For the first time ever, Estelle raised her head to look at Blaise in the eyes which made him so surprised. Ever since they got married, she had never talked back at him or dared to look into his eyes. She had always lowered her head to receive whatever insults he threw at her.
"The audacity to talk back at me, Estelle!" Blaise tried so hard not to raise his voice, but the anger in him crawled up to his chest. He felt an unexplainable urge to grab her and pull her out of the hall, but he just had to suppress that thought.
"Why" a smirk appeared at the corner of her lips as she tilted her head. Her sky blue eyes glinted with quiet mischief, the kind that spoke louder than words… playful, knowing, and just a little dangerous. "Are you going to hit me or force yourself on me again like you always do?"
Blaise eyes widened. "What?"
"I don't have time for these pointless fights tonight and I'm tired of doing that with you" she stood up, grabbed her bag and said. "If you will excuse me" then she walked away.
Blaise's mouth opened several times, but words couldn't come out. It was not as if he didn't know what to say, but Estelle's behavior shocked him and they were in public. Reporters were lurking around. Everyone's eyes were on him, he could feel it. Any wrong move could ruin him completely.
—
The moment Estelle stepped into the female's private room, the weight she had been holding in her chest began to crack slowly. The soft hum of distant music seeped through the walls, muffled by the heavy silence that wrapped around her.
She leaned her body against the wall, her shoulders pressed tightly to the cold surface. Her body shook violently, but she didn't care. Her gaze caught her reflection in the long mirror across the room. The same woman just stared back; flawless makeup, her elegant gown, her beautiful face, but her eyes… those sky blue eyes betrayed her. They were red rimmed and teary.
Her leg trembled slightly. She pressed her bag to her chest and slid down against the wall slowly until she was sitting on the floor. She bit her lower lip so hard and raised her head to hold back the tears that had built up in her eyes from falling. She pressed her hand to her chest, the breaths that came out from her mouth were shaky.
She didn't for once regret what she had said to Blaise, but she knew there would be consequences. She was terrified at how good it felt talking back at him. For once, she wasn't shrinking herself for his comfort.
—
A soft sound rang through the air; three gentle notes from the grand piano tucked beside the stage. The lights dimmed as a woman in a black velvet gown stepped up to the podium.
"Good evening, distinguished guest" the woman's voice rang out clear through the speaker system, instantly silencing the quiet murmur of conversation. "On behalf of the Allheart foundations, I want to welcome you to this year's Grand Aurelia Gala"
Everyone clapped.
Estelle stepped into the hall just as the clapping faded. She walked slowly back to her seat.
"Where were you?" Blaise glanced at her and asked.
"The female's private room" she answered and looked at the woman that was on the podium.
The woman onstage continued. "Tonight, as we raise funds for the expansion of the oncology wings at Allheart foundation, we are reminded of the power we hold, not just in our wallets, but in our hearts. Now, while dinner is being served, please enjoy this special performance by international violinist, Anna Miret"
The lights dimmed further. A spotlight fell on a woman in a midnight blue gown at the center of the stage. The first note she placed sliced through the silence. She closed her eyes as her hand moved the bow. It was such a beautiful sight, the one Estelle had always wanted.
She lowered her head to look at her hands, the ones that had once played a violin. She tried to imagine herself playing a violin, but her fingers shook so badly that she had to press her palms on her laps to stop them from trembling.
She hadn't been able to play ever since she had a fight with Blaise and he broke her fingers, one by one. He clearly told her he never wanted to hear the sound of the violin being played by her and doing that was the only way to stop her from playing. She remembered how he even forced her to cool for him after that incident.
Estelle raised her head to look at Blaise. He had an unreadable expression on his face as he sipped his wine.
She pinched her palm so hard.
Dinner was served softly after the performance. Estelle barely touched hers. When the plates were cleared, a tall man walked up the stage. "Ladies and gentlemen" he smiled. "Welcome to the second segment of tonight's live auction" the screen behind him flickered to life, revealing the first item. It was a week long stay in a private villa in Tuscany. "Bidding starts at ten thousand dollars"
The moment the man said that, paddles rose almost immediately. A woman mock fanned herself after her husband outbid another person.
Estelle just watched quietly, her fingers still pinching her palm.
"Item two, a diamond necklace custom made by Maison DeLune. Starting at five million dollars"
Another flurry of bids.
"We have fifteen million dollars from Mr. Blaise Astor"
Estelle stiffened.
Was he buying it for me?
"...And sold to Mr. Astor"
The guest clapped.
The man continued. "Now, for our most meaningful segment of the night… the donation for the expansion of the oncology wings at Allheart foundation. Every dollar tonight goes to that. You will see donation paddles at your table. Please use them proudly"
Paddle after paddle rose. Ten million dollars, Fine, Two and even more. People clapped as amounts were announced.
Blaise raised his again. "Twenty million dollars"
Estelle blinked.
All these money, all these attention, all these spotlight from him, yet none of them touched her.