The Ex-Wife's Billion Dollar Comeback - Chapter 30: Chapter 30
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~ Soraya ~
Thursday.
“Wow, finding a good gown is tough,” Lyra remarked.
It was the fourth boutique they had gone into but neither Soraya nor Lyra found one they liked.
“I guess these kinds of dresses should be preordered or bought online,” Soraya noted. “Or custom-made.”
“You’re right,” Lyra agreed.
They did find a few. Soraya also had some gowns in her apartment, but given the event, they were looking for one that exuded glam, yet remained tasteful and refined.
“Do you want to check out Maison de R.?” Lyra asked, then burst out laughing.
Maison de R. was Rose Becket’s fashion brand, and Soraya would rather look cheap at the event than patronize a mistress’s business.
“Excuse me, are you looking for a gown?” a man, who looked to be in his early thirties, asked.
“I have a gown. Sorry, I just noticed you came out of the store and I overheard you," he explained himself.
He looked sharp, handsome, and well-groomed, though modest in his clothing.
“It’s okay, we’d rather buy from a store,” Lyra replied politely.
“Please, I’m a designer. My designs are far better than those in shops. If you just check my gown, you’ll see,” the man pleaded. “I could use some cash.”
“Come on, Soraya,” Lyra urged her to walk away.
However, Soraya studied the man closely. “He looks familiar.”
“My name is Luca Valmont. I used to be a fashion designer—La Forme. You should be able to search me online,” he said.
Luca Valmont.
Soraya knew the name. He used to be a famous fashion designer in Europe, creating clothes for both women and men. At some point, his designs were everywhere—on runways, in magazines, and worn by celebrities. But just as quickly as he rose to fame, everything fell apart.
He expanded too fast, opened too many stores, spent too much on fashion shows, and signed big deals he couldn’t keep up with. His money ran out, bills piled up, and people stopped trusting him. In just a few months, his backers left, suppliers pulled out, and his brand collapsed.
Luca Valmont went from being a fashion star… to someone everyone forgot.
Still, because it had been a while since Luca was featured in magazines, Lyra and Soraya searched him online. They quickly confirmed it was him—just older now.
“I thought you were from Europe,” Soraya asked.
“I had relatives here who helped me try to restart,” Luca replied. “Please, I could really use some cash. And my designs are great. You won't regret it. I have the dresses in my car.”
Lyra gave Soraya a look that said, ‘We might just die.’
Still, they followed him at a safe distance. Thankfully, his car was parked in an open area where people walked by.
Luca quickly popped open his trunk and pulled a gown out of a box.
The moment he lifted the dress, Soraya and Lyra’s mouths dropped open, their eyes gleaming.
The gown was a deep bronze color with a strapless, sweetheart neckline. The top part of the dress was shaped to fit snugly, decorated with delicate leaf-like embroidery and fine beading that shimmered in the light. From the waist down, the fabric flowed in soft, graceful folds. Elegant and eye-catching, it was made for a grand event.
“It took me a month to make this dress. I can show you videos and my drafts—” He pointed to the label on the dress. “I’m trying to relaunch under a new brand—Valmont Privée.”
He chuckled at himself. “I just don’t have the money to promote or open a shop right now.”
“If the gown doesn’t fit, I can adjust it quickly,” he added.
Lyra and Soraya looked at each other and silently agreed.
“I’ll take it,” Soraya said.
Luca blinked. “Really?”
“If it fits,” she added.
His face lit up with gratitude, the kind that said this small win meant everything.
Soraya did the fitting at Lyra's house. It was safe. There were people around, including Lyra's parents.
Luca made a few quick adjustments, and the gown ended up fitting Soraya perfectly, almost as if it had been custom-made just for her.
They closed the deal, exchanging numbers at some point. Soraya thought that was the end of it.
But fate had other plans.
That brief encounter with Luca Valmont was about to spark a much bigger beginning.
~ Rose ~
In the evening.
Rose stood out in the crowd at the Cedar Heights Business Awards Gala. She wore a bright red, flowing dress that turned heads the moment she walked in. Many of the city’s top businesspeople came up to greet her and Calum, not just because she was beautiful, but because she was with Calum Montclair.
