King of Jealousy (Price of Regret #1)

Chapter 1

A beautiful woman stepped out of the limousine in a long champagne-colored satin dress that hugged her figure perfectly, the slit along her leg catching the light as she moved. There were not many people around. It was late at night, and the buzz in the area was light, just as Amara had expected.

She adjusted her dress before straightening and turning toward the massive club.

Phantom, the name of the club, glowed above the entrance in bright neon letters, shining through the darkness of the night.

The sleek black building looked elegant and exclusive, while the low pulse of music drifted from inside.

Amara took a step forward, holding her silver clutch a little closer as she walked toward the entrance.

A few people passed by her, some of them familiar faces from the business world. Tonight was one of the most important business gatherings of the season, drawing wealthy socialites, powerful executives, and people whose names carried weight in every elite circle.

As another couple walked past, the woman suddenly stopped.

She was a sweet-looking girl with delicate features and a small face. Though she was not much younger than Amara, there was something naturally youthful about her.

As a couple walked past, the woman suddenly stopped when their eyes met.

Her eyes widened with surprise.

“Amara, I didn’t know you were coming. I would have come later so we could spend some time together.”

She stepped forward and wrapped her arms around Amara in a quick hug.

Amara smiled back and waved a dismissive hand as they pulled apart. “It’s alright. I came late. It’s not your fault. Let’s hang out next time.”

The girl nodded.

The man standing beside her had his arm around her waist. He looked at Amara and smiled.

“Miss Hawk,” he greeted politely as he extended his hand for a handshake.

Amara looked at him and pouted before playfully raising a finger in front of his face.

“It’s Mrs. Creed now.”

All three of them burst out laughing.

“I knew you were going to call him out for that,” the girl said with a giggle before turning toward the man and lightly scolding him. “I know you haven’t been around for the past few months, but don’t you know she got married?”

She smiled teasingly before adding,

“She only likes to be called Mrs. Creed now.”

Amara’s smile deepened.

Amara smiled brightly at her words, then gave a small dismissive wave, “Alright, I’m heading into the party now. I’m already very late.”

“Of course,” the girl said with a knowing smile. Then she leaned closer and lowered her voice. “But don’t expect much. It’s the same as always. Another boring business party with snobby people.”

Amara laughed softly.

With one last smile, she turned and started toward the entrance.

She had only taken a few steps when the girl called after her again.

“Amara, wait.”

Amara turned her head back, and the girl quickly added,

“You might want to go straight to the private VIP room,” the girl said.

“There are too many people in the main party tonight, and I doubt Elias will stay out there long. You’ll probably feel more comfortable there until he arrives.

” more comfortable in the private room with his friends until he gets here. ”

Amara nodded.

“Okay. Thank you.”

She gave her another smile before walking inside.

The moment she stepped into the building, the sound of music grew louder around her. Soft golden lights spilled across the polished black floors, and elegantly dressed guests filled the main lounge, talking quietly over champagne.

Near the side hallway, she immediately spotted a black sign with gold lettering.

VIP Lounge

Amara slowed as she reached the door.

For a moment, she simply stood there.

Then she pulled out her phone.

Her fingers hesitated only briefly before she dialed Elias’s number.

The call rang for several seconds before he finally answered.

“Amara?”

His deep, magnetic voice came through the line, smooth and electrifying at the same time.

A familiar shiver ran down her spine the moment she heard him. It happened every single time he said her name.

She tightened her fingers around her phone and smoothed the side of her dress with her free hand before speaking.

“I’m already at the party,” she said softly, raising her voice just enough to be heard over the music. “I want to go in with you. Where are you? We can meet everyone together.”

There was a brief pause on the other end.

“I’m going to be late. Don’t wait for me.”

Amara’s smile faded.

But she quickly hid the disappointment before it could reach her voice.

“Alright,” she said quietly. “I’ll go in by myself and wait for you to get here.”

Before she could finish, the call disconnected. The sharp beep echoed in her ear.

Amara froze, the phone still pressed to her ear. Her fingers slowly tightened around it, her shoulders going stiff for a brief second.

