By all logic, as Clyde's wife, I should have been seated beside him, not tucked away in the farthest corner.
I chose to let it slide for the time being.
After all, Axel Mancini, his father, had always treated me decently, often inviting me to play chess with him.
As a gracious woman, putting up with an arrogant husband seemed a small price to pay.
But who would have thought that my rightful seat had been given to Clyde's secretary, Everleigh Moretti?
A fresh graduate, besides being younger than me, she had nothing remarkable about her.
Yet my foolish husband insisted on defending her.
The thought alone made my anger boil.
Still, the so-called rising star of the business world remained blissfully unaware, continuing to taunt me without end.
"Azalea, who do you think you are? You have no say in what I, Clyde, decide!"
"We've been married for years! You've eaten my family's food and used my family's money; what could you possibly fight me with?"
By the time he finished, Clyde's temper had exploded.
"I'll tell you right now, I'm buying this painting for Everleigh!"
Before I could even respond, the secretary beside him spoke up, unable to hide her smugness.
She looked at me, a victorious gleam in her eyes.
"Miss Romano, I'd suggest you give up."
"If you upset Clyde, your days ahead won't be so easy."
Halfway through her sentence, Everleigh suddenly broke into laughter.
"A trophy wife should know her place. Don't you think I'm right, Miss Romano?"
Everleigh's words sparked laughter from the crowd and even the host on stage struggled to hide a smirk.
But I simply waved my hand dismissively and let out a cold, biting laugh.
"So, Secretary Everleigh, you're set on fighting me for this today?"
Everleigh shot me a smirk, her eyes full of contempt.
"Azalea, let's be honest, you're just a housewife with no job. What do you have to compete with me?"
"Clyde just lit a sky lantern, meaning there's no bidding limit. Do you even have enough money to keep up?"
I slowly lifted my head and gave her a faint, knowing smile.
"Secretary Everleigh, you've got it wrong. You and I are not the same."
"I never need a man to pay for what I buy."
As soon as I spoke those words, the crowd erupted in mockery once again.
"Oh my God, she's putting on a show. Without Clyde, she wouldn't even be allowed in the door!"
"Exactly! If she weren't married to the Mancini Family, she wouldn't even be sitting here."