I heard their voices before I saw them. They were near the fountain, hidden from the main terrace.
“What the hell do you think you’re doing?” Nathan hissed. His voice was shaking with rage. “In front of everyone? Are you insane?”
“I’m having fun, Nathan!” Danica’s voice was slurred. She was drunk. Again. “It’s a party. Or am I not allowed to have fun anymore?”
“You were kissing him!” Nathan shouted, though he kept his voice low. “You were practically eating his face! Do you have any idea how that looks? You’re my assistant!”
“I’m your mistress, Nathan!” she spat back. “Let’s call it what it is. And I’m tired of waiting. I’m tired of being the dirty little secret while she gets to play the grieving wife and the perfect hostess!”
“Keep your voice down!” Nathan looked around frantically.
“No!” Danica shoved him. “I gave you an ultimatum. You either divorce her, or you give me a child. A real heir. Not like that… mistake she lost.”
My breath hitched. Mistake. She called my son a mistake.
“Danica, stop,” Nathan pleaded, reaching for her.
“No!” She slapped his hand away. “If you won’t give me what I want, then I’ll find someone who will. Maybe that guy at the bar. He seemed interested. Maybe I’ll let him take me home tonight.”
“You will not,” Nathan growled.
“Watch me.” She turned to leave.
Nathan lunged. He grabbed her by the waist and spun her around, pinning her against the stone rim of the fountain.
“You aren’t going anywhere with him,” he snarled. “You’re mine. Do you hear me? You’re mine.”
“Then prove it,” she challenged, her voice dropping to a sultry whisper. “Prove I’m the only one you want.”
“Fine,” he groaned. “Fine. I’ll divorce her. I’ll figure it out. Just… don’t look at another man. I’ll give you a child now.”
He crashed his lips onto hers. It wasn’t a gentle kiss. It was hungry, desperate, and possessive.
I stood there in the shadows, my phone raised in my trembling hand. The red recording light blinked steadily in the darkness.
I stopped the recording and saved it to the cloud. Then, I turned and walked away. I went back into the ballroom, retrieved my clutch, and walked out the front door. I didn’t say goodbye to Arthur. I didn’t say goodbye to anyone.
I hailed a taxi. We stopped at the house first. I grabbed the suitcase I had hidden in the back of my closet. I walked into our bedroom.