Claire sniffled prettily against his chest. “Please, Matthew… don’t scold her anymore. She’s only upset because of me. She doesn’t mean what she says.”
Velvet words hiding a dagger. Every glance she slid my way gleamed with false pity, her lips twitching upward just enough for me to see.
When we reentered the hall, the room stilled. Dozens of eyes turned at once, conversations dropping to a hush. Phones vanished into purses and pockets too late—their screens already glowing with evidence.
“Did you see that slap?”
“Poor Claire. Evelyn’s lost her mind.”
“I knew their marriage wouldn’t last…”
The whispers clawed across my skin. I wanted to disappear, but Matthew’s iron grip on my wrist dragged me forward like a captive on display.
At the center of the room, he lifted his glass, his voice carrying with calculated authority. “Apologies for the disturbance. My wife… is unwell. I trust you’ll excuse her behavior.”
A ripple of laughter. Raised brows. Knowing nods. The perfect façade of our marriage shattered in a single word. Unwell.
He could have defended me. He could have silenced the rumors with a single denial. Instead, he fed me to them.
Claire touched his arm gently, lowering her eyes in practiced grace. “Matthew, please. Don’t humiliate her further. She’s my best friend. I’ll forgive her.”
Forgive me. The bile rose in my throat.
The crowd applauded her saintly mercy, showering her in admiration. Their eyes slid past me as if I were no more than a stain on the evening. My destruction was complete.
The rest blurred. I became furniture in my own home while Matthew entertained his colleagues with Claire glowing at his side. She poured his drinks, whispered into his ear, laughed too brightly at his jokes—everything I used to do before she replaced me.
Hours later, the house emptied, leaving silence as heavy as stone. Matthew finally faced me. His expression was cold, precise.
“You embarrassed me tonight.”
“You humiliated me first,” I whispered.
His gaze sharpened. “Don’t twist this. Claire defended you. She begged me not to punish you further. If you weren’t so jealous, you’d see how much she cares for you.”
A bitter laugh scraped from my throat. “Cares for me? By crawling into my husband’s bed? By parading herself in front of me?”
His eyes iced over. “Be careful what you accuse her of. You have no proof. Until you do, you’ll treat her with respect.”