The Rich Wife's Regret novel Chapter 3

I choked as the alcohol flooded my mouth. It burned my throat, making me gag.

The manager, seeing my reaction, used it as an excuse to send me to the bathroom. “Go freshen up!”

In the bathroom, I swallowed an allergy pill I always carried and splashed water on my face, trying to breathe.

Tears or sweat, I didn’t know, but my face was soaked.

Just as I was about to pass out, a hesitant voice interrupted my misery.

“Excuse me… are you Gavin?”

I looked up, my vision blurry, and saw a young woman dressed in designer clothes.

She must have the wrong guy.

I was about to leave – I still had to make a few thousand dollars tonight.

But her face lit up with recognition. Her eyes lingered on the scar on my face, and she smiled.

“I thought it was you! I saw your art exhibition – I loved your work! Then I… I lost track of you.” She extended her hand. “I’m a huge fan. My name is Emma.”

Emma… The name sounded vaguely familiar.

Mr. Miller had helped me organize my one and only exhibition. A woman had contacted me, expressing interest in buying my paintings. I’d been ecstatic, thinking it was the beginning of my career. But she’d been my only buyer.

Thinking about those days felt like a lifetime ago. I avoided her gaze.

“You must be mistaken. I’m just… a bartender.”

The crowd watched, their eyes gleaming with malice, burning away what little self-esteem I had left.

I looked at Zoe, the woman I’d once loved, hoping for a flicker of compassion.

But she was busy playing a game on her phone, ignoring me.

Emma pointed at the wine-filled shoe.

I bent down, trying to hide my shame. My body trembled as I reached for the shoe.

A hand grabbed my arm.

“Gavin? What a coincidence! Are you here for inspiration? Can we talk about your art?”