My Darling Ex-Wife Is Unaware I’m Rich

Chapter 4: Ember Of Revenge

Max stepped through the grand entrance of the hotel, the click of his shoes lost in the vast, high-ceilinged lobby. Crystal chandeliers sparkled overhead, casting soft light on the sleek marble floors. He paused for a moment, taking it all in. The kind of luxury that once would’ve felt normal, but now made him feel like an outsider.

He ran his thumb over the edges of the black card in his pocket. The card was a relic from another life—one he barely knows. Every step felt heavy.

The reception desk gleamed ahead. He approached, keeping his shoulders back, trying to exude a confidence he no longer felt. The woman behind the desk glanced up, her smile professional but distant.

“Good evening,” Max said, sliding the card across the counter. “One room, for the night.”

The receptionist took the card without looking at him and began typing. Max let out a breath, feeling the weight on his chest begin to lift. Just one night. Just a place to rest, to forget about everything outside these walls.

The elevator chimed behind him. He didn’t turn, but the air shifted, charged with an energy that made his skin crawl. Footsteps, followed by a low chuckle. Max froze.

"Well, well, well."

The voice sent a cold wave down his spine. Slowly, Max turned.

James Caldwell stood a few feet away, an arm wrapped around the waist of a woman Max didn’t recognize. She was stunning—draped in a designer dress, her expression bored but amused, clearly used to being in places like this. Max barely registered her, though. His eyes were locked on James.

James’s smirk grew wider, crueler, as he took a step forward. “Max. What a surprise.”

Max clenched his jaw, forcing himself to stay still, to not react. He hadn’t expected this—hadn’t expected to run into James, of all people. Especially not here.

“You followed me, didn’t you?” James said, his tone dripping with mockery. “You just can’t stay away.”

Max stared at him, refusing to take the bait. “I didn’t even know you were here.”

James laughed, the sound sharp and grating. “Oh, I’m sure. You just happened to show up at the same hotel, right after I left Emma.” He shook his head, still smirking. “Pathetic.”

Max felt the familiar heat of anger rising in his chest but tamped it down. This wasn’t worth it. He turned back to the receptionist, hoping she would hand him the key and this nightmare would be over.

“Is my room ready?” he asked, his voice tight.

But the receptionist wasn’t looking at her screen anymore. She was looking at James.

“Excuse me,” James said, addressing her now. “This man is a stalker. I’ve had trouble with him before. I think you should call security.”

The receptionist’s eyes flickered to Max, her expression hardening. The change was subtle but clear. She straightened her posture and narrowed her gaze, studying Max with suspicion.

“I’m just here to book a room,” Max said, trying to keep his voice even.

She didn’t respond right away. Instead, she glanced him up and down, her lips pursed. “How do you plan to pay?” she asked, her voice suddenly cold.

Max blinked, caught off guard. “I gave you my card.”

Her eyes slid down to the black card still sitting on the counter, then back to Max. “We don’t accept stolen items here.”

Stolen. The word hit him like a punch to the gut.

“This card isn’t stolen,” Max said, his voice sharper now. “It’s mine.”

The receptionist’s face remained blank, unreadable, but the judgment in her eyes was clear. She pushed the card back toward him as if it was something dirty. “We have policies, sir.”

James’s laughter broke the tense silence. “Oh, Max,” he said, stepping closer. “You really thought you could just walk in here and pretend you belong?” He shook his head, his eyes gleaming with cruelty. “It’s sad, really.”

Max ignored him. He didn’t care what James thought. All he wanted was to get the room, to escape this humiliation. “Can you check again?” he asked the receptionist, trying to sound calm despite the storm building inside him.

But she wasn’t listening anymore. Her mind was made up. “Sir, I think it’s best if you leave.”

Max felt his stomach twist. This wasn’t happening. Not again. Not like this.

James leaned in, his voice low and filled with malice. “You’re out of your depth, Max. You always were. You don’t belong here. You never did.”

Max’s hands balled into fists at his sides. He stared at the receptionist, willing her to look at him, to see that he wasn’t some petty thief or stalker. But her eyes remained cold, her hands already reaching for the phone.

“Call security,” James said, louder this time, making sure everyone around them could hear. “This man’s been stalking me for weeks.”

Max’s chest tightened, the air in the room suddenly too thick to breathe. The people in the lobby were watching now, whispering, their eyes filled with curiosity and disdain.

Max’s voice came out hoarse. “I don’t want any trouble.”

James’s smile widened, enjoying every second of Max’s discomfort. “Of course, you don’t.” He tilted his head, as if considering something. Then, with a glint of amusement in his eyes, he said, “You know, I could make this easier for you.”

Max frowned, not understanding.

James stepped closer, lowering his voice. “Kneel.”

Max’s blood went cold. “What?”

“Kneel down,” James repeated, his smile now predatory. “Beg me. Right here. In front of everyone. And maybe—just maybe—I’ll tell them to let you stay.”

The words hung in the air, suffocating. Max felt his pulse quicken, his fists trembling at his sides. The humiliation, the anger, the shame—it all crashed over him in waves. The hotel lobby suddenly felt too bright, too loud, the murmurs of the guests like needles pricking at his skin.

James’s eyes gleamed with anticipation, waiting for Max to break, waiting for him to crumble in front of everyone.

Max swallowed hard, his throat tight. His mind raced. There was a part of him that wanted to lash out, to wipe that smug look off James’s face, to scream at the injustice of it all. But he knew better. He had nothing left to lose—but that didn’t mean he was going to give James what he wanted.

But the silence stretched on, the tension in the air unbearable.

Max’s heart pounded as he stared into James’s eyes. The world seemed to slow, every second stretching into eternity. This moment—the decision he was about to make—would define everything. The humiliation sat heavy in his gut, but beneath it, something else stirred. Something stronger.

James’s voice broke the silence once more, soft but laced with poison. “Kneel, Max. Or walk away like the coward you’ve always been.”

Max’s breath caught in his throat. And for a brief, agonizing moment, the world stood still.