Hell Hath no fury like a billionaire's Ex-Chapter 29: The Charity Gala

Diane’s POV

The soft rustle of my gown seemed deafening as Joan and I made our way into the grand ballroom.

The annual charity gala for underprivileged children had already started, the air filled with the gentle hum of conversation and the tinkling of champagne glasses.

Despite everything that had happened with Liam, I couldn’t bring myself to miss this event. The cause was too close to my heart, and I refused to let Liam’s actions dictate my life any further.

"You okay?" Joan whispered, giving my arm a reassuring squeeze.

I took a deep breath, forcing a smile. "I’m fine. We’re here for the children, remember?"

Joan nodded, her eyes scanning the room warily. We both knew Liam would be here – as one of the biggest sponsors, his presence was all but guaranteed.

The thought of seeing him after the incident at the farmer’s market made my stomach churn, but I steeled myself. I wouldn’t let him see how much he had shaken me.

As we made our way further into the room, I couldn’t help but amazed at the transformation.

The usually formal ballroom had already been turned into a fairytale-like setting, with twinkling lights and colorful decorations that seemed to bring a touch of childhood magic to the elegant affair.

It was a stark reminder of why we were all here – to bring a little light into the lives of children who had seen far too much darkness.

"Diane! Joan! So wonderful to see you both."

I turned to see Margaret, the event organizer, approaching us with a warm smile. Her excitement so contagious, and I felt some of my tension melt away.

"Margaret, the room looks amazing," I said, gesturing to the decorations. "You’ve outdone yourself this year."

She smiled at the compliment. "Oh, thank you, dear. But it’s supporters like you who really make all of this possible. Your contribution this year was incredibly generous, especially given... well, everything."

I knew what she was referring to – the very public and messy split between Liam and me had been talk of town for weeks. But I appreciated her tact in not mentioning it directly.

"The children are what matter," I said simply. "I wouldn’t dream of letting them down."

Margaret’s eyes softened with understanding. "You have a beautiful heart, Diane. Now, please, enjoy the evening.

The silent auction is set up in the east wing, and the dance floor should be opening soon."

As Margaret moved on to greet other guests, Joan and I made our way to our assigned table. I couldn’t help but scan the room, my heart racing every time I caught a glimpse of a tall, dark-haired man in a tuxedo. But so far, there was no sign of Liam.

"Maybe he won’t show," Joan said, clearly reading my thoughts.

I shook my head. "He’ll be here. He wouldn’t miss the chance to play the generous benefactor in public."

As if on cue, a ripple of excitement went through the crowd near the entrance. I didn’t need to look to know what – or who – had caused it. Liam had arrived.

Despite my best intentions, I found my eyes drawn to the door. And there he was, looking impossibly handsome in an expertly tailored gray tuxedo.

The sight of him brought a flood of conflicting emotions – anger, fear, and a traitorous flicker of the love I had once felt for him. But what truly caught me off guard was the man standing beside him.

Noah.

My breath caught in my throat as I took in the sight of them together. Noah, looking equally dashing in his own black tuxedo, stood close to Liam, his expression a mixture of discomfort and resignation.

Our eyes met across the room, and I saw a flash of... something in his gaze before he quickly looked away.

"Diane?" Joan’s voice snapped me back to reality. "You okay?"

I nodded, tearing my eyes away from Liam and Noah. "Yes, I’m fine. Just... surprised to see Noah here with him."

Joan’s expression darkened. "I’m sure he has his reasons. Try not to let it get to you."

Easier said than done, I thought. But I was determined to enjoy this evening, to focus on the reason we were all here. I wouldn’t let Liam’s presence – or Noah’s apparent betrayal – ruin that.

As the evening progressed, I threw myself into the event. I bid generously in the silent auction, chatted with other supporters about the charity’s latest initiatives, and even managed to laugh at a few of the speeches.

All the while, I was acutely aware of Liam’s presence in the room, like a shadow at the edge of my vision.

When the dance floor opened, I initially hung back, content to watch others enjoy themselves. But as I stood there, sipping my champagne and tapping my foot to the music, a voice beside me made me jump.

"Excuse me, but it seems a crime for someone as lovely as you to not be dancing."

I turned to find a handsome stranger smiling at me, his hand extended in invitation. For a moment, I hesitated. But then I caught sight of Liam across the room, his arm draped possessively over the shoulders of an elegant and tall blonde lady, and something inside me snapped.

"I’d love to dance," I said, taking the stranger’s hand.

