She had been married to Blaise for three years… three long, silent years and yet, who would ever believe that the man hailed as "the perfect husband" in the public eye, wasn't even close to that in private? Out there, he was charming, graceful and endlessly respected. In here with her, he was cold, distant and a stranger she woke up beside.
Other women wanted her life so badly. Some even hated her for it, accusing her of stealing "their man," throwing daggers with their eyes every time she stepped out in public with him. They envied the glitz, the spotlight, the title of being Mrs. Blaise Estelle, but none of them knew the truth.
Not everything that sparkles is worth admiring.
She watched as the man on stage praised Blaise for donating such huge amount of money. Everyone looked at him with respect, admired her for being married to the best husband.
She reached out slowly, her fingers trembled just slightly as they wrapped around the cool stem of the glass. The quiet clink echoed in the silence between them. She poured herself a glass of water, her eyes lowered, watching the clear liquid swirl into the glass like it could wash away the rising heaviness in her chest.
But then-
Blaise's phone rang sharply on the table. Her eyes shifted towards it, just as he leaned forward to glance at the caller ID. He didn't pick the call. Instead, he pressed the power button on the side, silencing the call and turning the screen face down like it was nothing.
But then his phone vibrated.
Estelle noticed the way his jaw tensed. He picked the phone up again, the screen lighting up against his palm.
She couldn't see if it was a call or a message, but she didn't need to. She had seen this same pattern too many times before. She said nothing and just sipped her water slowly, letting it chill her lips, not her disappointment.
Her eyes stayed on him though, even when he picked up the phone and began typing rapidly with both thumbs. A few seconds passed, then he stood up. His chair scraped lightly against the floor.
"I'll be back shortly" he said, not even meeting her eyes. "Stay here. Don't go anywhere."
She blinked. "What?"
He didn't even bother to look at her or answer her question, he was already halfway gone. His long strides retreating down the hallway.
Estelle sat frozen for a moment, the glass water was still in her hand. However, the ache in her chest began to feel more sharp. She placed the glass down, wiped her palm against her dress, and stood up. Her bag that she had placed on the table, she grabbed it, threw the strap over her shoulder, and followed him.
Her heels clicked against the marble floor, echoing faintly as she caught sight of him rushing around a corner.
"Blaise-" she almost called him, but bit her lip instead.
She grabbed a fistful of her gown, hiked the hem up just enough to move faster, murmuring a curse under her breath.
"Stupid dress" she gritted. "Stupid Blaise for choosing it."
The hallway curved, its lighting dimmer than the main lounge. She quickened her steps, trying not to let the swish of her gown or the thudding of her heart distract her.
But just as she turned a corner, she slammed into someone…hard.
"Ah-oops, sorry!" she blurted, stumbling back.
A firm hand reached out to steady her gently at the elbow.
She looked up and froze.
The man wore a dark mask that concealed only half of his face, but his eyes… His eyes were an impossible shade of grey, calm as a silent storm. There was no surprise or annoyance in them, just a stillness that made her stomach flutter. And his scent, it was clean, rich, and dangerously masculine, wafted around her like a second skin.
"Are you alright?" he asked, his voice low, and so smooth that it nearly knocked the air from her lungs.
Estelle's mouth parted slightly. Her heart beating extremely fast.
"…Y-yeahhh" she finally managed to say. "Thanks."
She walked past him before she could lose her nerve, her gown still bunched in one hand. Her chest tightened with each step as she neared the corridor where Blaise had vanished.
Then… she heard his voice.
Her body stopped instinctively. She pressed herself against the wall near a door left ajar. She peered through the crack, her breath catching in her throat.
"My darling…" Blaise's voice came out in a tone she hadn't heard in three years. It was soft, affectionate and sincere. "Will you forgive me now? I'm so sorry I didn't come for you earlier."
Her stomach twisted violently.
Darling?
That voice… the softness, the emotion that she hadn't heard that Blaise in so long made it feel like a stranger had hijacked his body.
She pressed her palm flat against her chest. It felt like someone was crushing her ribs.
Then a female voice answered, the one Estelle didn't recognize.
"When will you divorce your wife?"
Divorce?
Estelle froze almost immediately.
"When the time is right, okay?" Blaise replied softly. "I can't just divorce her like that without a reason."
Estelle felt her lips part. Her knees weakened, but she held still.
Blaise laughed. "You're the only one I love."
That word.
Love.
It felt like poison now, burning as it went down.
"You sure you don't love her?" the woman asked.
Blaise's answer came, sharp and cruel. "I basically hate her."
Estelle blinked.
Something inside her cracked, and all the broken pieces of herself that she had been gluing together for the past three years suddenly shattered again. She didn't hesitate.
Bang!
The door flew open, slamming against the wall. Her heels clicked loudly as she stepped inside, her head held high. A smile, mocking and dangerous curled on her lips.
She clapped her hands together. The sound echoed loudly through the silent room.
"Well, well" she said, her voice calm and cold. "Who would have believed it? The world's most admired husband… caught cheating on his pitiful wife."
Blaise spun around, his face pale with shock. "What are you doing here?"
Estelle tilted her head, eyes narrowing. "Why? You didn't want me here?"
Her gaze slid to the woman Blaise had been embracing. She was now half-hidden behind him like a guilty shadow. "Hi there" Estelle smiled again, this time directly at her. "Blaise's cheating partner"
"D-don't you dare call her that!" Blaise snapped, his voice cracked. It was the first time he ever stuttered in front of Estelle.
She turned back to look at him slowly, the fire in her eyes darkening. "Really? So what now? You're defending her?"
Blaise straightened, trying to reclaim control. "So what if I'm cheating on you?"
Her hand moved slowly to rest on her chest.
"You admit it?" she whispered. "You say it so easily? So proudly that you're cheating on me…"
Her voice trembled.
Tears welled up in her sky-blue eyes, slipping down her cheeks like shattered pearls. She turned around and walked out of the room. As she walked down the corridor, she quickly wiped the tears from her cheeks away with her fingers.
And then… she smiled.
A soft, haunting, almost terrifying smile that didn't reach her eyes.
Just outside the doorway, the masked man from earlier stood, his arms folded across his chest as he leaned against the wall like he had been watching everything unfold.
He saw Estelle smile through the tears and frowned slightly.
Did she just… smile?