The Gala

The ballroom was full of sharks in evening wear.

They smiled. They sipped champagne. They watched me as if I were the evening's entertainment.

Kael's hand stayed on my back. Firm. Guiding. Claiming.

"Kael!" A man in his sixties approached. Silver hair. Expensive watch. He looked at me with open curiosity. "I heard the news. Congratulations."

"Thank you, Richard." Kael's voice was smooth. Professional. "This is my wife, Aria."

"Mrs. Blackwell." Richard shook my hand. His grip was testing. "What a surprise.

I was unaware that you were dating someone.

Kael said, "We kept it private," before I could say anything.

"Very private." Richard's eyes moved between us. "Wasn't your nephew engaged recently? To someone named—"

"Aria and I have been seeing each other for several months," Kael interrupted. His tone didn't change. But something in it made Richard stop talking.

"The timing worked out well for everyone involved."

Richard gave a slow nod. "Obviously. Alright. "Mrs. Blackwell, welcome to the family."

He turned to leave.

I sensed that people were watching us from all sides. Behind champagne glasses, whispers. Individuals hunched over one another.

Pointing. Judging.

"Breathe," Kael said quietly. His hand pressed into my back. "And smile."

I smiled. It felt fake. It probably looked fake.

A woman in a red dress approached. Younger. Beautiful. She kissed Kael on both cheeks like they were close.

"Kael. I had to see this for myself." Her eyes landed on me. Sharp. Assessing. "So you're the one who got him to the altar."

"Victoria." Kael's voice was cooler now. "This is my wife, Aria."

Victoria. The name hit me. His ex. The one who betrayed him. Mrs. Chen had mentioned her once.

"Aria Laurent," Victoria said slowly. "That name sounds familiar.

Were you not engaged to Damien Blackwell?

The question lingered in the atmosphere.

"She was," Kael stated bluntly. "I am now married to her. Do you have any other questions?

Victoria smiled. It didn't reach her eyes. "Just curious. It's an interesting situation. The nephew's ex-fiancée is marrying the uncle. People are talking."

"People always talk," Kael remarked. He shifted his hand from my back to my waist. drawing me in. "Doesn't make what they say true."

"Of course not." Victoria's gaze passed over me.

Taking off my dress. My hair. My makeup. "Well. She's lovely. I hope you're happy."

She walked away. But the damage was done.

More people approached. Each conversation was the same. Polite words. Hidden questions. Thinly veiled suspicion.

I stood there. Smiled. Said nothing unless directly asked. Let Kael control every interaction.

My feet hurt.

Smiling made my cheeks sore. My desire was to disappear.

"Excuse me." A waiter went by. From his tray, I took a glass of champagne.

Kael wrapped his hand around my wrist. "You don't drink at these events."

I gave him a look. "Why not?"

"Because you need to stay sharp." He grabbed the glass out of my grasp. Place it on a nearby table. "These individuals are searching for any indication of vulnerability.

Any mistake. You give them nothing."

"I can handle one drink."

"No."

His gaze met mine. "You can't."

I released my wrist. "Stop treating me like a child."

"Then stop acting like one."

A flash went off nearby. I turned. A photographer. Taking pictures of us. Of this moment.

Kael's jaw tightened. He pulled me closer again. Smiled at the photographer like nothing was wrong. "Come. Let's sit."

He guided me to our table. Name cards were already in place. Mr. and Mrs. Blackwell. Other couples were already seated. They went quiet when we approached.

"Kael." A man stood up. Extended his hand. "Good to see you."

"David." Kael shook his hand.

"This is my wife, Aria."

David's wife, who wore expensive jewelry and had sharp features, gave me a disgusted look. "How beautiful. Tell me what you do, please.

"I—" I paused. What did I do?

I had no job. No purpose. "I'm focusing on settling into married life."

"How nice." Her tone said she didn't think it was nice at all. "And your family? Where are they from?"

"I don't have a family."

"Oh." She glanced at her husband. "I see."

Under the table, Kael's hand found mine. He had a firm hold.

Warning me to stay quiet.

The conversation moved on. Business talk. Company mergers. Stock prices. I sat there. Invisible.

Then I saw him.

Damien.

He stood near the bar with a woman I didn't recognize. Blonde. Beautiful.

Just like Kael's hand had been on my earlier, his was on her back.

Across the room, our gazes locked.

He grinned. Cold. Mean.

Then he began to move in our direction.

My stomach fell.

"He's coming over," I told Kael in a whisper.

"I know."

Kael didn't look up. Didn't react. "Let him."

Damien stopped at our table. Looked down at us with that smile still on his face.

"Uncle. How unexpected to see you here." His eyes moved to me. "And Aria. Congratulations on your marriage. Very sudden."

"Damien." Kael's voice was flat. "Enjoying the evening?"

"Very much." Damien pointed at the woman standing next to him. "I'm Elena. His fiancée.

Elena. The woman who had set me up. Even though I had never seen her before, I knew it was her. The way she gazed at me.

Satisfied. Victorious.

"Fiancée," Kael said once again. "That was fast."

"You are aware of what people say. You know when you know. Damien grinned more broadly. "Right, Aria?"

I didn't respond.

"I have to admit," Damien went on, "I was taken aback by the news." My uncle and my former fiancée.

