Chapter 2

“I’m very disappointed in you today, Celeste. You really don’t know what’s good for you. What problem do you have with Natasha hosting the funeral? Did you really need to cause a scene in front of everyone?”

“What will my business partners think? What will the media say? You should be grateful nothing worse happened, or I would have…”

He cut himself off, but I finished the sentence for him.

“Or what? I don’t have a second baby left for you two to destroy.”

Daniel raised his hand again, wanting to hit me, but then stopped, like he suddenly remembered something.

“Go make some cake. Matcha flavor. I’ll bring it to Natasha later. Think of it as your apology. After that, this whole thing will be over.”

I laughed as if I had heard a joke, so I simply walked past him without responding.

Daniel grabbed my wrist tightly, forcing me to face him. “You’re getting bold, aren’t you?”

“Oh? But I’m nothing compared to the woman hiding behind you,” I replied with sarcasm.

I had already decided to divorce him anyway. There was no point holding back anymore.

“I don’t care about anything else, but you must attend tomorrow’s charity gala. You know how important it is for the company.”

With that, he slammed the door and left.

I knew the event he meant. He told me about it six months ago.

Back then, he told me that attending as a couple would impress investors, how a polished family image mattered in business, how it could even influence final deals.

And since I had agreed back then, since it was a charity event, I decided I would still go, even if I didn’t stay long.

***

The next morning, before my alarm even rang, I heard a car engine outside.

When I got up and looked out the window, Daniel’s car was already driving away.

I called him.

The first call was rejected. The second, too. The third… the tenth…

Finally, he picked up, sounding irritated. “Celeste, are you really that clueless? I didn’t pick up, isn’t that obvious enough? Take a taxi. I’m not your driver!”

“Oh? You should’ve told me earlier. I thought it meant I didn’t need to come.”

My calm tone made his voice rise like a dog barking. But then he realized he sounded ridiculous, so he forced himself to soften.

“Some friends asked me to arrive early. As my wife, you don’t need to tag along.”

“Okay.”

I hung up, put on the dress he’d chosen and got ready.

***

When I reached the hotel, expensive cars lined the entrance. I stepped out of a small white sedan, smoothing out the dress.

Not far away, Daniel stood in a suit, holding Natasha’s arm as she stepped out of a luxury car.

She wore the same dress as mine, except hers looked high-end and elegant. Mine looked like the cheap version of it.

My phone buzzed. It was message from Natasha.

[You should thank me. If I didn’t generously let Daniel invite you, you wouldn’t be allowed to attend. Also, the dress was buy-one-get-one-free. Yours is the free one.]

So, that was why Daniel told me to come. That was why he left without me this morning.

It was all because Natasha felt like it.

I lifted my skirt slightly and checked my reflection in a car window—hair tied up, soft curls brushing my shoulders, light pink eyeshadow, coral lipstick and a calm, steady smile.

As long as we weren’t divorced, I was still his legal wife. And Natasha Morgan was still just the mistress.

At such an important event, I wanted to see who Daniel would choose to protect.

Inside the gala, I searched for him. I finally spotted him leading Natasha toward a quiet staircase.

I followed and hid behind a tall flower arrangement.

“Daniel, when Celeste gets here, are you going to walk on stage holding her hand? Or mine?”

“Yours, of course. Why would you even need to ask?” he answered, lifting her hand and kissing it gently.