Chapter 5: The Switch.

Maria’s POV

The party was already in full swing by the time we arrived. The press hovered like vultures, their cameras clicking as they snapped photos of high-profile guests and socialites. But the moment we stepped onto the carpet, the attention shifted, all to Elias.

Flashes erupted around us, reporters firing off questions as he responded with his usual poise and effortless charm. Elias never fumbled for words. When he spoke, the room seemed to pause and lean in. He was articulate, intelligent, and disarmingly confident, the kind of man people called the most handsome businessman in New York without a hint of irony.

Me? I just stood beside him like a living ornament, his perfect, polished wife. No one ever directed a single question my way. They all assumed I couldn’t hear, so why would I speak?

I played my role well, though. Smiling adoringly at everything he said, nodding and laughing softly at the right cues, not that anyone thought I was reacting to his words. The “doting wife” routine? That was second nature to me now.

After the photo ops, we moved into the main event where conversations buzzed about money, power, and politics. I scanned the room, men and women alike drawn toward Elias like moths to a flame. As always, he ignored their lingering glances and flirty laughter.

He looked devastatingly good tonight. His black dress shirt, perfectly tailored suit jacket, and dress pants hugged his body with dangerous precision. His black shoes gleamed so sharply I could see my reflection in them. A silver wristwatch graced one wrist, while the other bore that same silver bracelet he never took off. His jet-black hair was slicked back without a single strand out of place, and he smelled exactly like he always did, rich, commanding, a mix of old and new money that somehow made my pulse quicken.

I had taken extra care dressing tonight too. I wore a black silk gown I actually liked. The back dipped low, revealing the delicate line of my spine, while the front showcased a modest hint of cleavage. The hem skimmed my ankles, silver heels peeking underneath, and I paired it with a matching silver clutch. My hair was styled into a sleek ponytail. I looked good, and I knew Elias noticed, his eyes had widened ever so slightly when I came down the stairs before he quickly masked his expression again. Anyone else would’ve missed it. But I’d watched that face for five years. I knew his every tell.

The memory sent heat rushing to my cheeks.

But none of it mattered.

Because tonight was the night I would leave.

Lucia was somewhere nearby, dressed in the exact outfit and hairstyle. Once the party neared its end, we’d meet, swap places, and I would disappear.

The thought made my heart pound violently against my ribs. Tears prickled behind my eyes and my stomach turned with nausea. This was it. It was really ending tonight.

And yet… why wasn’t I happy?

Drinks were being passed around with tiny snacks, but I couldn’t bring myself to touch any of it.

Elias noticed. He signed discreetly to me, “Are you okay?”

I nodded quickly, forcing a smile I hoped looked convincing. He nodded back and returned to his conversations.

I glanced around, picking out familiar faces among the sea of strangers, but as expected, no one paid me any mind.

Then, much sooner than I anticipated, a toast was raised, and suddenly, couples were being invited to the dance floor.

Elias and I always sat this part out. It was an unspoken rule between us. So I relaxed a little, until I saw a large, masculine hand reach out toward me.

I looked down at the hand, then up in disbelief.

Elias was asking me to dance.

What in the hell was going on?

Was the universe playing a sick joke?

I couldn’t let him see me unraveling, so I slid my smaller hand into his. His fingers curled around mine with warmth and quiet certainty, enveloping it completely. That single touch sent tremors through me as he led me onto the dance floor.

Butterflies swarmed my stomach. My throat was dry. My heels felt too tall.

As we passed, the crowd split like waves. People stared. Whispers followed us. I didn’t even try to listen, I was too focused on the fact that my husband, my husband, was leading me onto the floor like we did this all the time.

When we reached the center, the murmurs faded as others scrambled to find their own partners. The spotlight shifted away from us, but the stares remained. I could still feel every pair of eyes watching.

Elias pulled me gently into his frame. One hand pressed against my bare back, causing goosebumps to spread, his other hand still holding mine as we began to sway to the music.

I rested my head against his chest, the tears coming back stronger now, the lump in my throat growing tighter.

This was a cruel, cruel joke.

Why now?

Why was he doing all this now, on the night I was planning to leave?

I couldn’t do it. I wouldn’t.

Then the beat quickened, and Elias spun me gently. His movements were fluid, precise, and I followed along, stunned and breathless. His face remained composed, emotionless… but his eyes, they told a different story. The same heat from earlier, the same hunger, was back.

That hunger invited something dark and unspoken in me too.

His hands slid lower on my waist, lower, until they hovered at the top of my backside. My own hand gripped his broad shoulder, afraid that if I moved even slightly, he’d change his mind and walk away.

But he didn’t.

He held me with a gaze so intense it nearly burned through me.

We continued dancing, lost in our own silent world. I was sure he could hear how fast my heart was racing.

This had never happened in all five years of our marriage. He bought me gifts, but he never gave them directly, he left them in my room or sent Carla. He never looked at me the way he was now. He never kissed me on the forehead. Never danced with me. Never called me beautiful.

So why now?

Why tonight, of all nights?

The song faded forcing our feet to stop moving. But Elias didn’t let go.

I couldn’t let go either, mainly because my legs had turned to jelly. If he wasn’t holding me up, I would’ve collapsed.

We stood there, suspended in the afterglow of something unspoken. His hand finally slipped from my waist, falling to his side like a curtain dropping.

A wave of cold swept over me.

