Introduction.

Selene’s POV.

I took a step back, placing my hands on the counter for support. My head spun.

He stepped forward. Alarm was written all over his face.

“Are you okay?”

“I am fine,” I managed to say.

Was this really Rowland? He stood a few inches taller than me, and his brown curly hair had been trimmed perfectly. He wore an expensive suit, and the scent of his perfume filled the air.

I straightened, glancing around instinctively.

Tom's sister, Melanie, hovered over Lisa, giggling as she showed her something in it. Tom was nowhere in sight.

I swallowed. My voice shook.

“What are you doing here, Rowland?”

He exhaled, “Look, Selene, I know how crazy this all looks, showing up out of nowhere, but…”

“Rowland. I don't have time for this. Why are you here?”

His brows raised. “I came back for you, Selene.”

My chest tightened. His eyes pierced into mine; I looked away.

“I don't want to see you, Rowland. I am married now."

His expression dropped, like he had been slapped across the face.

“I heard Selene; I didn't believe it. I wanted to confirm it myself.”

“Mummy, we have been waiting for you. Sophie said we are about to cut the cake.”

I hadn't noticed Amira walking towards me. She tugged at my gown from beneath, holding on to a white teddy.

Rowland turned to her. He stared at her for so long I feared he might recognise his features on her.

My chest pounded.

I bent down. Taking her hands in mine, trying to steady my trembling hands. “I would be there soon. I am a little busy right now, honey. You all can cut it without me. Leave a slice for me.”

“Okay, Mummy, don't take too long.” I watched her walk off. Her dress swayed as she walked.

“Is she your child, Selene?”

“That doesn't matter, Rowland; I really want you to leave.”

I glanced sideways. My eyes locked with Tom’s from farther across the room.

My chest heaved.

“I understand now is not a good time. Can I at least get your number to call later?” He pushed his phone in my direction.

I glanced at Tom. He looked at me from the corner of his eye.

“Please, Rowland.”

His fingers curled. “I won't leave until I can reach you again, Selene.”

Tom excused the man he was speaking with and walked towards me.

“Okay, just leave, please.” I snatched it from him and dialled in my digits.

Tom stopped beside me and slid his hand behind my lower back. Flashing a smile.

“Is there a problem, honey?” He tightened an arm around me and planted a wet, sloppy kiss on my cheek.

I flinched underneath his touch. “No, Tom. This is my friend from high school. He was about to leave.”

I glared at Rowland.

Rowland extended his arm. “You must be Selene’s husband. Mr…”

He shook his hand. “Tom,”

“Ahh, yes. I have heard a lot about you,” Rowland said.

My chest pounded. The room seemed to suffocate me. Rowland had no idea what he had done.

He gazed at me. “Really? I know my wife was fond of me, but not… this well.”

I faked a smile.

Rowland clasped his hands together. “I was actually leaving, Mr Tom. What a lovely party this is. Goodbye, sir.”

He turned to me.

“Goodbye, Selene.”

He walked away while I stood reluctantly frozen in place beside Tom. He waited till Tom was out of sight, then his hands dropped.

His jaw tightened.

“Who was that, and who invited him?”

I stepped away from him and reached for the glass from earlier.

“I told you, Tom, a friend.”

“Friends don't look at each other the way he did. Do you think I am a fool?”

The wine swayed in the cup as it shook. My voice sounded more confident than I felt.

“Believe what you want to, Tom. I am not like you.”

He grabbed my wrist so tight I yelped in pain.

“Tom!” Lisa called to him. “Come quickly, you have to see this.”

“I will be there soon, Lisa.”

“Now Tom, please,” she pouted.

He released his grip on me and lowered his head to my ear.

“This isn’t over, Selene,” he whispered and walked away.

I exhaled. My fingers trembled so violently that the glass slipped from my fingers.

The glass hit the ground; its contents spilt over and its pieces laid in shambles on the ground.

I rubbed the area of my wrist that ached.

A guest's head snapped in my direction.

“Are you okay, Selene?” Debbie, a good friend I made when I joined the reading club.

“Oh, nothing,” I managed to say. “The glass must have slipped.”

“Oh, okay.” She stared at me like she didn’t quite believe me and turned to face her phone again.

“Could you clean this up, please?” I asked the staff member holding a tray as she walked past me.

“Yes, ma’am.”

I stepped over the mess and scanned the room looking for Amira.

I spotted her with Sophie. They had cut the cake, and she was shoving a large chunk into her mouth.

I smiled; she looked happy.

I tilted my chin and walked in on the chaos.

"Where is my slice, honey?" Don't tell me you didn't keep one for Mummy."

Her hands flew into the air. She pointed at a large chunk of cake. "That's for the best Mummy in the whole wide world.”

A knot formed in my throat.

Rowland's appearance threatened to shake the safe space I had created for Amira and me. I wasn't going to let that happen.

If the truth ever came out, I couldn't imagine what would happen.

I sit beside Sophie. She leaned in.

“Just look at him. He's so shameless, Selene. How do you manage?”

I didn't want to look, but I managed a quick glance.

Lisa leaned in so close that her cleavage popped out, and it looked like she might kiss Tom.

Sophie squeezed my hand, but I didn't look away.

Lisa’s fingers curled over her lips as she whispered something in Tom’s ear.

His jaw tightened.

He turned and looked straight at me.

He didn't look angry, just suspicious.

My spine stiffened.