Chased By My Billionaire Ex-husband

Claire’s POV

The party was everything I hated— loud, extravagant, and filled with people who seemed more interested in showing off than enjoying themselves. I sighed, taking another glance around the crowded hall. Strangers were everywhere, mingling effortlessly in their designer gowns and suits, while I felt like an outsider trapped in the middle of someone else’s story.

If I had my way, I would have slipped in unnoticed, spent a polite amount of time pretending to enjoy myself, and disappeared before anyone even realized I was here. But that plan had gone out the window when Damian Storme decided to personally escort me to the party.

Damian, with his easy charm and magnetic presence, had effectively ruined my plan to remain invisible. All eyes turned to us as soon as we entered. Whispers floated through the air like a bad tune I couldn’t get out of my head.

"Who is she?"

"Why is Damian Storme with her?"

"Do you think she is his new girlfriend?"

I hated the attention. I hated how their gazes bore into me, dissecting every inch of my existence as if I didn’t have the right to stand beside him. Even now, with Damian gone to mingle with the crowd, the weight of their stares lingered.

"Great," I muttered under my breath, brushing a loose strand of hair behind my ear. "Thanks for the spotlight, Damian."

Now that he wasn’t hovering over me like a hawk— most likely following Evander’s orders to keep me safe— I decided to take the opportunity to grab some food. My stomach had been growling embarrassingly for the last hour. The buffet was lavish, with every delicacy imaginable. I loaded my plate with some light snacks and eyed a quiet corner near the large glass windows.

The moment I sat down, a small sense of relief washed over me. The whispers and stares didn’t seem so suffocating from this distance. I sank into the plush chair, placing my plate on the table in front of me. For the first time tonight, I felt like I could breathe here.

It wasn’t like I had not attended such parties but I was either with Sissy or knew the people around me. But here, everything was new! This might be my home country, but it was still the new industry for me.

I might have worked in some small but impactful roles in the past; people knew me there and respected me for that. If not for my fear, I could have succeeded better there. Either way, I finally found a corner, and I was not in the mood to leave it any time soon.

"Finally," I murmured, picking up a bite of food.

Before I could even take the first bite, a familiar, syrupy voice interrupted my peace.

"Claire, darling," Diana cooed, appearing out of nowhere with two champagne flutes in hand. Her bright red lips curved into a smile that could almost reach her ear. With a pair of calculating eyes, she approached me. "You have been doing so well tonight. I thought you deserved a toast for your ’newfound popularity.’" 𝗳𝚛𝗲𝕖𝚠𝚎𝚋𝗻𝗼𝕧𝗲𝐥.𝚌𝚘𝐦

I felt weird, setting my plate down. Diana was the last person I wanted to deal with tonight. Her presence was like a dark cloud hovering over the party. I had no doubt she wasn’t here to toast me out of the goodness of her heart.

Did she not have enough of what I did to her? She is quite bold! I thought as I met her gaze, keeping my voice steady. "What do you want, Diana? Did you forget what I told you earlier?"

She pouted dramatically, feigning innocence. "Why so hostile? Can’t I celebrate my dear friend’s success? You have certainly been the talk of the night, after all."

Though she looked all friendly, I could tell the sarcasm behind her words.

"Why?" I asked, tilting my head. "Because you are jealous? You took everything from me, Diana. My family’s business, my trust—everything. And now that I am trying to make something of myself, you can’t stand it, can you?"

Her smile faltered for a split second before returning, sharper this time. "Jealous? Of you? Please. I just thought you could use a drink, Claire. You look a little... out of the place! As your elder sister, I just wanted to give you some company, nothing else!"

"Really?" I raised my brows as I looked at her. The person who took even water away from me was there to give me a toast? Who the hell would believe that?

Certainly not me!

She placed one of the champagne glasses in front of me, the gesture almost mocking. I stared at the glass, a knot forming in my stomach. Something about the way she was acting set off alarm bells in my head.

"I am not thirsty," I said, pushing the glass back toward her.

"Oh, come on, don’t be rude," she insisted, her voice dripping with faux sweetness. "It’s just champagne. Surely you can manage one little toast?"

Her persistence only made me more suspicious. My gaze flickered to the glass again. Was it just me, or did she seem far too eager for me to drink it?

"I said no, Diana," I replied firmly, standing up.

Her smile twisted into a sneer. "Suit yourself," she said, grabbing the glass and taking a sip herself. "But remember, Claire, you can’t run forever. Your little act won’t last. You will always be in second place. No matter how hard you try."

With that, she spun on her heel and disappeared into the crowd, leaving me standing there with my heart pounding.

What had she been planning? Something told me I had narrowly avoided whatever trap she had set. But this wasn’t over. Diana didn’t take rejection lightly, and I knew she would be back. But the question was, what was she planning?

For now, though, I needed to stay vigilant. The night wasn’t over yet, and the storm was far from passing.