The Performance

Tessa’s pulse quickened as the silence stretched between them.

His touch was gentler now, but the weight of his actions still pressed down on her chest.

She should have pulled away. She should have stood her ground.

But the contradiction in his eyes, rage warring with something that looked dangerously like longing, kept her in place.

Raymond leaned closer, his breath brushing her lips. This time, Tessa turned her face just slightly, his mouth grazed the corner of her cheek instead of claiming her.

This time, his kiss wasn’t harsh or domineering. It was soft. Needy. For the first time, Tessa felt a flicker of vulnerability in him, something raw that unsettled her.

She froze beneath him, unresponsive, unwilling to give in. But then he pulled back just enough to look into her eyes. His voice was barely a whisper.

“Please, Tessa… kiss me.”

The words startled her. Raymond Anderson, who had never begged for anything, was asking. Almost pleading.

Before she could find her resolve, his lips brushed hers again, hesitant this time, searching.

His hand skimmed her ear in a trembling caress, and despite herself, Tessa felt her body soften.

Against her will, she kissed him back, slowly, cautiously.

A heavy sigh escaped him, as though he’d been holding his breath for years. For the first time in their marriage, she felt him loosen and kissed her more passionately.

—

By the time they finally pulled apart, both were breathless. Raymond held her gaze and then bathed her with soft forehead kisses and a gentle caress, before collapsing right on top of her.

“Thank you.” he murmured, almost inaudible. “Thank you.”

Tessa wasn’t sure if she’d heard him right. Exhaustion dragged her under before she could dwell on it.

—

She woke to hunger gnawing at her stomach the next morning. Lying still, she stared at the ceiling, her body aching in ways that confirmed it hadn’t been a dream.

She had slept with the man she planned to divorce.

A bitter laugh escaped her throat. She dragged herself into the bathroom, letting scalding water beat against her skin as though it could wash away regret.

But no amount of scrubbing could erase the truth, she had betrayed herself.

—

By the time she came downstairs, Raymond was in the living room, a newspaper open in his hands.

Her pulse spiked, but she steeled herself, reminding her heart of what her head already knew.

There’s no shame here. No defeat. We both gave in. But my decision hasn’t changed, I will still divorce him.

She straightened her shoulders, nodded at the servants’ greetings, settled at the dining table. And started eating in silence.

She didn’t look up neither did he spare him a world, but she felt his gaze dart to her again and again. She ignored him. It was safer that way.

When she finally found the courage to look his way fully, Tessa caught the faint smirk tugging at Raymond’s lips.

She instantly knew why, it was his long-sleeved shirt that she wore, with its high collar.

She was covering the love bites he had deliberately left across her skin like chains.

His snort of amusement carried across the room. Tessa paused only a fraction of a second before resuming her meal, refusing to give him the satisfaction of a reaction.

Raymond almost groaned at her indifference. Then his phone rang.

He scowled but answered. Tessa’s hand froze when she heard the voice at the other end.

“Ray, I’m so nervous about the function tomorrow,” Danielle Greene’s breathy laugh came through, sweet and girlish. “I’m literally restless.”

Tessa’s chest tightened. Danielle, the actress Raymond had made into a star. The woman everyone knew he favored.

His tone shifted instantly, turning gentle, soothing. “It’s okay, Danielle. You’ll be fine. I’ll pick you up myself and take you to the event.”

Danielle’s delighted giggle chimed from the speaker. “That’s comforting. I can’t wait to see you, Ray.”

Tessa stared down at her plate, her grip tightened around her fork. She had suddenly lost her appetite.

So, this is the man I gave up everything for.

Tessa had heard enough. Danielle’s sugary voice was like acid in her veins, and she refused to sit there listening to their flirtation any longer. She pushed herself off the bed, ready to walk away, but as though he saw it coming, Raymond stood up in time and blocked her exit with his huge muscular frame.

“I need to leave?” Tessa said gently.

Her outburst carried through the phone, and on the other end Danielle fell silent for a beat. When she finally spoke, her tone was laced with amusement.

“Is that Mrs. Anderson I hear?” she purred. “Raymond, why don’t you bring her to the event tomorrow? People already whisper about us, you know. They’ll start to think we’re getting married.”

Tessa’s gaze cut to Raymond, ice cold. She knew Danielle’s games too well, little barbs meant to humiliate, to remind her that she was nothing more than the invisible wife. He had never once taken her to an event. Not once.

And then Raymond’s voice shattered her certainty.

“Alright,” he said evenly, his eyes locked on hers. “I’ll bring her.”

Tessa’s stomach dropped. Danielle’s laughter faltered into a sharp intake of breath.

“What?” she snapped, the sweetness gone. She hadn’t expected him to agree. Her petty jab was supposed to sting Tessa, not backfire.

But Raymond didn’t flinch. He kept staring at Tessa, his lips curving into a faint, knowing smile.

“You’re right, Danielle,” he drawled. “I hardly bring Mrs. Anderson anywhere. That will change. James will pick you up tomorrow instead. Sleep well.”

The line went dead, and Raymond pocketed his phone. His eyes never left hers.

For a long, suffocating moment, neither of them spoke. Then he leaned closer, his lips brushing her ear gently.

“Tomorrow,” he whispered, voice silk over steel, “you’ll smile for the cameras. And they’ll never know you begged me for a divorce.