16. 

In the bright spotless mirror, a man with a dazed expression was staring back at himself.

The man had a tall, upright figure, well-defined features, and an omega’s distinct gentle and harmless gaze. His fair face, dark brows and eyes, and soft lips together only made him look slightly better than the average person.

But for that little bit of beauty, he had endured so much hardship, shed countless tears and sweat, and withstood reprimands and doubts far harsher than others ever would…

Looking at himself in the mirror, the omega’s eyes couldn’t help but redden.

“Hey!” The makeup artist panicked, quickly reaching out to gently press on his eyes. “What’s wrong? Don’t cry, don’t cry!”

“I’m not crying,” the omega said, pulling her hand down and smiling sheepishly. “I’m just a little excited.”

At that moment, the electronic door beeped as it slid open. Mr. A, now dressed in formal attire, stood at the doorway, surrounded by a group of people who treated him like a star. It made him appear even more dazzling and colder than usual.

“Not done yet? It’s time to go…”

As the door opened, the omega turned his head, meeting his gaze directly.

Mr. A paused, and the last word quietly faded away, unspoken, from his lips. Looking at the omega, he unexpectedly showed a rare smile.

This smile held no mockery, nor any coldness. Instead, it was almost gentle—filled with a sense of pride that left everyone around stunned.

“It’s time to go,” he said. “Put on your coat and get in the car.”

Snapping back to reality, the omega quickly responded, “Alright!”

When Mr. A and the omega entered the venue, they drew many surprised glances and murmurs. After all, Mr. A was famously a single aristocrat known for avoiding omegas, so why would he arrive with an older omega whose looks could only be described as modestly pleasant?

The omega, attending such an event for the first time, was unaware of the whispers. However, an omega woman, an old friend of his mother’s, immediately recognized him and noticed the remarkable change in him. She held his hand, her eyes welling up with tears of joy.

“I almost didn’t recognize you!” she exclaimed. “Oh my, this child… quietly blossomed into someone so handsome!”

The lady’s friends—mostly socialites around her age—gathered around as well. Mr. A sighed and quietly greeted one of them, “Aunt.”

Hearing him speak, the lady quickly turned to thank him. She held her friend’s hand gratefully and said, “This child has always been a bit shy. I never imagined he would change so much this time. I’m so thankful to your wonderful nephew; he’s truly helped him transform!”

By the end, her voice choked with emotion, and tears began to fall.

The omega felt deeply apologetic.

Since his parents passed away, this lady and several other elders had been caring for him, truly treating him like family. Yet, due to his past insecurities and withdrawal, he had repeatedly declined her kindness, likely breaking her heart in the process.

Mr. A’s expression grew complicated. Naturally reserved and distant, he now found himself surrounded by noblewomen close to his aunt’s age, one of whom was holding his hand, tearfully expressing her gratitude.

He could only respond, “It’s all thanks to the elders’ guidance; there’s no need to thank me. Besides, if he didn’t have the determination himself, he wouldn’t have come this far.”

The lady wiped her tears with her friend’s comforting words, nodding repeatedly. “Yes, exactly, I knew he was a determined child who wouldn’t let anyone down.”

While they spoke, guests at the banquet had cast countless glances their way. After a lengthy round of pleasantries, the group of noblewomen finally let them go, each wearing a curious smile as they watched Mr. A and the omega leave. However, the omega was unaffected by the teasing looks from the elders.

In his mind, he and Mr. A could be friends, but nothing beyond that; they were simply suited to friendship alone.

He stood by a long table where there were few people, picking up a glass of champagne, while Mr. A stood at the other end. Just then, someone suddenly stopped behind him, calling his name in a hesitant tone.

The omega turned around, and the faint smile on his face froze instantly.

The person standing behind him was his ex-husband.

This tall, handsome man, dressed flawlessly and accompanied by a beautiful woman, looked at him in stunned silence, as if at a loss for words.

“So it really is you,” he said, his gaze scanning the omega up and down. “You’ve changed a lot. I almost didn’t recognize you.”

The omega awkwardly stood in place, forcing a smile at him.

He still remembered their marriage from long ago—how he cooked, cleaned, and busied himself around the house, spinning like a top, constantly revolving around this man. He didn’t know if his actions had ever annoyed or frustrated him back then—though he probably had, otherwise, the man wouldn’t have chosen to divorce him so soon after his parents passed away.

He lowered his head and glanced at the hand gripping the wine glass.

The glassware at the reception was all top-notch, and even as an outsider, he could tell. The wine glass he held was delicate, thin, and crystal-clear, refracting the dazzling light into flashes like diamonds. In contrast, his fingers appeared clumsy and rough, with calluses around his joints that were particularly noticeable.

Perhaps this would always stay with him, a reminder throughout the rest of his life of the failed, unhappy marriage he had once endured.

The woman beside his ex-husband left, and the alpha took a few steps forward, casually approaching him. “I’m glad to see you’ve changed like this. But our relationship is over. You see, I’m already pursuing someone new…”

“Do you think I did this for you?” The omega raised his eyes to look at him, a hint of a smile in his gaze. “Do you really think I made such a big change for you?”