Some whispered how lucky Calum was.
Others praised her fashion brand, calling her a rising star.
Calum, as always, looked calm and powerful in a black suit. Women glanced at him all night, but he only had eyes for Rose, which made her feel even more admired.
They were standing in the reception area with Melvin Carter, waiting for the program to start, when a man walked over and held out his hand.
“Mr. Montclair.”
“Mr. Williams, meet Rose Becket, the CEO of her fashion line, Maison de R.,” Calum said with quiet confidence. “Rose, this is Chad Williams, the Regional Director of Novacura Biologics.”
“Oh—is this your wife, Mr. Montclair? I thought I heard from someone in your family that you were already married,” Mr. Williams said with a laugh.
Rose blinked, unsure how to reply, but Melvin stepped in smoothly. “Calum isn’t married yet. But Rose is his girlfriend.”
“My mistake,” Mr. Williams said quickly. Then to Rose, “I’ve heard of your fashion line. And Mr. Montclair has chosen a very impressive woman.”
“Thank you,” Rose said, smiling.
“She’s more than impressive,” Melvin added, raising his glass.
“But the fashion world is tough,” Mr. Williams said. “I hope you’re ready for the challenge.”
“She has my full support,” Calum said. Just those words were enough to quiet the doubt.
Mr. Williams smiled. “Then I’m sure you’ll go far. One word from Mr. Montclair, and every woman at this gala will want to shop at your boutique.”
“Thank you,” Rose said proudly, standing a little taller.
Just then, another man approached Mr. Williams. “Chad, have you seen Silas Ward? We want to lock in the NeuroSentinel license.”
“He’ll be here,” Mr. Williams replied. “The mayor confirmed it.”
Then he turned to Calum and asked, “Have you considered Aegis Core Systems for cybersecurity? Many companies have been hit by cyberattacks recently. Everyone’s trying to upgrade.”
“No,” Calum said. “They’re not the best out there.”
“They do offer support when there’s a breach,” Mr. Williams said. “From what I heard, someone from Aegis helped recover City Planning’s system after it got hacked.”
“I don’t want to take chances,” he added. “I’m really thinking of switching to Aegis, especially with the new version of NeuroSentinel coming out.”
Rose noticed how quiet Calum and Melvin had become.
And knowing Soraya’s connection to Silas Ward, she didn’t like where the conversation was going.
With a confident smile, she said, “No one has ever hacked the Montclair Group, Mr. Williams. So maybe what Calum uses is already better.”
“Maybe,” Mr. Williams said. “But I’ve heard very good things about NeuroSentinel. I want to see it for myself.”
Their group continued to talk about land development, new projects, and company news. Rose and Calum stayed in the spotlight, admired by many... until someone else arrived.
“Finally, Silas Ward,” Mr. Williams said.
Everyone snapped their heads in Silas’s direction and, to Rose’s shock, Soraya was clinging to his arm, looking like she came straight out of a fashion magazine.
“Oh my god. Her dress is so beautiful!”
“The dress is amazing!”
“I know, the dress is meant for a queen!”
“Forget the dress, look at that face! She’s like an angel!”
“Her waist is so slender.”
“Just who is she?”
“That’s probably Silas’ girlfriend. He’s been seen with her a couple of times. Looks like the heartbreaker finally found someone to tame him.”
Rose felt a pinch of irritation, though she kept her face calm.
Soraya was wearing a very captivating gown, and it featured her slender frame well. Her hair was softly curled, cascading over her shoulders like silk. There was a natural glow on her skin—the kind that didn’t come from makeup. In fact, Rose could tell there was barely any makeup on Soraya’s face.
'Wasn't she supposed to be heartbroken over Calum? Why is she looking like this?' Rose mused.
She did not want to admit that Soraya looked stunning.
Rose feared Calum would eventually see her.
Her—Soraya Azar—the mother of Calum’s daughter.
Rose wanted to stay away from Soraya and Silas at all costs, but to her dismay, they later found out that the organizers had arranged for them to sit at the same table as Aegis Core Systems.
What happened next truly baffled Rose.
Thursday.
