The Ex-Wife’s Billion Dollar Comeback Novel

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Chapter 223: Soraya’s Beauty Is Hers

~ Elena ~

‘Was this a big joke?’ Elena thought, her brows meeting. ‘That’

s impossible! How can Soraya be Mrs. Steel?’

Elena recalled Melvin Carter's birthday party. ‘Wasn't Jacob

friends with Calum? Didn't Calum hate Soraya? How did

Soraya become Mrs. Steel?’

“Uncle,” Elena turned to Henry, her hands forming into fists,

but she concealed them. “You must be mistaken. She can't be

Mrs. Steel.”

Henry frowned. He motioned to Elena and her parents, then to

Soraya. “Do you know each other?”

“NO!” The word burst out of her mouth. Elena's parents said

the same.

Soraya was quick to respond, smiling at Henry. “They mistook

me for someone else, Mr. Dalton.”

“Oh.” Henry looked confused, but just before he could clarify

the issue at hand, a man’s authoritative voice rang out from

behind him.

“Ara, honey, I'm here.”

They all turned to find Jacob Steel. He looked dashing,

commanding, and powerful in his dark gray suit.

Elena felt the air leave her lungs. Jacob was just too good-

looking.

Then, reality sank in.

Jacob was... walking toward Soraya!

Elena, “...”

----

Her parents were equally baffled.

Although Jacob was rarely seen in public, he had attended

several business conventions and had recently been featured

in the Altum Coastal Expressway acquisition. Those in the

elite circle knew his name and his face.

When Jacob walked past them, put his arm around Soraya,

and gave her a loving peck on the lips, Elena and her parents

stepped back in astonishment, their faces formed varied

expressions.

Elena's heart raced. From the corner of her eyes, she saw her

father's face turn ghostly white. Her mother’s mouth, on the

other hand, remained open.

“Honey, am | late?” Jacob asked Soraya in the most endearing

tone.

Soraya smiled, resting her hand on Jacob's chest. “No, hon.

You're just in time. The program's about to start.”

“Thank goodness,” Jacob said with a faint smile. “I would've

hated to miss your appointment.”

“Mr. Steel, I'm so happy to meet you again.” Henry quickly

offered his hand, and Jacob shook it. He then turned to Elena

and her parents, introducing them. “This is my older brother,

Harrison Dalton, his wife Amelia, and their daughter, Elena.”

“The last time we met, | mentioned how my sister-in-law

looked a bit similar to your wife, Mr. Steel.” Henry motioned

toward Amelia, adding, “Don't you think so?”

The comparison made Elena grit her teeth. She glanced at her

mother, then back at Soraya. The resemblance was

undeniable. Anyone could see they were related.

Like Amelia, Soraya had very fair, ivory skin. She looked young,

with the same brown eyes and light brown hair.

----

Her mother's beauty had always been her father's pride. Many

men once coveted Amelia's angelic face. But Elena? She

looked nothing like Amelia or Harrison. Her parents had

lighter hair, while she had black hair. Amelia had that soft and

gentle look, but Elena’s cheekbones were sharp.

“No, | don't think so,” Jacob replied evenly to Henry's remark,

his tone polite but final. He turned to Soraya, taking her hand. “

My wife's beauty is hers alone.”

Then, with a faint nod toward Amelia and Elena, Jacob added,

“Though I can see the resemblance between Miss Amelia

and her daughter. They share that... ordinary charm.”

Elena: “...

‘Ordinary charm?’ Elena couldn't believe it. Jacob had just

insulted her, and her mother!

“| guess I'm mistaken,” Henry said, scratching his head. But

while he said that, his eyes betrayed him. It was clear Henry

still believed Soraya and Amelia looked alike.

To further affirm Soraya’s identity, Annette Langley arrived

with her assistant. She greeted Soraya as though she were

greeting her superior.

“Miss Ara, so good to see you,” Annette said, nodding politely

at Soraya.

Everything became clear at that point. Annette wasn’t

ordinary either. She came from a wealthy family with an

established company in Cedar Heights. There was no way any

of this was fake. With both Annette and Jacob addressing

Soraya as Ara, Elena and her parents finally understood.

Ara was Soraya!

“Is something wrong?” Annette turned to Elena and her

parents. “You all look like you've seen a ghost.”

----

“Nothing,” Harrison said quickly.

“They mistook me for someone else,” Soraya repeated calmly,

smiling at Annette.

“Yes,” Harrison nodded. “Exactly.”

“We-—we'e sorry,” Amelia stammered, her voice trembling. “

We're sorry, Miss Ara.”

“And you are right, Mr. Steel.” Amelia's tone softened as she

gazed at Jacob. “I look nothing like your wife.”

“It's nice to meet you, Miss Ara. Mr. Steel.” Harrison forced a

polite smile. “We should head back to our table now.”

“You should,” Jacob said calmly, but the weight in his voice

hinted that he knew the bigger picture.

Both Soraya and Jacob turned to their table. Neither of them

offered to shake hands with Elena and her parents.

Once the Daltons found their seats, more executives from the

company began discussing Soraya. Mrs. Hemingway, one of

the property managers, leaned forward and said, “Amelia, don’

tyou think Mrs. Ara Steel looks so much like you? Anyone

would think she’s your missing daughter!”

“| was about to say the same thing!” another chimed in.

“| know! Her eyes and face look so much like Amelia's,” Mrs.

Hemingway added.

Then they realized Elena was sitting there. The two women

quickly turned to her. “It's just a coincidence, Elena. We're

sorry. Of course, Miss Ara couldn't be Amelia's daughter, right?”

Elena froze. She turned to her mother and father.

Amelia gulped, forcing a smile. “No, || only have one

daughter. Elena.”

The Daltons thought the shock had ended. Then the lights

----

dimmed, and Annette’s voice filled the hall. The program

began, and the real blow came when Soraya’s name was

announced. Elena's chest tightened with jealousy as the

screen revealed what Soraya had become.

“Today, you will come to know Mrs. Ara Steel as your

chairman, but what many of you may not realize is that she is

far more than that...”