The Ex-Wife They Begged To Keep - Chapter 80: Chapter 80

The restaurant had a peaceful atmosphere, with wooden tables and chairs scattered throughout the space. The air smelled like fresh flowers mixed with the warm scent of baked bread and coffee.
Alyssa sat next to them, her cheeks puffed out as she chewed on her fork. She kept sneaking looks at Serena, then at Keith, back and forth between them.
Serena kept her head down, slowly cutting her steak without really paying attention to what she was doing.
Keith watched her every move, his eyes catching the faint redness around her eyes, though he was careful not to make it obvious.
He raised an eyebrow slightly and gave Alyssa a half-smile, shooting her a teasing look as she sat up straight, trying her best to be on her good behavior.
"Alyssa, don't just eat the meat. Have some carrot," Keith said. Alyssa's face immediately scrunched up in disgust.
Keith's words snapped Serena out of her daze. She forced a smile and gently coaxed. "What's wrong with carrots, sweetie?"
Alyssa shook her head hard, her little face twisted in protest.
Serena smiled softly when she saw how much Alyssa hated the idea. "It's okay, honey. You don't have to eat carrots if you don't want to. Just eat some other vegetables instead."
Alyssa nodded, then shot Keith a mischievous, challenging look. Keith caught her sly glance and calmly cut off a piece of steak, bringing it to his mouth with smooth confidence.
Alyssa wasn't about to let him win. She puffed out her cheeks, grabbed a cherry tomato with her tiny fingers, and bit into it with exaggerated determination.
Serena watched the playful standoff between the two and couldn't help but smile, feeling more relaxed than she had in a long time. She ruffled Alyssa's hair affectionately. "Okay, Alyssa, that's enough."
Alyssa shot Keith one last pout before turning her attention back to her plate.
Keith reached into his suit jacket and pulled out an elegant invitation with a subtle golden shimmer. He gave it a little wave, flicked the corner with his finger, and slid it across the table to Serena. "There's a dinner tonight you might want to attend," he said casually.
Serena set down her silverware and gave Keith a confused look before picking up the invitation. As she scanned the guest list, her eyes widened—every single name belonged to a major player in the design industry. Her hands actually trembled as she read through them.
"This is some kind of design industry event?" Serena asked, still staring at the names.
"Exactly. I figured you'd be interested," Keith said with a knowing smile as he cut into his steak.
Serena clutched the invitation, weighing her options for a moment before finally nodding. "Thank you."
Keith had clearly expected this response. He smiled and turned his attention to Alyssa's plate, spearing a piece of steak and holding it out to her. "Here, try some of this."
After they finished eating, Keith drove Serena home. He noticed how exhausted she looked and leaned closer as they sat in the car. "Get some rest this afternoon so you'll be ready for tonight's event."
Serena looked up at Keith, her eyes shining with gratitude. She nodded and said softly, "Okay, I will."
Keith finally felt some relief wash over him when she agreed.
The banquet hall screamed luxury from every corner. Serena walked in at a steady pace, wearing a pale blue evening gown and clutching her invitation. She took in the massive oil paintings covering the walls, each one completely different from the next.
Guests had formed little clusters throughout the room, chatting quietly among themselves. Then, a sharp voice cut through the murmur. "Well, well, if it isn't Serena the designer. You've got some serious nerve showing up here." The words were dripping with mockery, followed by a cold, nasty laugh.
Serena stopped dead in her tracks and looked up. There stood Stacey, decked out in a flawless outfit with perfect makeup, but every word that came out of her mouth was pure poison.
Serena's eyebrows pulled together slightly. "I have an invitation. Why wouldn't I be here?"
Stacey's eyes zeroed in on the invitation in Serena's hand, and she raised her voice just enough so everyone nearby could hear every single word.
"Who knows who it was that leaked our company's creative secrets to the competition and cost us a fortune. And now you have the nerve to show up at this banquet? Talk about shameless," Stacey sneered.
Stacey's voice was thick with sarcasm. She paused on purpose, looking around to gauge how the other guests were reacting, then added, "Don't you think so, Serena?"
Serena's grip on the invitation tightened without her even realizing it. "I never did any of that. The so-called evidence you have is nothing but gossip and lies. All you know how to do is play dirty games behind everyone's back."
Stacey let out a contemptuous laugh, like she'd just heard the world's biggest joke. "Serena, you've already been fired! What could you possibly have to say? What right do you even have to be here?"
"Who's really got something to hide here, Stacey?" Serena shot back with a cold, mocking laugh. "If your so-called evidence and witnesses are so solid, why were you in such a hurry to kick me out of the company? What's wrong—scared I'll expose all your dirty little schemes?"
The confidence on Stacey's face vanished instantly, her expression going rigid.
"Ha! It's over and done with." Stacey deliberately raised her voice, making sure the nearby guests could hear every word. "The company only made its decision after a thorough investigation. What's left for you to deny?"
The whispers died down as everyone turned to stare at Serena and Stacey. Serena clenched her fists, desperately wanting to defend herself, but with all those judgmental eyes on her, her throat seized up and the words wouldn't come.
"She actually showed up? Getting fired should have been a big enough hint," someone whispered nearby.
"Seriously, how does she have the nerve to come back here? She's completely out of place now."
"Look at her—not even a trace of guilt on her face. She has no shame whatsoever."
"Ms. Mosher was right about her. She doesn't belong here anymore."
"I can't believe she actually had the guts to show up. What a shameless woman."
Stacey absorbed all the hostile stares around her, then walked straight up to Serena with a smug smile.
Her voice was thick with contempt as she spoke, "Now that everything's out in the open, what's left for you to say? Tell me, how much did they pay you to sell out the company's idea? Was it enough to keep you comfortable for a while?"
Serena looked around the room, meeting the suspicious gaze of everyone who was staring at her. When she spoke, her voice was strong and unwavering. "I didn't do it! I never leaked any company secrets. This whole thing is a setup. Stacey is framing me."
"Ms. Gray!" Stacey suddenly switched tactics, putting on a fake look of concern. "Now that you've got all that money in your pocket, maybe you should stop chasing after other people's men. Life must be pretty tough for a divorced woman like you."
The moment those words left Stacey's mouth, everyone nearby exchanged shocked glances. They clearly hadn't seen that bombshell coming.
"Divorced? Is that for real?" someone whispered.