It's very—" he paused "—intimate. Family affair."

A number of those seated at the table shifted uneasily.

"Careful," Kael muttered. However, he spoke with steel in his voice.

"I'm just saying what everyone's thinking." Damien surveyed the area. "All right? It's not common. It may even be considered inappropriate by some.

"That's enough."

Kael stood up. Slowly. Deliberately. His height made Damien step back. "You're embarrassing yourself. And your date."

"I'm embarrassing myself?" Damien laughed.

"You married my ex-fiancée. A woman who attempted to ruin our family. And you believe that I ought to feel ashamed?"

There seemed to be silence throughout the ballroom.

Kael's face remained unchanged.

But something in his eyes turned dangerous.

"Let me be very clear," he said. His voice carried. Everyone nearby could hear. "Aria is my wife. What happened between you and her is in the past. What happens now is between her and me. If you have a problem with that, you can take it up with me directly. But you will not speak to her. You will not speak about her. And you will certainly not embarrass her in public again. Do you understand?"

Damien's face flushed red. "You're defending her? After what she did?"

"I'm establishing boundaries. Which you seem to have trouble respecting." Kael's hand moved to my shoulder. Possessive. Claiming. "Now.

I advise you to choose a different table with your fiancée. We're finished here."

Damien seems to have more to say. However, he was stopped by something in Kael's expression.

"This isn't over," Damien eventually replied.

"Yes," Kael muttered.

"It is."

Damien walked away. Elena followed, whispering to him. Looking back at us.

The table stayed silent. Everyone staring.

Kael sat back down. Picked up his drink. Acted as if nothing had happened.

But under the table, his hand found mine again. Squeezed. Too tight. Almost painful.

"Smile," he said under his breath.

I smiled.

The dinner continued. Speeches were made. Awards were given. I sat there. Numb. Going through the motions.

When it finally ended, Kael stood. Offered me his hand.

"We're leaving."

I followed him out. Through the ballroom. Past the whispers and stares. Into the car waiting outside.

The door closed. The driver pulled away.

Silence.

"You handled that well," Kael said finally.

"I didn't do anything."

"Exactly." He looked at me. "You stayed quiet.

I'll take care of it. That's what you ought to do every time.

"He called me a criminal in front of everyone."

"He implied it. And I shut him down."

Kael clenched his jaw. "At these occasions, you don't defend yourself. You gave me permission to do it. This is how it operates.

"So I'm just supposed to stand there and take it?"

"Yes."

I turned away.

gazed out the window.

"He's jealous," Kael remarked after a little pause. "That’s what it is.

He threw you away, and now you're married to someone more powerful than him. It bothers him."

"He doesn't want me."

"No. He wants what I have. Control. Power. Respect." Kael leaned back.

"It makes no difference. He'll learn to avoid you."

"And if he doesn't?"

"Then I'll make him."

The vehicle arrived at our building. Silently, we rode the elevator. entered the penthouse. Mrs. Chen left the lights on.

I made my way to my room.

"Aria."

I stopped.

Kael stood in the hallway. Loosening his tie.

Those icy gray eyes are staring at me.

"My mother and I are going to have breakfast tomorrow morning.

Seven AM. Be ready."

"I'm always ready."

"Good." He paused. "One more thing. Tonight, when you grabbed that champagne glass. When you tried to drink."

"What about it?"

"Avoid doing it once more. You follow my lead while we're in public. You consult me before making any decision. Did you understand?

I balled my hands into fists. "I'm not a puppet."

"No. You are my wife. Additionally, my wife doesn't make me feel uncomfortable by getting wasted at charity functions.

He walked closer. Stopped right in front of me. "I defended you tonight. I protected you from my nephew. I made it clear to everyone in that room that you're under my protection. In return, you follow my rules."

"Your rules are suffocating."

"They're necessary." His eyes searched my face. "You think I enjoy this? Parading you around? Defending you to people who believe you're a criminal? I don't. But I made a choice when I married you. And now we both have to live with it."

"You made the choice. You forced me into this."

"And you signed the papers. You said yes. You put on the dress and the ring, and you smiled for the cameras." He leaned down slightly. Close enough that I could smell his cologne. "So stop pretending you're some innocent victim. You chose survival over prison. Own it."

He stepped back. Turned toward his room.

He said, "Don't leave my side at public events again," without turning around. "Next time, I won't be polite about bringing you back."

His door closed.

I stood in the hallway. Shaking. From anger, fear, or exhaustion, I didn't know.

In my room, I changed out of the expensive dress. Washed off the makeup. Took down my hair.

My phone buzzed. A message from an unknown number.

Saw you tonight. You looked pathetic standing next to him. He doesn't love you. He's using you. Everyone knows it. - D

Damien. Using a different number.

I blocked it.

Another message came through. Different number.

You can't hide forever. People know what you are.

I turned off my phone.

Tomorrow I'll meet Kael's mother. Another performance. Another test.

And the day after that, there would be something else. Another event. Another rule. Another way for Kael Blackwell to control every piece of my life.

I lay in bed. Stared at the ceiling.

His voice echoed in my head.

Don't leave my side again.

Not a request. A command.

I was his wife. His property. His perfectly controlled puppet.

And there was nothing I could do about it.