My wife

ANASTASIA

“He just has to show up late, dosen't he” I whisper, glancing toward the entrance—no sign of Dominic.

The hall is huge, flooded with people. I feel painfully out of place, maybe because I’ve avoided them for so long. Everyone has something to say about me.

Hushed whispers about me, yet loud enough for everyone to hear.

The abandoned fiancée. The woman they pity, the one foolish enough to trail behind a man who doesn’t belong to her.

‘She actually came?’  

‘I think she deserves it. She was too sly, thinking she could keep a man like Leonard.’

Every whisper, every conversation said loud enough to hear, threatens to break me, but I can’t break—not here. I won’t give them that satisfaction.

I keep my eyes trained on the entrance, part of me unready to face them, twirling the glass of wine in my hand. I glance at my watch, debating the right moment to run for it.

The room suddenly goes quiet, without being told. I feel it instantly. Maybe it’s because of the years I spent waiting for him, pursuing him, being at his side, I know immediately when he walks into the room.

I glance over my shoulder and spot a head of blonde hair through the crowd, Leonard Thompson. His arm around a woman’s waist, holding her firmly beside him—Eunice, the same woman he convinced me was just his secretary. She's different now, polished by money not made from it, her hair looks ridiculously blonde like she couldn't find the perfect dye. His cold eyes sweep over the crowd until they land on me, and something stirs bitterly in me.

The whispers grow louder. Some glance at me with pity, while others rush to fawn over him.

“She came,” says the girl standing beside Eunice. I recognize her. She’s one of Eunice’s many pets, the type she sends out to do her dirty work while she keeps the image of the fragile female leade beside Leonard.

The crowd falls silent, watching the premium entertainment in front of them. I can already read tomorrow’s headlines. Anastasia Brooks the fallen heiress trying to steal the rich CEO from the sweet fragile Eunice Hilton.

Eunice glances at me, her face carrying a small, innocent smile.

“This party is for everyone, Mia,” Eunice says, her voice sweet and innocent, masking the vile bitch behind the sweet-coated personality. I gag internally when she smiles at me.

“Not for whores like her, who keep throwing themselves at someone else’s man,” Mia muses, a little too loudly. Leonard doesn’t attempt to stop her.

“If I remember correctly, we were engaged first. I couldn’t have stolen what I already had,” I say with as much spite as I can muster.

Gasps ripple through the crowd.  

Mia glares at me, and Eunice wears a hurt expression.

“He was in love with Eunice, not you, and you knew that.”

“Funny. Her position was what again,” I tap my finger against my jaw pretending to think, “yeah, his secretary, and I was the fiancée. The rest is obvious. I wasn’t the one fucking him in his office…”

“That’s more than enough,” Leonard’s cold voice cuts through the thick fog.

His eyes glare at me with obvious disgust, the same eyes that once stared down at me with longing and love.

“I’m so… sorry he left you, but we were in love…” Eunice stammers, half-sobbing now.

“You didn’t do anything wrong, love,” Leonard reassures her, his hand patting her lower back. Right, public display of emotion.

‘She didn’t have to sound so harsh.’  

‘Using such vulgar words to describe someone like Eunice is just cruel.’

The whispers rise, each one slicing through me.

“Apologize to Eunice. Now,” Leonard commands, like he still has control over me.

“No. Why should I? They threw the first shot,” I challenge, refusing to back down.

“Do it now!” Maybe if were the same person I was two months ago.

“She doesn’t have to. It’s okay,” Eunice says, her voice small and broken, but satisfaction gleams in her eyes.

Leonard steps forward. Before I can react or say another word, he lifts his glass and empties the wine over my head. The liquid is cold against my skin, the dark red staining my dress, clinging to my skin.

‘Oh my goodness, that’s humiliating.’  

Embarrassment and anger churn in me. A triumphant smirk plays on his face.

“Do what I say,” he finally says, his words taunting me because he knows he has that much control.

“What’s going on here?” A deep voice echoes across the hall.

Everything goes quiet, the presence itself silences the room. Dominic walks across the marble floor and comes to stand in front of me. His eyes scan my face, my wine-stained dress, my smeared makeup. For the first time, seeing him doesn’t make me want to argue with him or hit him.

‘What is he doing here?’  

‘He doesn’t usually attend parties like this.’

The whispers among the crowd shift immediately.

“Mr… Mr. Blackwood, what are you doing here?” Leonard stammers for the first time.

“Who did this?” Dominic asks, ignoring Leonard like he doesn’t exist. His words are cold, almost lethal. His eyes darken.

