I returned to my seat like a queen returning from battle, my cheek still burning from my father’s slap, but my spine straight as ever.

The man next to me — the one with the calm, deep voice — leaned in slightly and whispered:

“Remind me never to get on your bad side.”

I cracked a small smile. First one all day.

“And you are…?”

He extended a perfectly manicured hand. “Leonardo Montero. Investor. Business partner of the Martínez family. Supposedly.”

That name rang a bell.

Leonardo Montero. The elusive billionaire. Low profile. Ruthless in boardrooms. Untouchable outside of them.

I shook his hand. Firm grip. Cold fingers.

“You don’t look like someone who enjoys weddings,” I murmured.

“I don’t,” he replied simply. “But this one? I wouldn’t have missed it for the world.”

I arched a brow. “Enjoying the drama?”

“Immensely.”

A ghost of a smile touched his lips.

Before I could reply, my father reappeared on stage, forcing a fake smile as he tried to salvage what was left of the ceremony.

Carmen was holding Isabel’s hand now, looking like the Holy Mother herself, weeping beside her half-dead, glowing daughter.

And Antonio… poor Antonio.

He was trying so hard to keep everything together, but his suit was slightly wrinkled, his face still flushed, and his smile — that once charming smile — looked forced and nervous under the spotlight.

They went through the motions. Vows. Rings. A kiss.

The crowd clapped weakly.

It was over.

Except… it wasn’t.

As the guests began to move, I felt Leonardo stand up beside me.

“Leaving already?” I asked.

“No,” he replied smoothly. “I’m coming with you.”

I blinked.

“Excuse me?”

“You’re the only part of this event worth following,” he said without a hint of irony. “And I happen to find you fascinating.”

I stared at him. “You’re serious.”

He smirked. “Deadly.”

I had no energy left to argue. I walked out, and he followed.

Outside, I took a long breath of fresh air. The sky was pale blue, the birds chirping. A perfect contrast to the venom I’d just walked away from.

Leonardo stood beside me, hands in his pockets, glancing up at the sky too.

“They’ll try to make you the villain,” he said matter-of-factly.

“They already have.”

“And you handled it… masterfully.”

Silence.

Then he added, “I watched you give up a man, your dress, your wedding, your dignity — all with poise and a wicked sense of humor.”

“You forgot the jewelry,” I said.

He chuckled. “How careless of me.”

A pause. Then I asked, “Why are you really here?”

Leonardo looked at me now, fully. His eyes were dark but not cruel — focused, calculating.

“I like investing in rare assets.”

“I’m not for sale.”

“I never said you were.”

Another silence. The tension between us wasn’t romantic — not yet. It was sharp. Electric. Like two powerful forces silently recognizing each other.

Then Rosa, my assistant, called me.

“María, the press wants a statement. And… the board meeting is in an hour. You asked me to remind you.”

Right. The company. My company now.

“I need to go,” I said to Leonardo.

He nodded. “Then I’ll go with you.”

“What makes you think you’re invited?”

“I wasn’t. That’s what makes it exciting.”

For some reason, I let him follow.

Inside the car, I texted Sofía. “The wedding is done. Everyone’s talking. I’ll be trending by sunset.”

She replied immediately: “I’m watching the livestream. You’re a legend.”

I sighed and leaned back.

Leonardo watched me, quietly.

After a moment, he spoke again.

“You’re not angry.”

I looked at him.

“I mean truly angry. You’re wounded, humiliated, furious — yes. But deep down? You’re calm.”

“That’s what survival looks like,” I replied softly.

He nodded, as if I’d confirmed a theory.

Then said something that made my heart skip:

“I have a feeling we’re going to work well together.”