The Unwelcome Guest

Selena stood near the massive floor-to-ceiling windows overlooking the city, smoothing invisible wrinkles from the emerald green dress Margaret had laid out for her earlier that evening.

The fabric was soft against her skin, expensive enough to make her nervous about touching it.

Everything in this mansion still felt carefully staged, including her.

Matthew had barely spoken two words to her since she moved in. He had spent the entire day in his home office, and now he was standing near the fireplace, looking devastating in a black shirt with the sleeves rolled up, checking his watch impatiently. 

He hadn’t looked at her once since coming downstairs. Selena hated that she noticed.

The doorbell rang. Margaret opened the door, and a wave of expensive perfume filled the room. Selena’s stomach dropped. 

Victoria walked in like she owned the mansion — tall, stunning, with long silky black hair. Victoria moved with the kind of effortless confidence Selena immediately distrusted like someone completely accustomed to being welcomed everywhere she went.

“Matt, darling!” Victoria’s voice was sweet and intimate as she walked straight to Matthew. “I heard you had a small dinner tonight, so I thought I’d stop by and surprise you.” 

Matthew looked mildly irritated at first then Victoria smiled at him, and something in his posture relaxed almost instantly. You should have called first.” 

“But where’s the fun in that?” She laughed and leaned in, kissing him on both cheeks, her hand lingering on his chest a second too long. “Besides, I missed you. Paris was so boring without you.” 

Selena stood a few feet away, feeling invisible. Her hands clenched tightly at her sides as she watched the easy familiarity between them. 

Victoria finally turned her sharp gaze toward Selena. Her smile didn’t reach her eyes. 

“And this must be the new Mrs. Kingland, your wife.” she said, looking Selena up and down. “Selena, right?” Victoria asked pleasantly. 

Her gaze lingered briefly on Selena’s dress, then her face. 

“Matthew rarely surprises me,” she said with a small smile. “But this marriage definitely did.”

The insult was wrapped in honey, but Selena felt every word like a slap. 

Matthew didn’t correct Victoria. He didn’t even introduce Selena properly. He simply gestured toward the dining room. 

“Let’s go. The guests will be here soon.” 

During dinner, Victoria dominated the conversation. She kept touching Matthew’s arm while talking about their shared business deals in Europe, laughing at inside jokes Selena couldn’t understand. The business associates kept glancing between Victoria and Selena, clearly confused about who the actual wife was. 

Selena sat quietly, smiling when expected, playing the part of the graceful wife. Every time someone mistook Victoria for Matthew’s partner, Selena felt herself shrinking a little further into the background.

Half the conversation revolved around investment properties and luxury hotels across Europe. Normally, Selena would have been fascinated by discussions about architecture and interior spaces. 

Tonight, she could barely focus long enough to care.

At one point, Victoria leaned close to Matthew and whispered something in his ear. A quiet amusement flickered across his face. 

Selena suddenly realized she had never seen him look relaxed around anyone else.

Selena couldn’t take it anymore. “Excuse me,” she said softly, standing up. “I need to check on something.” 

She escaped to the hallway, leaning against the wall as she tried to steady her breathing, pressing her fingertips briefly against her temple.

This was only day two, and she was already suffocating. 

The mansion suddenly felt too warm, too crowded, too quiet all at once.

Footsteps approached. She looked up to see Matthew walking toward her, his face hard. 

“What are you doing?” he asked coldly. “The guests are still here.” 

Selena looked him straight in the eyes, her voice shaking with emotion. 

“Is she always going to be around like this? In *our* home?” 

Matthew stepped closer, towering over her. His voice was low and dangerous. 

“Victoria is a friend and business partner. She was in my life long before you. Don’t start taking things personal, Selena. You knew what this arrangement was from the beginning,” Matthew said evenly. “Victoria’s presence changes nothing.”

He turned to leave, then paused. His eyes swept over her face briefly. 

“Pull yourself together before you come back inside.”

 Selena Selena watched him walk away, strangely calm now. Maybe this marriage would hurt far more than she originally expected.

The elegant dining room felt more like a battlefield than a dinner table. 

After dinner, as the guests were leaving, Victoria turned to Matthew with a sweet smile. 

“Matt, it’s already so late and I can’t seem to find a taxi nearby. Would it be okay if I stayed in one of the guest rooms tonight?”

Matthew’s gaze flickered briefly toward Selena. 

It wasn’t long enough to ask permission. Just long enough to acknowledge she was there.

“Of course.” 

Victoria turned to Selena with raised eyebrows, as if daring her.

Selena forced a warm smile, even though her stomach was twisting. 

“You’re welcome to stay anytime, Victoria,” she said softly, her voice steady. “This is Matthew’s house after all.” 

Victoria’s smile widened. “How gracious. Thank you, darling.” 

As Margaret showed Victoria to the guest room on the west wing, Selena excused herself and went up to her own room in the east wing. 

She closed the door behind her and leaned against it, letting out a long breath. 

“None of my business.” Selena reminded herself as she changed out of the dress. 

One year. That was all this marriage was supposed to be. So why did the thought of Victoria somewhere downstairs still leave a sour ache sitting heavily in her chest? 

Selena turned off the bedside lamp and closed her eyes. 

But sleep never came easily that night.