“Wow, finding a good gown is tough,” Lyra remarked.
It was the fourth boutique they had gone into but neither Soraya nor Lyra found one they liked.
“I guess these kinds of dresses should be preordered or bought online,” Soraya noted. “Or custom-made.”
“You’re right,” Lyra agreed.
They did find a few. Soraya also had some gowns in her apartment, but given the event, they were looking for one that exuded glam, yet remained tasteful and refined.
“Do you want to check out Maison de R.?” Lyra asked, then burst out laughing.
Maison de R. was Rose Becket’s fashion brand, and Soraya would rather look cheap at the event than patronize a mistress’s business.
“Excuse me, are you looking for a gown?” a man, who looked to be in his early thirties, asked.
“I have a gown. Sorry, I just noticed you came out of the store and I overheard you," he explained himself.
He looked sharp, handsome, and well-groomed, though modest in his clothing.
“It’s okay, we’d rather buy from a store,” Lyra replied politely.
“Please, I’m a designer. My designs are far better than those in shops. If you just check my gown, you’ll see,” the man pleaded. “I could use some cash.”
“Come on, Soraya,” Lyra urged her to walk away.
However, Soraya studied the man closely. “He looks familiar.”
“My name is Luca Valmont. I used to be a fashion designer—La Forme. You should be able to search me online,” he said.
Luca Valmont.
Soraya knew the name. He used to be a famous fashion designer in Europe, creating clothes for both women and men. At some point, his designs were everywhere—on runways, in magazines, and worn by celebrities. But just as quickly as he rose to fame, everything fell apart.
He expanded too fast, opened too many stores, spent too much on fashion shows, and signed big deals he couldn’t keep up with. His money ran out, bills piled up, and people stopped trusting him. In just a few months, his backers left, suppliers pulled out, and his brand collapsed.
Luca Valmont went from being a fashion star… to someone everyone forgot.
Still, because it had been a while since Luca was featured in magazines, Lyra and Soraya searched him online. They quickly confirmed it was him—just older now.
“I thought you were from Europe,” Soraya asked.
“I had relatives here who helped me try to restart,” Luca replied. “Please, I could really use some cash. And my designs are great. You won't regret it. I have the dresses in my car.”
Lyra gave Soraya a look that said, ‘We might just die.’
Still, they followed him at a safe distance. Thankfully, his car was parked in an open area where people walked by.
Luca quickly popped open his trunk and pulled a gown out of a box.
The moment he lifted the dress, Soraya and Lyra’s mouths dropped open, their eyes gleaming.
The gown was a deep bronze color with a strapless, sweetheart neckline. The top part of the dress was shaped to fit snugly, decorated with delicate leaf-like embroidery and fine beading that shimmered in the light. From the waist down, the fabric flowed in soft, graceful folds. Elegant and eye-catching, it was made for a grand event.
“It took me a month to make this dress. I can show you videos and my drafts—” He pointed to the label on the dress. “I’m trying to relaunch under a new brand—Valmont Privée.”
He chuckled at himself. “I just don’t have the money to promote or open a shop right now.”
“If the gown doesn’t fit, I can adjust it quickly,” he added.
Lyra and Soraya looked at each other and silently agreed.
“I’ll take it,” Soraya said.
Luca blinked. “Really?”
“If it fits,” she added.
His face lit up with gratitude, the kind that said this small win meant everything.
Soraya did the fitting at Lyra's house. It was safe. There were people around, including Lyra's parents.
Luca made a few quick adjustments, and the gown ended up fitting Soraya perfectly, almost as if it had been custom-made just for her.
They closed the deal, exchanging numbers at some point. Soraya thought that was the end of it.
But fate had other plans.
That brief encounter with Luca Valmont was about to spark a much bigger beginning.
~ Rose ~
In the evening.
Rose stood out in the crowd at the Cedar Heights Business Awards Gala. She wore a bright red, flowing dress that turned heads the moment she walked in. Many of the city’s top businesspeople came up to greet her and Calum, not just because she was beautiful, but because she was with Calum Montclair.
Some whispered how lucky Calum was.
Others praised her fashion brand, calling her a rising star.