She lowered the phone, exhaling quietly, and slipped it back into her purse. Her fingers lingered there for a moment, gripping the edge. The tight, unfamiliar ache in her chest twisted, but she swallowed it down.

Lifting her chin, she smoothed her expression with practiced ease. Her hand brushed over her gown, straightening invisible creases. Then, with a small breath, she put on a soft smile.

Instead of stepping into the VIP room, she turned away from the door and walked toward the main party, her heels clicking softly against the floor.

As she passed along the long wall beside the VIP room, a large open window let voices spill out into the quieter hallway.

She wasn’t paying attention at first.

Until she heard her name.

“Yes, Amara. You know… Hawk? She’s his wife now.”

Her body stilled.

“Oh my God, I can’t stand her,” a woman said with an annoyed groan.

“It’s so fucking pathetic. He only married her because her grandfather begged him to after her car accident.

Wasn’t she supposed to be almost dying or something?

” She let out a mocking laugh, rolling her eyes.

“Yet look at her now. Still alive and perfectly fine.”

Amara’s fingers tightened around her clutch.

She should’ve kept walking.

Instead, almost without realizing it, she took a small step back—then another—until her back lightly brushed against the wall. She stayed just out of sight of the window, her body angled away, hidden.

Her breath grew quieter as she listened.

A man’s voice joined in.

“That’s what I heard. Her grandfather practically begged Elias to marry her after that accident last year. Just because she had some pathetic crush on him.” He scoffed and crossed his arms. “Seriously… how desperate do you have to be to beg a man to marry your granddaughter like that?”

Amara’s heart dropped instantly.

The sharp pain inside her chest rushed through her entire body so fast it almost made her stagger.

Her fingers curled tightly around her clutch while her throat burned painfully.

Every word of the gossip around her felt like shards of glass sinking deeper into her skin, tearing her apart piece by piece.

Her breathing turned uneven.

Just then, movement near the entrance caught her attention.

The crowd near the doors suddenly shifted, people instinctively moving aside.

Elias Creed stepped into the club.

He was tall enough to draw attention without trying.

His dark suit sat perfectly on a lean, powerful frame.

The dim lights brushed over his face as he walked in—strong jaw, a slightly long nose that only made him more striking, and a defined stubble that gave his features a rough edge.

His dark brown eyes stayed calm and warm, not lingering on anything in particular.

Dark wavy hair, parted loosely in the middle, fell to the nape of his neck, a few strands falling forward as if he never bothered to fix them.

Amara’s fingers tightened as every sound around her faded into the background.

Her heart jumped so suddenly that her spine straightened on instinct, hope flashing across her face for a brief second.

But the feeling died just as fast.

Because he wasn’t alone.

Bianca stood beside Elias confidently in a shimmering golden dress that hugged her figure perfectly, her long legs exposed beneath the slit of the gown. She leaned slightly toward him as they walked together, looking elegant and perfectly matched beside him.

Amara froze.

Her lips parted slightly while her fingers tightened harder around her purse until her knuckles turned white.

“So… he didn’t come alone,” she whispered under her breath, her voice trembling faintly. “He came with her?”

Her chest tightened so painfully she almost couldn’t breathe.

She watched them walk side by side through the crowd like they belonged together. Elias leaned slightly toward Bianca as she said something to him, and the sight alone made Amara feel sick.

Then both of them disappeared inside the VIP room together.

The laughter and conversations inside the room quieted for only a few seconds after Elias entered. Several people immediately turned to look at them before the whispers slowly started again.

But then the whispers started again.

“Oh my God… did you see that? Elias came to the party with Bianca. Is something going on between them?”

“I wouldn’t even be surprised,” a man scoffed while swirling the drink in his hand.

“It’s only been over a year since Elias and Amara got married, right?”

“Yeah,” another person replied casually. “More than a year, I think. But have you ever actually seen them act like newlyweds? I mean… they never look close. No affection. No chemistry. Nothing.”

A woman let out a soft laugh.

“But honestly, I expected that from the beginning.”

Amara stood outside the room silently, her body turning colder with every word.

Inside, someone sighed dramatically before speaking again.

“Honestly, it feels like Elias ruined his own life.”