“Mr. Blackwood, she used vulgar words to describe my fiancée. I needed to show her where she belonged,” Leonard explains. I watch the man I once gave everything to and feel nothing but disgust.

“And where exactly does my wife belong?” Dominic questions. I roll my eyes before I can stop myself, really cheesy of him.

The entire hall goes silent. For the first time tonight, Eunice’s face falls.

“Y… your wife?” Eunice stammers.

Dominic silently takes my hand. His fingers brush against mine, so close I can feel the heat radiating off him.

He raises my hand, showing the diamond ring on my finger.

“Did I stutter?”

‘Dominic Blackwood is married.’  

‘How did she get him?’    

‘It would’ve made news if it were true.’  

“You don’t have to help her, Dominic,” Leonard continues, like the frightened chicken he is.

“Did I give you the right to speak?” His voice is cold, almost brutal. “If you can throw wine on her for a mistress, then what would I do to you for my wife?” It isn’t a question. It’s a threat.

“Mr. Blackwood,” I turn toward the owner of the voice, Matteo. The middle-aged man grins widely at the sight of Dominic, ignoring the scene in front of him.

“Did you know what was happening?” Dominic asks, ignoring his enthusiasm.

Matteo glances around. His eyes settle on Dominic’s hand holding mine and the unmistakable ring on my finger. In that moment, he decides who he should stand by.

“I… I didn’t know you were married, Mr. Blackwood…” Matteo starts.

“Do your guests usually do this at parties?” Dominic asks, his voice cold.

Matteo’s eyes drop to the empty glass in Leonard’s hand and my wine-stained dress.

“Oh my, I’m so sorry for his outrageous… ”

“Show them out,” Dominic says. His words are final. Matteo looks torn. He’s close with the Thompson family. They’ll never forgive him if he crosses this line. Leonard wears a smug smile.

“Mr. Blackwood, how about we talk… ” Matteo stammers. Dominic raises a brow.

“Now,” Dominic adds.

Matteo swallows, his eyes darting to Leonard. Disobeying the Thompson family has consequences, but he can’t exactly disobey the man in front of him.

He steps between Dominic and Leonard, posture rigid.

“Mr. Thompson, I have to ask you to leave,” Matteo says. Eunice’s eyes widen at the scene.

“Matt—” Leonard starts.

“One more thing,” Dominic cuts in. “Apologize to her. Both of you.” His eyes flicker between Leonard and Eunice.

“I cannot apologize to—”

“Now,” comes Dominic’s cold voice, commanding respect from everyone in this room.

Eunice wears a hurt expression, eyes tear-stained, almost pathetic.

“Dominic, we… ” she stutters.

“Did I let you use my name?” Dominic asks without glancing at her.

“We’re sorry,” Leonard says. He doesn’t mean it, but he knows who holds the authority here.

“I’m sorry,” comes Eunice’s weak apology.

Dominic glances at me. His eyes silently ask if it’s enough. I smirk and turn to grab a champagne bottle from the counter.

“I can’t be the only one shown her place tonight,” I mutter, a smirk playing on my lips.

‘What? She’s so cruel.’  

‘Eunice did nothing wrong.’  

I ignore the whispers.

“That’s outrageous,” Leonard starts.

“If it’s what she wants, then it’s not,” Dominic replies, voice cold.

I smile, though it doesn’t reach my eyes. I close the distance between us. Eunice looks scared, clinging to Leonard, her eyes glaring at me with as much hate. I tilt the bottle over her head and empty the liquid. Dark red stains the pale fabric, smears across her makeup and hair.

I smirk in satisfaction. I can already read tomorrow's headlines, with one featuring Eunice’s wine-stained image.

If there’s one thing that’s obvious tonight, it’s that I’m above them. Leonard needs Dominic’s approval, and somehow that makes everything exciting.

“That should be all.”

I turn to Dominic. His lips pull up in a smirk like he’s enjoying the show. I know he is.

Leonard glances at me, eyes darkened with anger. He storms off with Eunice stumbling behind him.

“That was fun,” I say. Dominic chuckles behind me, his breath fanning against my neck. My skin shivers with awareness.

Dominic steps closer, wraps an arm around my waist. His scent invades my senses, his arm firm around me, feeding the eyes trained on us around the room.

“Something tells me you enjoyed this a little too much,” I whisper. He smirks.

“A bit.”

I stare at Leonard’s retreating figure and Eunice stumbling desperately behind him.

Suddenly, the Blackwood name doesn’t sound so bad.