As we moved onto the dance floor, I felt a weight lift from my shoulders. The stranger – who introduced himself as Daniel – was an excellent dancer and an even better conversationalist.

For the first time in what felt like ages, I found myself genuinely smiling and laughing.

"So, what brings you to this event?" Daniel asked as he spun me gracefully.

"I’ve always had a soft spot for children’s charities," I replied. "There’s something so rewarding about knowing you’re making a difference in a child’s life."

Daniel’s eyes lit up. "I couldn’t agree more. I actually volunteer at a youth center in my free time. It’s amazing how resilient kids can be, even in the toughest circumstances."

As we continued to dance and chat, I felt myself relaxing more and more. Daniel was kind, funny, and refreshingly free of the drama that had consumed my life lately. For a few blissful minutes, I was just Diane again – not Liam’s ex, not the woman at the center of a media storm, just me.

But reality has a way of intruding, even in the most pleasant moments. As Daniel and I laughed at a shared joke, I caught sight of Liam over his shoulder. He was staring at us, his expression a mixture of anger and something else I couldn’t quite place. Jealousy, perhaps?

The song ended, and Daniel bowed playfully. "Thank you for the dance, Diane. You’ve made my evening infinitely more enjoyable."

I smiled, genuinely touched by his kindness. "The pleasure was all mine, Daniel. Thank you for reminding me how to have fun."

As Daniel moved away, I made my way back to my table, my spirits higher than they had been in weeks. Joan grinned at me as I sat down.

"Look at you, dancing with that handsome strangers. I’m proud and happy that you’re having fun again, Diane."

I laughed, feeling a bit giddy from the champagne and the dance. "It felt good to just... be normal for a while, you know?"

Joan nodded, but her expression suddenly turned wary.

"Diane..."

I felt him before I saw him. A presence at my back, the scent of his cologne – so familiar it made my heart ache. Liam.

"Well, well," his voice was low, meant only for my ears. "Looks like you’ve found your next target."

I stiffened, the happiness of moments ago fading instantly. "Liam, please. Not here."

But he leaned in closer, his breath hot against my ear. "Tell me, Diane, is he the next one you’re going to run dry? Just like you’re trying to take everything from me?"

I turned to face him, shocked by the venom in his voice. But what I saw in his eyes was worse than anger – it was a cold, calculated malice that sent a shiver down my spine.

"You know that’s not true," I whispered, fighting to keep my voice steady. "I never wanted to take anything from you, Liam. I just wanted what was fair."

He laughed then, a harsh, humorless sound that drew curious glances from nearby tables. "Fair? You want to talk about fair? Was it fair when you tried to ruin my reputation?"

I felt tears pricking at the corners of my eyes, but I refused to let them fall. Not here, not in front of him. "Liam, you’re the one who cheated. You’re the one who lied. How can you stand there and act like you’re the victim?"

For a moment, something flickered in his eyes – a hint of the man I had once loved. But it was gone as quickly as it appeared, replaced by that cold, empty stare.

"This isn’t over, Diane," he said, his voice eerily calm. "You wanted a war? You’ve got one."

Something inside me snapped. All the pain, the humiliation, the fear I’d been carrying for months shot up like a tidal wave. I was aware that people around us had gone quiet, their attention drawn to our confrontation.

"A war?" I hissed, my voice rising despite my efforts to control it. "Is that what you call spreading lies about me in the press? Calling me a gold digger when you know damn well I never asked for anything that wasn’t rightfully mine?"

Liam’s smiled mockingly, cruel. "Please, Diane. Everyone knows what you’re really after. My money. My reputation. Everything I’ve worked for."

I could feel the heat rising in my face, my hands trembling with rage.

Around us, the ballroom had gone nearly silent, the glittering crowd watching our drama unfold. From the corner of my eye, I caught sight of several photographers from society pages edging closer, their cameras at the ready.

"How dare you," I said, my voice dangerously low. "How dare you stand there in your perfect tuxedo, playing the victim, when you’re the one who destroyed everything we had. You cheated. You lied. You tried to run me over with your car, for God’s sake!"

A murmur rippled through the crowd. Liam’s face darkened, his hand clamping around my wrist with bruising force.

"Lower your voice," he snarled. "You’re making a scene."

"Let go of me," I shouted. Each word was like ice, my fury turning into something cold and fearless.

"Not until you stop embarrassing yourself," he said, his grip tightening. "You’ve always been too emotional, Diane. It’s why you’ll never—"

"Crack."

My hand landed against his cheek that silenced him mid-sentence.