Calum, as always, looked calm and powerful in a black suit. Women glanced at him all night, but he only had eyes for Rose, which made her feel even more admired.
They were standing in the reception area with Melvin Carter, waiting for the program to start, when a man walked over and held out his hand.
“Mr. Montclair.”
“Mr. Williams, meet Rose Becket, the CEO of her fashion line, Maison de R.,” Calum said with quiet confidence. “Rose, this is Chad Williams, the Regional Director of Novacura Biologics.”
“Oh—is this your wife, Mr. Montclair? I thought I heard from someone in your family that you were already married,” Mr. Williams said with a laugh.
Rose blinked, unsure how to reply, but Melvin stepped in smoothly. “Calum isn’t married yet. But Rose is his girlfriend.”
“My mistake,” Mr. Williams said quickly. Then to Rose, “I’ve heard of your fashion line. And Mr. Montclair has chosen a very impressive woman.”
“Thank you,” Rose said, smiling.
“She’s more than impressive,” Melvin added, raising his glass.
“But the fashion world is tough,” Mr. Williams said. “I hope you’re ready for the challenge.”
“She has my full support,” Calum said. Just those words were enough to quiet the doubt.
Mr. Williams smiled. “Then I’m sure you’ll go far. One word from Mr. Montclair, and every woman at this gala will want to shop at your boutique.”
“Thank you,” Rose said proudly, standing a little taller.
Just then, another man approached Mr. Williams. “Chad, have you seen Silas Ward? We want to lock in the NeuroSentinel license.”
“He’ll be here,” Mr. Williams replied. “The mayor confirmed it.”
Then he turned to Calum and asked, “Have you considered Aegis Core Systems for cybersecurity? Many companies have been hit by cyberattacks recently. Everyone’s trying to upgrade.”
“No,” Calum said. “They’re not the best out there.”
“They do offer support when there’s a breach,” Mr. Williams said. “From what I heard, someone from Aegis helped recover City Planning’s system after it got hacked.”
“I don’t want to take chances,” he added. “I’m really thinking of switching to Aegis, especially with the new version of NeuroSentinel coming out.”
Rose noticed how quiet Calum and Melvin had become.
And knowing Soraya’s connection to Silas Ward, she didn’t like where the conversation was going.
With a confident smile, she said, “No one has ever hacked the Montclair Group, Mr. Williams. So maybe what Calum uses is already better.”
“Maybe,” Mr. Williams said. “But I’ve heard very good things about NeuroSentinel. I want to see it for myself.”
Their group continued to talk about land development, new projects, and company news. Rose and Calum stayed in the spotlight, admired by many... until someone else arrived.
“Finally, Silas Ward,” Mr. Williams said.
Everyone snapped their heads in Silas’s direction and, to Rose’s shock, Soraya was clinging to his arm, looking like she came straight out of a fashion magazine.
“Oh my god. Her dress is so beautiful!”
“The dress is amazing!”
“I know, the dress is meant for a queen!”
“Forget the dress, look at that face! She’s like an angel!”
“Her waist is so slender.”
“Just who is she?”
“That’s probably Silas’ girlfriend. He’s been seen with her a couple of times. Looks like the heartbreaker finally found someone to tame him.”
Rose felt a pinch of irritation, though she kept her face calm.
Soraya was wearing a very captivating gown, and it featured her slender frame well. Her hair was softly curled, cascading over her shoulders like silk. There was a natural glow on her skin—the kind that didn’t come from makeup. In fact, Rose could tell there was barely any makeup on Soraya’s face.
'Wasn't she supposed to be heartbroken over Calum? Why is she looking like this?' Rose mused.
She did not want to admit that Soraya looked stunning.
Rose feared Calum would eventually see her.
Her—Soraya Azar—the mother of Calum’s daughter.
Rose wanted to stay away from Soraya and Silas at all costs, but to her dismay, they later found out that the organizers had arranged for them to sit at the same table as Aegis Core Systems.
What happened next truly baffled Rose.
End of The Ex-Wife's Billion Dollar Comeback Chapter 30. Continue reading Chapter 31 or return to The Ex-Wife's Billion Dollar Comeback book page.