Page 95 of My Ruthless Husband

“Because I don’t want them to treat me differently. That name carries a certain weight, and I’d rather people know me for who I am, not because of my husband. I’m sure many are already aware of who I am, but addressing me as Mrs. Montgomery tends to put up walls. I’m not here as Damian’s wife; I’m here as River. So, if you could, let’s stick with that.”

She hesitates before saying, “All right. Your wish is my command. Your comfort and security are my top priorities, Mrs—”

I raise my eyebrows.

“River.” She completes and I give her my brightest smile. She attempts a smile in return, a bit awkward, but it’s enough.

Together, we ascend the staircase. Upon reaching the second floor, I spot the group of people seated on the other side of the room.

Swiftly, I find a seat toward the back, hoping to blend into the background. I shoot a subtle glance at Vicky, silently willing her to sit next to me when she remains standing by my side, attracting unwanted attention.

When she doesn’t budge, I scowl then tug her down beside me. As she begins to argue, I raise a finger to my lips, demanding her to stay mute. Just then a deep male voice resonates through the room, “Congrats, you’ve got yourself an event organizer who somehow managed to lose his phone while it was literally in his hands.”

A ripple of laughter follows, and I turn to see the man whose voice seems a bit familiar. My eyes widen. He is the same man from the charity gala. The one I caught staring at me.

He walks onto the raised podium, smiling at his audience. In a perfect blend of casual and polished style, he effortlessly dons a well-fitted light gray sweater paired with dark jeans. His dark hair is slightly tousled. The shadow of stubble on his jawline only sharpens his already striking features.

He frowns, then pats his jeans pocket before retrieving something out. “Oh, I should add magician to my resume now.” He holds up the phone, making everyone laugh again.

A girl who looks about my age lets out a dreamy sigh beside me, clearly charmed as he keeps cracking jokes. I turn to Vicky and am stunned when I find her smiling, her cheeks pink. When she catches my stare, she clears her throat.

A chuckle escapes me, and I shake my head in mild amusement. There’s no denying his impact on the opposite gender. Even my no-nonsense bodyguard is smitten.

Finding him here of all places is a bit odd, I won’t lie. But the plus point is, he didn’t notice me. Even if he did, he can barely recognize me in this casual outfit. In the gala, I looked older in that expensive evening gown and a face full of makeup. Now, I look like an ordinary twenty-two-year-old girl.

Working alongside Matt would be just fine. So I relax back in my seat and listen to him joke about Laura practically blackmailing him into organizing the event. “So,” he begins, a mischievous smile lighting up his face, “how many of you got pulled in by Laura’s sweet-talking?”

The group breaks into laughter. Matt shakes his head, grinning. “I swear, all I said was that I had some free time. Next thing I know, she’s got me running the whole ‘Art and Wellness Festival.’ Classic Laura, right?”

More laughter ensues and I find myself smiling along. “Well, jokes aside. I’m honored to be chosen for this,” he says soberly and when people laugh, he narrows his eyes, smiling. “You don’t believe me?” he says, letting his eyes roam across the room. Then, his gaze settles on me. I was smiling, but it falters under the weight of his attention. His smile widens, and my face heats up instantly.

Few heads turn my way, probably wanting to see who caught his attention. The scrutiny makes me sink deeper into the seat.

I breathe a sigh of relief when he finally takes his blue eyes off me. “We’ve got an incredible day planned, and I’m counting on each one of you to make it happen.” Everyone remains silent as he explains the event. “First up, Iris and Ben, our art therapists, will turn this place into an art gallery. We’re talking about showcasing the beautiful creations from our therapy sessions.”

“Now, here’s the main part,” he declares, his tone capturing everyone’s attention. “The heart of our event is the mural project in the afternoon,” Matt announces. “Laura came up with this brilliant idea. Each of you will have the chance to contribute.”

Several questions are thrown his way and he tackles them all with ease. “As for how it’ll happen,” he continues, addressing the logistics, “we’ll have different stations set up, each representing a theme we cherish in our community. Whether it’s family, friendship, or personal growth—everyone will find a station that resonates with them.”

His gaze sweeps across the room, ensuring that everyone is on board. “Iris and Ben will be at the heart of it, guiding us through the process. But remember, this is a collaborative effort. Don’t worry if you’re not a seasoned artist like me.” Everyone laughs again. “Just kidding. This mural is about the essence of our community, and each contribution, no matter how small, is invaluable.”

Laura decides to join us then. She goes to the podium and hugs Matt before facing us. “Hey, guys. First of all, I’d like to thank Matt for doing this for us.”

“They know you blackmailed me, Laura.” He interjects making her laugh.

“Apart from being one of the benefactors, Matt is the founder of a global nonprofit organization. Despite overseeing large-scale projects worldwide, he still finds time to help whenever I ask. And never once complains about it.”

Matt mouths to us,I do.

We chuckle but focus when Laura begins talking about the project. “As we wrap up the festival, we’ll have a celebratory unveiling of our completed mural. And here’s the beauty of it—this mural isn’t just for the event. It’ll find its permanent home on the lobby wall of our new branch.”

The room buzzes with excitement. Everyone jumps up, inquiring about the role they would play in the initiative.

I stand as well but stay behind with Vicky. I watch her watch Matt as he talks to the women surrounding him.

“You wanna join them?” I tease and she jerks her head to the side.

“No, ma’am.”

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