NATHANIELI clutched the crystal glass, my nails digging into the hard and finely crafted lines on it as Davina's face slowly flushed with a deep red hue. It took just five seconds for the alcohol to react and her eyes thinned almost immediately.But then, it was just like that night at the Cloud Restaurant. She had looked just like Lucille on her first night of getting drunk and now, it was just the same. My head was muddled, my brain screaming at me that this wasn't Lucille but Davina.However, I was painfully aware. No amount of makeup could make her my wife as I could see the subtle differences no one else would notice. Her smile even though I hated to admit it, was a bit brighter than Lucille's. I wondered if she was just putting in extra effort to seem more like Lucille or if this was just who she was. Away from the troubles that plagued her life and the rocky road to her revenge, and away from the people who sought to break her, if this was her smile, already hidden from the w
DAVINAI pursed my lips, my back straight and ready to confront the enemy. I guessed I couldn't escape him noticing me, after all, I had embodied Lucille's appearance too well."Hello," I said calmly, my lips lifting a bit, elegantly, and not too enthusiastic for his presence."Lucille?" Lucian stepped closer, his malicious eyes narrowed, as if his gaze could burn into me. He had probably noticed the change, the old Lucille would have smiled with all her heart at him, ignoring his stench of malice, allowing her kindness to supersede all but not me.Not the Davina Shaw who had been groomed into becoming the perfect heiress. I was a battle axe, sharpened and ready."Why are you being so cold?" He asked, stretching his arms wide, for a hug. "We have not seen each other in months. This brother of yours has been so worried."He got dangerously closer, and my body turned rigid as his scent wafted into my nose. The mix of his heavy and sharp perfume with the tense atmosphere caused my stomac
DAVINAI smiled, one that shone with pure contentment, a sweet feeling settling in my chest when I saw Adeline being carried away. This was my first real battle against her and I realized she didn't just hate 'Davina', she hated everyone she couldn't manipulate. As long as a person could be Adeline’s lapdog, they will be used like a favorite rag and discarded later. However, she left a mess. The party meant for me had now turned into a tense moment, guests pointing at me with vile looks. Of course, a pregnant woman would receive sympathy in the hearts of the people, without them even considering how she even got pregnant in the first place.“Are you okay?” Shaw whispered beside me as his fingers folded into mine. I stared at our joined hands, wondering what they meant. Comfort or still just a show before the people?I stared at him and his gaze bore into me, probing and wanting me bare before him.“Why do you think I am not okay?” I asked.“Well…because…” He looked at the doorway be
ADELINE“Woah! Is Mrs. Shaw saying Adeline tried to seduce Nathaniel Shaw?!”“But she is pregnant, how could she do that?”The air froze over in the ballroom, tension rising and voices murmuring. The scornful stares of the guests crawled on my perfect skin like ants. My eyes darted around, beholding the guests, pointing at me like I was a plague. “What did you say?” I asked Lucille, my brows furrowing. “Why did you meet my husband privately?” She asked. “Haha…” I let out a strained laugh, my fingers twitching. “I am afraid you are mistaken. Aren't you being a little too vile, Mrs. Shaw? Do you want to paint me as the bad person?”No one was going to believe her, as long as I didn't admit to it. After all, how could she prove I met him? “You aren't so kind after all. How could you look me in the face? A pregnant guest of yours and disrespect me this way?” My voice shook, as I held my belly, staggering backward. Some women quickly rallied around me to help me, and I rested heavily o
DAVINA“I don't know what you are talking about.” I smiled, just enough to keep her away from me and not get too close. “Of course, you do.” Adeline insisted, stepping closer with a big smile on her face. A smile that didn't quite reach her eyes. It was now easier for me to spot how fake she was, something I should have learned years ago to save me the trouble. “You were at the memorial service conducted for Davina Williams.” She hit the nail on the head and I pursed my lips. Even Shaw held my hand more tightly, after all, he had rebuked me when I attended the memorial. Now, it was coming back to bite me in the ass. “I couldn't see your face that day but when I saw your pictures, I could tell it was you.” Adeline continued to ramble on. “Now that I see your face more closely, I can tell why you were friends with Davina.”“You both look alike. I'm sure you must have the same attitude too.” She grinned, her eyes staring at me with questions that could tear us apart. The lies she had
DAVINAThe feel of the smooth makeup brushes on my skin, my eyes glittering, the contours that highlighted my cheekbones and the rosy blush on my cheeks, all made me feel anew. A different me. I looked exactly like Lucille now, the woman who would be introduced to the world. This was the moment she never got to enjoy and I wanted to embody it perfectly, for a woman who never got to have her revenge like mine. Her reputation, her achievements were all helping me. She was the backbone of this revenge, what led Shaw to me. And the dress on me? Beautiful. Walking into the mansion last night, I gasped when I saw it. It had a bold, deep red hue, a dress that clung to my body, accentuated my shoulders, and my radiance. It was perfect. It was a dress that the old Davina who wore a common white dress for her wedding never would have worn. “Mr. Shaw chose this dress...” Maria had whispered to me and I had marveled at his attention to detail. Anything that would complement me was sent my w