Chapter 7. Unrecognizable

The news

“What do we have here?” Leo muttered, half-distracted, as he picked up the remote and turned his attention to the television. The evening news anchor’s voice filled the quiet room, calm and elegant, but his focus shifted instantly when a familiar face appeared on the screen.

He blinked. Once. Twice. Then rubbed his eyes as if his mind was playing tricks on him.

“What… what is this?” he whispered, leaning forward, disbelief painted across his face. “Wait— is this not my wife?” His voice rose unconsciously, loud enough for Andre to hear from across the room.

“Ex-wife,” Andre corrected sharply, stepping out from behind the couch. “In case you’ve forgotten.”

Leo ignored him, his gaze still fixed on the screen. There she was — Laura — standing beside the chairman of Liberty Hotel, her smile dazzling and confident as cameras flashed around her. A caption scrolled across the bottom of the screen:

‘Laura Anderson appointed as the new General Manager of Liberty Hotel Group.’

“How— how is she the manager of Liberty Hotel?” Leo stammered, his words tumbling out as if each one hurt to say. “The Liberty Hotel? The multimillion-dollar five-star chain?”

Andre folded his arms, his tone biting. “How will you know anything when you were busy frolicking around with that girlfriend of yours? While you were busy chasing cheap thrills, she was out there building something.”

Leo’s jaw clenched. “Watch your mouth, Andre.”

“No, you watch yours,” Andre snapped back, his voice lower but deadlier. “You better fix this mess before Grandfather hears about it. You know he’s watching the same news upstairs.” He jabbed a finger toward their grandfather’s room door. “He won’t be pleased to know that the woman you threw away is now one of the most powerful businesswomen in the city.”

The room fell silent for a moment, the sound of the television filling the space again.

Andre turned back toward the screen. His breath caught in his throat as he stared at Laura. She looked… different.

Not the timid woman who used to follow him around with cautious eyes and quiet words. She looked sophisticated — confident — radiant even. The tailored suit she wore hugged her curves perfectly, the neckline daring but elegant, her makeup flawless and her hair styled in soft waves that framed her glowing face.

“She looks…” Andre whispered, unable to finish.

Leo scoffed lightly. “She looks more beautiful than ever,” he said without hesitation. “And with her like this, Andre, I bet you don’t stand a chance anymore.”

Andre froze, his brother’s words sinking deep into his mind. They echoed long after Leo left the room — like a haunting melody he couldn’t silence.

He sank onto the couch, his eyes still glued to the television. It was true — Laura looked alive, more alive than she’d ever been in their five years of marriage. Her laughter on screen was free, unguarded. Something he’d never been able to give her.

He swallowed hard. God… what am I doing? he thought. Am I really comparing her to Suzanne?

He ran a hand through his hair, frustration clouding his face. No matter how hard he tried to shake it off, the truth was undeniable — Laura was no longer the woman who once begged for his love.

She was beyond his reach now.

And for the first time in years, Andre felt the sting of regret pierce through his chest like a knife.

How do I fulfill grandfather’s wish? The question rhymed endlessly in his mind. She was not like before—no longer the fragile, naïve girl who would run back to him every time he broke her heart. He had dumped her, picked her up again, only to toss her aside whenever his pride demanded it. And each time, she had waited.

But not anymore.

He pinched himself, hard, trying to wake up from what felt like a cruel dream. But the sting reminded him it was reality. She had moved on. The same girl who once begged him to stay now smiled at someone else.

How do I fix this? he whispered, the question sounding more like a plea than a plan. There was no easy way out this time, no smooth apology or clever excuse that could undo the damage. Every choice he had made was now staring him in the face like ghosts demanding answers.

He turned toward the window, staring out at the city lights flickering against the night sky. They looked so calm, so normal, while his world was on the verge of collapsing. Maybe if I just talk to her, he thought. But then again, what would he even say? “I’m sorry” had lost its power long ago.

“God help me,” he said finally, voice breaking. “Because I don’t even know where to start.”