The sound seemed to echo through the entire ballroom,followed by the collective gasp of the crowd.

For a moment, everything stilled– Liam’s face turned to the side from the force of the slap, my hand felt numb and buzzing , faces froze in shock staring at us.

Then came the flashes of camera lights around us as every photographer in the room captured the moment.

Through the dazzling flashes, I saw Joan’s wide eyes, Noah’s stunned expression, and Margaret’s hand covering her mouth in shock.

"I am done," I said, my voice carrying clearly in the hushed room. "Done being the one you step on. Done being your scapegoat. Done watching you twist the truth to make yourself the hero of a story where you’re nothing but the villain."

Liam’s hand rose to his cheek, where an angry red mark was already blooming against his pale skin. His eyes had gone dark with fury, but there was something else there too – shock. As if he’d never believed I would actually stand up to him.

"You’ll regret this," he said, his voice barely audible.

I straightened my spine, lifted my chin. "No, Liam. The only thing I regret is not seeing you for who you really are years ago." So watch your back.

The cameras continued to flash on Liam.

His face turned red with rage as he stormed over to the nearest photographer, his voice rising to a threatening yell.

"Delete those photos, or I’ll sue you for every penny you’ve got!" As he walked away, the crowd parting before him like the Red Sea.

I stood my ground, fully aware that I had just provided tomorrow’s headlines, that the slap would be splashed across every gossip site by morning. But for the first time in months, I didn’t care what anyone thought. I had finally found my voice again.

Joan appeared at my side, her arm slipping protectively around my waist. "Diane," she whispered. "Are you okay?"

I took a deep, shuddering breath. "I need a minute," I managed to choke out before standing abruptly and making my way towards the terrace doors.

The cool night air hit me like a slap, shocking me out of my daze. I gripped the railing, taking deep breaths as I tried to process what had just happened. My hand still hurt from the impact with Liam’s face, and my heart was pounding so hard I could feel it in my throat. What had I done?

I don’t know how long I stood there, staring out at the twinkling city lights below. But suddenly, I felt a presence beside me. Tensed, thinking it might be Liam again, but when I turned, I found Noah standing there, his expression unreadable.

"Diane," he said softly. "Are you okay?"

I laughed bitterly. "Okay? No, Noah, I’m not okay. How could I be?"

He winced at the sharpness in my tone. "I’m sorry. That was a stupid question."

We stood in silence for a moment, the sounds of the gala drifting out to us on the night air. Finally, I couldn’t take it anymore.

"Why are you here with him, Noah?" I asked, unable to keep the hurt from my voice. "After everything he’s done..."

Noah sighed, running a hand through his hair. "It’s complicated, Diane I’m worried about him. I thought if I stayed close, maybe I could..."

"Could what?" I interrupted. "Fix him? Save him? Noah, he tried to run me over. He threatened me. How can you stand by him?"

"I’m not standing by him," Noah said, his voice tight with frustration. "I’m trying to keep him from doing something even worse. You didn’t see him after... after what happened at the farmer’s market. He was completely crazy, Diane. I’m afraid of what he might do if someone isn’t there to keep him in check."

I felt a chill run down my spine at Noah’s words. The Liam I had just encountered – cold, calculating, threatening – was that the man Noah was trying to contain?

"I don’t know what to do, Noah," I whispered, feeling suddenly very small and very afraid. "I don’t recognize him anymore. The man I loved... he’s gone."

Noah stepped closer, his hand brushed close to mine on the rail. "I know. And I’m so sorry, Diane. For all of this. You don’t deserve any of it."

I looked up at him, seeing the genuine pain and concern in his eyes. And suddenly, it was just too crazy to believe – standing on a terrace at a charity gala, talking about my ex threatning behavior with the man I had kissed just days ago.

I let out a nervous laugh. Noah looked at me in alarm.

"Diane?"

I shook my head, trying to get myself under control. "I’m sorry, it’s just...

"Hey.... listen to me, he cuts me mid sentence. You’re here tonight because you care, because you want to make a difference in the life of those children. Don’t let him take that away from you."

His words, so similar to what he had said to me in Joan’s living room, brought a fresh wave of emotion, I straightened my shoulders and took a deep breath.

"You’re right," I said, "I’m not going to let him ruin this night. There are children counting on us."

"That’s the Diane I know. Now, shall we go back inside? I believe there’s still some dancing to be done."

As we walked back into the ballroom, I felt a renewed sense of hope, happy I had stood up to Liam.

The gala continued around us, a joyful atmosphere of music, laughter and generosity.