His Second Husband

Silas's POV 

“Why did you make me fall in love with you when you knew you were going to leave me too soon?”

I stood under the rain, my suit soaked as I stood before the marble headstone that had become my hiding place since the past five years.

Today was my husband's fifth death anniversary.

Emery James Vaughn. Beloved husband. 1989–2019. Forever in my heart.

I knelt down on the tomb as memories kept crashing back and I remembered the night everything changed.

A call had come in when I was pacing our suite. I was so angry because Emery had once again missed our anniversary dinner.

I ignored his call…he called me over seven times that night but I didn't answer. Instead, I switched off my phone and told myself I was done forgiving him and excusing his absence. 

I had begged for just one night but I never knew that night would be the end of everything.

When I eventually switched on my phone, blaming myself for overreacting, I received another call that still rings in my ear till this day.

“Please is this Silas Vaughn?...Sir…we found your husband's vehicle on the highway. The car caught fire. We need someone to identify the body”

I'd driven to the morgue like a mad man. My hands were shaking so badly as I gripped the steering wheel…praying that whoever was in that vehicle shouldn't be my husband.

I finally got to the morgue and when they pulled back the white sheet, I barely recognised what was left of the man I loved.

His body was butchered….his face bloodied beyond recognition…that night I screamed so loud that I had to be sedated…when I woke up, I never remained the same.

For five years I lived in guilt. Sometimes I woke up in the middle of the night reaching out for Emery only to find cold sheets..

The police said someone did this but they never found who. So I took it upon myself to do the job. I hired private investigators…went through different police files, yet found nothing.

“I promise you Em…” I said pressing my palm against the marble.. “I'm going to find whoever did this to you…I'm going to make them pay…I'll make them pay for taking you away from me”

The words got stuck in my throat, I couldn't even breathe. “But…I need to try and live again. I need to learn how to live without you because…I know you're never coming back…I'm sorry I didn't pick your calls that night, and I hope you'll forgive me. I love you Em, you know I do…till we meet again”

I finally straightened up and put on my sunglasses to cover my blood shot eyes as I walked out of the cemetery.

Emery had left me everything pushing me from a small time hotelier to a billionaire magnate with over thirty seven luxury hotels across the country.

I expanded Vaughn hotels into a billion dollar corporation but even with all the wealth I now possessed, it couldn't fill the emptiness I felt inside.

My phone buzzed with a notification, I checked my email and saw the email marked urgent, I opened it and saw the invitation.

The metropolitan Children's foundation gala…Tonight, 8PM.

I was listed as a platinum sponsor, last month I had written them a check for one million dollars but I hadn't attended any social event since Emery's funeral.

“Goldie?” I called my assistant, my voice hoarse from crying.

“Mr Vaughn are you alright? You sound…”

“Clear my schedule for tonight and move them to next week”

She was silent for a few seconds before she answered. “Sir…are you sure? You have the Singapore merger meeting on Tuesday and…”

“I'm going to the gala tonight”

She didn't respond immediately, and I could practically hear her mind racing. “Mr Vaughn…please I don't think this is a good idea, the last time you attended a public event, you had a panic attack. How would you handle the press…the questions about Mr Emery and…”

“I'll be fine. I need to do this”

I ended the call before she could argue further.

When I got home, I went to my walk-in closet, a place I had avoided for far too long.

Most of Emery's suits were in here. 

I opened it and my hands found the blue Tom Ford suit still in its garment bag. It was the suit I was supposed to wear to our wedding anniversary five years ago.

I put it on. When I looked in the mirror, I looked like a man who had his life put together but I was so broken that I didn't think anyone would be able to fix me.

By the time I arrived at the gala and stepped out of my car, paparazzi swamped the entrance, their cameras clicking furiously as soon as they caught sight of me.

“Silas Vaughn over here!”

How does it feel to be back?” 

“Any comments on the merger rumours?” 

“Are you dating anyone again?”

Security escorted me inside and inside, it was even worse. At some point, I was beginning to think it was a bad idea.

I managed to tune out the bad comments…and took my seat at the sponsors table accepting condolences from people I didn't even know…while trying to remember how to smile.

The MC’s voice boomed over the microphone welcoming guests, thanking patrons and urging generosity for the evening's cause.

I tried to focus while sipping the champagne in front of me telling myself I was making progress when a movement near the buffet area caught my eye.

A young man had slipped inside unnoticed by the security who were distracted with the tips they were receiving.

His clothes were rumpled…his hair looked unkempt but there was something about the way he was acting that reminded me of…

He turned to check if anyone was watching before he stuffed food in his mouth.

My champagne glass slipped from my fingers and shattered on the floor.

This was impossible…it was insane.

But I was staring at my dead husband's face.