I inhaled sharply, willing my legs to steady. Once I could stand, I signed to him, “I’m going to the bathroom.”

I didn’t wait for his response.

I turned and walked away.

When I finally reached the bathroom, I let out a breath of relief, grateful to find it empty. I leaned heavily against the counter, my hand pressed against my chest where my heart was pounding uncontrollably, trying to steady my breathing. My eyes stung with the threat of unshed tears, and a surge of anger bubbled up within me.

What the hell was Elias playing at? Did he know something? Was that why he was toying with my emotions like this? Everything was spinning in my head like scenes from a chaotic film, and none of it made any sense.

I didn’t get the chance to untangle my thoughts before the bathroom door creaked open, making me jump in surprise.

Lucia stood in the doorway, her eyes wide as she took me in. And I took her in, too, and for a second, it was like staring into a mirror. She wore the same dress I did, carried the same clutch, had on the same shoes, even styled her hair the same way. The sight was deeply unsettling.

“Why do you look so startled? Weren’t we supposed to meet here?” she asked, stepping further into the room, the sharp click of her heels echoing against the tiled floor.

I inhaled deeply, once, twice, steadying myself before turning to face her. I parted my lips to speak, my voice catching on the edge of the moment. After years of silence, it felt foreign, almost unreal, to speak out loud. And the first person to hear my voice was my twin sister.

But that didn’t matter now. I’d be using it more often soon. I was leaving.

Clearing my throat, I finally said, “You just took me by surprise, is all.” My voice was rough, gravelly, hoarse from years of barely using it. It didn’t sound like my own.

Lucia gave me a wary glance before nodding. She turned toward the mirror, adjusting her makeup and smoothing her hair while I silently watched her.

She looked exactly like me. The resemblance struck something deep in my chest. This was real. I was about to deceive the two people who mattered most to me, the only two who had made this life bearable despite all the pain it had thrown my way. I never thought it would come to this. But it had, and I had no other choice now.

“So, are you ready?” Lucia asked with a bright smile, her tone almost too cheerful. It was as if she were suddenly thrilled to be taking over my life, even though just yesterday, she’d been ready to walk away from it all.

No, Maria. Don’t think like that. You were the one who asked for her help.

“You remember everything, right? Isaac’s favorite meal, Elias’s preferred dishes, Isaac’s lesson schedule, the time Elias spends playing with his son, Isaac’s—”

“Yes, Maria, I remember everything,” she cut in, rolling her eyes. “I stayed up all night memorizing and practicing it all.”

She stayed up all night?

“So… when are we switching?” Her voice was filled with anticipation. Was she overly excited, or was I just overthinking everything?

“Uh…”

“Don’t tell me you’re having second thoughts.”

“No, I—uhmm…”

“Come on, Maria. You said you wanted freedom, right? Or has that changed?”

“No, of course not. I still want that. I just—”

“You just…?” she pressed, cutting me off again.

“Lucia, I’m just thinking, alright? It’s not easy walking away from everything I’ve ever known. I’m just—”

“So I wasted all that time for nothing? Stayed up, prepared, rehearsed, just for you to back out now?” Her voice rose, sharp with frustration. Why was she angry?

“No, Lucia. No,” I said quickly, placing my palms on her hands. “I’m sorry, okay? The final toast is coming up soon. After that, we meet out back when Elias and I are supposed to leave. That’s when you take my place in the car, and I slip away. Did you bring the bag?”

“Yes. It’s in the parking lot.”

“Alright, that’s good. Just stay close. I’ll text you when it’s time.” She nodded eagerly, while my heart pounded so hard I thought I might throw up. My stomach churned with nerves.

I left her in the restroom and returned to the ballroom. Elias was now seated at our table, his eyes focused on his phone. As I approached, he looked up, his gaze locking onto me with intensity. I avoided meeting his eyes, afraid that doing so would make the nausea worse and blow everything.

I slipped into the seat beside him, shivering as his stare sent goosebumps crawling across my skin. My chest fluttered wildly. My whole body was running wild with conflicting emotions, it was all so overwhelming.

After a moment, he turned his attention back to the event, his large hand tracing circles along the rim of his glass. My eyes followed the movement, unable to look away.

Before I knew it, the final toast had come and gone. Everything moved so quickly, I barely had time to process what was happening. One moment I was raising my glass, and the next, I was texting Lucia. Then we were at the parking lot, switching places while Elias stayed behind to exchange goodbyes with his business partners.

And just like that, it was Lucia who stood in the spotlight, who wore my name and smiled at the cameras, while I hid in the shadows, watching from the sidelines as my life slipped away.

My outfit had been replaced with a loose ash-colored sweatpant set that hung off my frame, swallowing me whole. The matching ash sweater draped over me like a disguise, my makeup wiped clean, my hair flattened and tucked behind my ears.

I didn’t look like Maria, the poised, elegant wife of Elias, the man who commanded an empire.

I looked like Lucia, the girl from the strip club.

And yet it was me, Maria, watching the man I loved step into the car beside my sister.

Watching Elias slide into the backseat next to her was like being pierced with a blade. But what shattered me completely, what brought me to my knees in a heap of silent, gasping sobs, was watching his shiny black Rolls-Royce Ghost glide away into the night without me.

That image burned into my mind.

I couldn’t remember anything else from that night. Only that I cried until there were no tears left to cry.