Chapter 4

Gwen’s POV.

  

  Even in a hall filled with people chattering and soft music playing, the silence that descended on us was deafening and the tension in the air as Raymond and I stared at each other was so intense, thick enough for someone to choke on.

  

  Suddenly, a blonde haired woman that I hadn’t even noticed before stepped out from behind Raymond and looped her arm possessively through his before turning to us with a wide smile on her face,

  

  “Well… this is a surprise.” She said, her bright red lips curved into a smirk as her eyes slid over my entire length with disdain, like I was something the cat dragged in.

  

  Alex glanced from me to her, confused,

  

  “I’m sorry, you are?” He asked and she chuckled lightly, waving him off with her well-manicured nails as if he was silly for asking her that question.

  

  “I’m Sasha.” She announced with an air of arrogance like it was the most important thing in the world, “Raymond’s fiancée.”

  

  Fiancée.

  

  That word hit me like a ton of bricks. He’d gotten engaged to someone else that fast?

  

  The silence that descended afterwards was thick and uncomfortable. Raymond was still staring at me, his jaw tight and he looked like he wanted to say something but was holding himself back.

  

  “So, you’re the ex?” She laughed, a tinkling fake sound, “Raymond has told me so little about you. I suppose some things are just… forgettable.” She patted her flat stomach with a delicate gesture, “but we’ve been so busy planning the wedding and, well, expecting our little one. It’s such a blessing to not need any… medical intervention to start a family.”

  

  My blood ran cold. A baby. He was having a baby with this woman?

  

  My chest tightened and I wasn’t exactly sure how I was feeling but I knew I had to keep gripping my clutch like my life depended on it to not make it obvious that my hands were trembling.

  

  “Isn’t that right, Gwen?” Sasha added, looking me over with a dismissive flick of her eyes, “can you believe he was planning to try surrogacy when we met? That’s how we met.” She laughed out loud but no one else laughed.

  

  My throat was burning and I could feel the tears stinging the back of my eyes. I wanted to breathe, I badly needed the air to pass through my lungs and calm me down but for some reason, I couldn’t.

  

  “And what about you, Gwen? Any little ones on the way for you yet? Or… still trying?” Her eyes dropped pointedly to my own stomach.

  

  So he told her about our inability to have a child.

  

  I felt my face burn, my carefully built composure cracking. I had tried my best to bury that part of me, that woman that was so broken by her inability to have a child that she decided to focus more on the countless children in the world that didn’t have parents.

  

  But hearing her speak so carelessly about my past felt like she had just poked at an open wound.

  

  “That’s enough, Sasha.” Alex whispered, his voice low and with a warning edge to it but that didn’t stop her.

  

  I opened my mouth but no words came out. Thankfully, It wasn't obvious because at that moment Alex stepped forward,

  

  “Sasha, was it?” His calm cool voice interjected as his arm slid around my waist, pulling me firmly and securely against his side. The feel of his muscular body pressed so tightly against mine felt like some sort of shield wrapping around me.

  

  “My partner here is the brain behind this entire event. Her focus is on healing hundreds of kids, not just having one. It takes a special kind of person for that in a shallow minded world like ours.” He looked directly at Sasha, a polite, cold smile on his face.

  

  “And as for her personal life,” he continued, his voice dropping to an intimate, possessive tone that sent a weird sensation through me, “that’s really none of your business, is it?”

  

  She flicked her hair dramatically and was about to say something but Alex cut her off rudely by turning to Raymond with a dismissive tone,

  

  “Now, if you’ll excuse us, my date needs a drink.”

  

  He turned away from them and gave a curt nod to the other men before leading me away with his arm still wrapped around me. I could feel their eyes on us but he didn’t lead me to the bar like I had expected, instead, he led me to a quiet balcony overlooking the city.

  

  “Breathe Eve,” he said softly, his hand sliding over the length of my back in a comforting manner, “just breathe.”

  

  I bit down hard on my lower lip. My heart was hammering, my body was trembling as I fought back the tears threatening to spill down my face any second.

  

  I looked up at his perfect face, at the confident, almost arrogant set of his jaw,

  

  “Why did you say that?” I whispered, my voice shaky.

  

  His eyes held mine and that familiar, infuriating smirk finally touched his lips but his eyes were serious,

  

  “One reason,” he said, his voice low, “no one talks to my partner like that.”

  

  “I…I need to go.” I murmured, breathless.

  

  “No, you don’t. What you need is a drink so stay here and I’ll get you one.” He gave me a gentle nudge before he disappeared back inside, leaving me alone in the cool night air.

  

  I leaned against the railing, struggling to steady my racing heart and breathe properly. I gasped for air as I dabbed at my eyes with a handkerchief.

  

  “Eve?” A familiar voice came from behind me and I flinched just as Raymond stepped onto the balcony behind me, his brows slightly furrowed like he was irritated or angry, “he calls you Eve? I thought you hated the name and didn’t allow anyone to call you that.”

  

  I turned my back to him, “you don’t get to decide what I like anymore Raymond so please just go away.”

  

  “What’s going on between you and Alex?” He suddenly demanded, his voice strained as if the words he had just uttered were too much for him, “how long has this been going on?”

  

  I glanced back at him over my shoulder, “I don’t see how that is any of your business.”

  

  “Business?” He scoffed out loud, stepping closer, “I saw how he looked at you. And the way you let him touch you. Do you let all your partners touch you like that?” He snapped and something about his tone irked me.

  

  I spun around sharply to face him, my blood boiling hot underneath my skin,

  

  “Says the one with a soon-to-be, pregnant, wife! After I left, did you even think about me or were you just excited that you’re finally gotten rid of the wife that needed a surrogate to give you a child?” My voice was bitter and it was growing louder.

  

  Loud enough to draw the attention of the guests nearby so I took a deep breath,

  

  “You know what, nevermind. Coming here was a mistake. This isn’t worth it.” I stepped away from him, heading for the exit but he reached out and grabbed my arm.

  

  “Tell me the truth. Are you sleeping with him?” His grip was tight and painful.

  

  I winced in pain and struggled to free myself but it was of no use.

  

  “Let go of me.”

  

  “Not until you answer me.”

  

  We were both glaring at each other and just as I was about to shove him back and wrench my arm free, Alex appeared behind me holding two glasses of champagne.

  

  “I believe the lady told you to let go.” He said, a heavy frown creased his brows as he stared at Raymond.

  

  “This is a private conversation Alex, leave us alone.” Alex clapped back, letting go of me gently.

  

  Alex walked over with ease like nothing was happening and handed over one of the glasses to me, his fingers brushed against mine and he gave me some sort of look before he turned to Raymond,

  

  “It didn't look very private from where I was standing.” He stared Raymond down.

  

  Raymond’s face twisted with a bitter, ugly smile,

  

  “Oh… I see what’s going on here. So you’ve stooped so low as to sleep with my wife now, right? Do you—“

  

  “Ex… wife.” His calm voice cut Raymond off, infuriating him further, “and the answer is yes. Of course I’m sleeping with her. She’s mine after all, especially now that we’re dating.”