CHAPTER SEVEN: The Dinner Party

CHARLOTTE’S POV

The garden was quiet, birds chirping softly in the distance. I sat with Elsie on a bamboo chair under the oak tree, sipping a cup of cold lemonade.

“You have been quiet these past few days,” she said.

“I have had a lot on my mind.”

“Still thinking about what Cheryl said?” Elsie pushed again, trying to make me talk.

“It’s not just that; the house, the silence, Him, everything.”

Elsie glanced toward the mansion. “He doesn’t talk to you much anymore?”

I looked at her and scoffed, “He barely looks at me. I deserve more than cold glances.”

“You deserve more ma’am.”

“I don’t know what I deserve anymore.”

We fell silent.

Footsteps crunched on the path that led to the oak tree.

“Charlotte.”

I turned and saw Aiden. He stood a few feet from us in his suit, distant as always.

“Yes?”

“There’s going to be a dinner tomorrow.”

“A dinner?”

“Yes, to celebrate our companies coming together and our marriage.”

“And you are telling me this now?”

“You have enough time to prepare.”

“Why didn’t you mention it earlier?”

“It slipped my mind.”

“Of course it did,” I said, rolling my eyes at him.

“Wear something that fits the image.”

“Anything else, boss?”

“Be ready on time.”

“Are you going to pretend to be my husband for once?”

“This isn’t about us, Charlotte. It’s business.”

“Just be ready.”

He turned and walked off. I stared at his back as he slowly disappeared into the house, my hands clenched in my thighs.

Elsie whispered, “Do you want me to help you prepare tomorrow?”

“Yes, please, I need to look awesome.”

“So are you going to the boutique to get new clothes?” 

“Nope, I have lots of clothes to wear in my closet. I got them from my honeymoon trip.”

“Okay, ma’am.”

“Please, I want to look like someone he can’t ignore.”

My room was a total mess. Elsie and I couldn’t figure out the dress I should wear to the party. I think I can say Elsie and I are like sisters.

After two hours, two whole hours, I finally found the dress. It was an emerald green dress that showed my figure. It had a tail and it was an off-shoulder gown. One word to describe the dress is “Amazing”.

I did a very simple makeup, just a few touches.

I stood at the top of the stairs. My green dress shimmered under the chandelier, hair pinned up, lips red. I saw him standing close to the door pressing his phone.

“Aiden,” I called out, smiling like a 16-year-old going to prom.

He turned, froze and his eyes swept over me. He looked at me from head to toe as I walked down the stairs.

But he said nothing.

Not a single word.

He turned away and walked to the car.

I swallowed the sting and followed him. Deep down, I was hurt.

The drive to the event hall took forever.

At the event hall, everything was gold and crystal.

“Mr and Mrs Kingston!” a host beamed.

Aiden didn’t slow down.

“Hi,” I said quietly, trailing behind him.

We stepped inside and my stomach tightened.

“Charlotte!” It was my mother’s voice.

“Hi, Mom.”

She pulled me into a hug. “You look so beautiful.”

“Thanks,” I replied bluntly.

Barry joined us. “You clean up well.”

“Thanks, Barry.” I didn’t even know what he meant by that, but I just replied to him.

“He gave Aiden a firm handshake. “Glad we could all be here to celebrate.”

Aiden nodded curtly. “Likewise.”

Then Adam and Eleanor appeared. Adam’s eyes lingered on Barry a little too long, which was quite weird.

“Charlotte, my darling,” Eleanor said, cool, formal, and sweet. “You look radiant.”

“Thank you, ma’am.” I gave her a fake smile.

Adam gave a knowing look. “Enjoy the night.”

Aiden leaned in. “Go mingle, I’ve got people to talk to.”

He walked off.

I stood there, holding my clutch with my breath tight.

I moved to a quieter spot by the drinks table. I sat down and took a drink. Guests buzzed past me, but none of them stopped to chat.

“Then I heard a voice behind me.

“Charlotte?”

I turned.

“Dylan?”

“I thought that was you. "God, you have changed.” He smiled.

“In a good way, I hope.”

“Absolutely. Stunning doesn't even cover it.”

I smiled genuinely.

“It’s been years. What are you doing here?”

“Business, you know, gathering like this, is where you gather connections and clients.”

“Ah, that makes sense.”

“But enough about that, how are you? I heard you are married.”

“Well, yeah.”

“Hey, why the sad face?”

“Honestly, not great.”

“Talk to me.”

“I don’t think he even sees me.”

“Then he is blind.”

“You are just being nice.”

“No. I remember you, you were fierce, funny, you lifted every room.”

“I don’t feel like that person anymore.”

“You still are. I can see her.”

I laughed, a small, breathy laugh.

“There it is, that smile. God, I missed that.”

“Stop, Dylan. You are going to make me cry.”

“Then cry, I will catch every tear.”

“You haven’t changed.”

“Neither have you. You are just… quieter now.”

“Marriage does that.”

“Well, it shouldn’t. I want to know why you married him.”

“Just forget about that,” I said, trying to hide the reason.

“Dance with me.” Dylan stood, stretching his hand towards me.

“I can’t,” I said, feeling a bit scared and shy.

"Just one dance, come on, for the old days. I nodded and took his hand.

My hand was across his shoulders and his hands were on my waist. We moved to soft music. I felt his warmth and I felt relaxed.

Until the air chilled.

“Charlotte.”

My heart dropped.

Aiden stood a few feet away, jaw clenched, eyes cold, and if looks could kill, Dylan and I would be dead.

“Aiden, we were just…”

“Step away.”

“He’s just an old friend.”

“I don’t care,” Aiden shouted. Everyone was looking at us now.

“Aiden, you are making a scene.”

Dylan spoke calmly. “Relax, we were just dancing.”

“You’ve had your moment, leave.”

“No need to be rude, Aiden,” Dylan said, arranging his suit.

Aiden raised his hands and punched Dylan in the face, and everyone screamed. Dylan was on the floor, blood running down from his mouth.

Aiden grabbed my wrist. “Come with me.”

“Aiden, please you are hurting me.”

He didn’t listen.

We didn’t speak in the car. I stared out the window. He gripped the wheel tightly.

When we arrived home, he slammed the car door, opened the front door for me to walk in, and immediately slammed the door again.

“What the hell were you thinking, dancing romantically with another man?”

“He was just talking to me,” I said, fiddling with the chain in my clutch.

“Laughing? Smiling? Dancing?”

“I was happy for once.”

“With him?”

“Yes with him. It’s not that you were around to keep me company.”

“You think this is some high school romance?” he shouted.

“I think I deserve some kindness,” I shouted back.

“You embarrassed me.”

“You ignore me every day, tonight was no different.”

“You forgot you are married. "Do you know what the headlines will be like?”

“You forgot you have a wife, and I don’t care about headlines,” I replied, sitting down on the couch. My feet hurt because of the five-inch heels I was wearing.

“You looked like a prostitute.”

Slap. Yes, I, Charlotte, slapped Aiden, a multi-billionaire, and my husband. That’s a killer headline.

“I’m done with you always treating me badly and ignoring me.” 

“Good, stay out of my way.”

“I hate you.”

“Then we are even.” I turned, tears burning my eyes.

“Don’t follow me, speak to me, look at me, or even breathe the same air as me.”

“Wouldn’t dream of it.” 

I was hurt by Aiden’s replies.

I ran up the stairs to my room and slammed the door.

And for the first time since the wedding, I broke down completely.