Chapter 2

2.

“Oh, my… my ankle hurts so much!”

A woman’s tears are like a faucet, turned on at a moment’s notice.

In a heartbeat, Camille was sobbing, a picture of fragile beauty.

Silas held her, his entire world focused on her pain, demanding they go to the hospital.

Camille looked at me through her tears. “I’m fine, Silas. It’s just… I feel so bad for her, she’s soaked in wine…”

“She’s fine!”

Silas answered dismissively, finally lifting his gaze toward me.

He frowned, his voice flat as he tossed out a single command.

“Your clothes are dirty. Go change.”

He sounded like a stranger, cold and indifferent.

The heater in the ballroom was running, but I felt like I was freezing to death!

At that moment, I was nothing but a clown.

I wiped my face and stood up.

Water dripped from my hair, and my dress was ruined. People near me stepped away, fearful that I would stain their expensive clothes.

I had played the part of the submissive, sweet girlfriend for so long that everyone thought I was easy to push around.

But even a rabbit will bite when it’s cornered.

With everyone watching, waiting for a show, I took a deep breath.

I grabbed a glass of wine and splashed it right into Camille’s face.

“What do you think you’re doing!”

Camille shrieked, unable to believe I had the audacity to fight back.

The wine splattered all over Silas, too. He stared at me, his eyes widening in shock.

After a long pause, Silas roared, “Vanessa! Have you lost your mind?”

The crowd stared at me as if I were some bizarre zoo animal.

I didn’t wait. I turned and walked straight out.

In the bathroom, I looked at the pathetic, disheveled reflection in the mirror.

My heart ached.

I thought I had been working hard to become the woman he loved.

But I realized I had only been playing the role of someone else.

A warmth welled up in my nose. I wiped it, but the flow grew stronger, staining the sink red.

I couldn’t tell if it was wine or blood.

I scrubbed at the stains on my skin, refusing to add any more misery to the night.

When I finally cleaned up and turned to leave, Silas was waiting for me at the door.

I wanted to tell him, Silas, I think I’m sick.

But he pinned me against the wall, his former tenderness replaced by a chilling, visceral anger.

“Vanessa, you’ve gone crazy!”

“Camille just accidentally spilled some wine on you, and you dared to splash her back!”

“You are going to go back there right now and apologize to her!”

So, he wasn’t here for me. He was here to defend her.

I wanted to ask him, what about me?

Are you blind?

Camille was the one who bullied me first, yet I had to take it, and I wasn’t even allowed to defend myself.

The sob stuck in my throat, and I couldn’t get a single word out.

We locked eyes, and all I could do was cry.

My heart was beating in a painful, rhythmic ache.

Perhaps my tears softened him, just a little.

His expression eased, and he reached out to wipe a tear away.

“Be good. Stop crying. Just apologize to her. She’s a big person, she won’t hold it against you.”

“No!” I shoved his hand away.

All the grievance and rage finally tore through my throat.

“You… you’re absolutely delusional!”

Silas turned on his heel and walked away without looking back.

I watched his tall silhouette fade into the distance, my vision blurring.

I tilted my head back to keep the tears from falling, my voice a whisper as I spoke to the ceiling.

“Silas, I don’t love you anymore.”