Chapter 4
The grand ballroom had gone so incredibly quiet that I could hear the soft, melancholy notes of the string quartet drifting from the far side of the room.
Julian's hand remained extended toward me—warm, steady, and filled with a familiar certainty that made the last ten years feel like nothing more than a bad dream.
For one brief moment, I forgot about the cameras, the whispers, Daniel standing only a few feet away, and Sophia's frozen smile. All I saw was the young man who used to wait outside my film classes with two cups of coffee because he could never remember whether I preferred sugar.
He smiled slightly, his eyes holding mine. "So... are you going to leave me standing here, Natalie?"
I let out a quiet breath, my fingers trembling slightly as I placed my hand in his.
"I suppose I owe you one dance, Mr. Ashford."
His fingers closed around mine with surprising gentleness.
It wasn't a possessive grip meant to show off, nor was it hesitant; it was entirely certain.
⸻
The first notes of the waltz filled the ballroom.
Julian led me onto the dance floor with the effortless confidence of someone who had spent his entire life under public scrutiny, yet somehow managed to make the crowded room disappear.
"I almost thought you wouldn't come tonight," he murmured, his breath brushing my hair.
"I almost didn't."
"What changed your mind?"
I looked up at him, the crystal chandeliers reflecting in his dark eyes. "You asked."
A faint, private smile flickered across his handsome face. "You've always been terrible at refusing me."
"I remember refusing you once, Julian."
His expression softened, a shadow of old pain crossing his features. "So do I."
Neither of us said anything for several seconds.
Some memories don't need to be spoken aloud.
They simply sit between two people, quietly reminding them of everything they lost.
⸻
"You look different," Julian finally said, his gaze searching my face.
"I've been told that quite a bit tonight."
"I don't mean the dress, Natalie." He paused, guiding me through a flawless turn. "You stopped apologizing for taking up space."
The words caught me completely off guard, striking a chord deep within my chest.
Five years.
Five years of shrinking myself to fit into someone else's life.
Five years of introducing myself as Daniel Carter's wife instead of Natalie Brooks.
Five years of pretending I didn't miss writing because telling myself it was a choice hurt less than admitting it had become a sacrifice.
Somewhere along the way, I had forgotten that before I belonged to anyone else...
I belonged to myself.
⸻
Across the dance floor, I could feel Daniel watching us.
His gaze never left me.
It was strange.
For years, he had barely looked at me unless he needed something.
Now that I had walked away, he couldn't seem to look anywhere else.
People are funny like that.
They don't notice the value of what they already have.
They notice the silence after it's gone.
⸻
"He's staring."
Julian spoke quietly, though amusement lingered in his voice.
"I know."
"Does it bother you?"
I thought about it.
Then I smiled.
"It doesn't matter anymore."
That answer seemed to please him more than I expected.
⸻
The music swelled to a finish, and a wave of polite applause rippled through the ballroom.
Before I could step away, a familiar voice interrupted us.
"Natalie."
Daniel.
I turned around.
He was already standing behind me.
Sophia remained several steps away, forcing a smile while pretending to chat with a producer, but every few seconds her eyes drifted back toward us.
Daniel looked at Julian first, his posture rigid. "Mr. Ashford."
The exchange was professional, cold, and entirely devoid of warmth.
Finally, Daniel turned his gaze to me, his jaw clenched tightly. "We need to talk."
"I don't think we have anything left to say, Daniel."
"This will only take a minute, Natalie."
"I've already given you five years of my life," I replied smoothly, my voice carrying just enough weight to cause a few nearby guests to instantly slow down their conversations.
In high society, no one enjoys expensive wine as much as they enjoy a million-dollar marital scandal.
Daniel lowered his voice.
"This isn't the place."
"You should've thought about that before ignoring our anniversary to escort another woman here."
His jaw tightened.
"It wasn't like that."
"Really?"
I glanced toward Sophia.
She was wearing the diamond necklace Daniel had bought during our anniversary shopping trip two months ago.
I remembered because I had wrapped the gift myself.
He told me it was for an important client.
Now I finally knew which client.
Following my gaze, Daniel instinctively looked at the necklace.
His face changed.
"Natalie, let me explain."
"You don't have to."
"You've misunderstood."
"No."
I met his eyes calmly.
"For the first time in years..."
"I understand perfectly."
⸻
Before Daniel could answer, Sophia hurried over with practiced concern."Daniel, the investors are waiting."
Then, she turned to me, her voice trembling just enough to sound entirely sincere to the crowd. "Natalie... I really hope you don't think I came between your marriage. It breaks my heart to see you like this."
It would've been convincing if I hadn't already spent years watching people perform.
"I don't."
She blinked, a flash of genuine, caught-off-guard surprise crossing her face.
I continued calmly.
"No one can come between two people who are truly choosing each other."
"If someone else can replace me that easily..."
I looked directly at Daniel.
"I was never the person he chose."
Daniel's face went pale.
Sophia's smile became noticeably stiffer.
Around us, several guests exchanged meaningful glances.
Someone whispered,
"Did she just admit he cheated?"
Another answered,
"She didn't have to."
⸻
Desperate to salvage her dignity, Sophia quickly attempted to pivot the conversation. "Actually, Natalie, I heard from Daniel that you’ve taken a sudden interest in television production lately."
"I've always been interested."
Sophia let out a soft, mocking laugh. "What a delightful coincidence. I'm actually auditioning for the absolute lead role in Broken Wings Season Two. The producers have been incredibly encouraging about my performance."
"I'm happy for you."
"You should really come watch the closed auditions sometime," she paused, tilting her head with a look of pure, condescending pity. "It might help you understand what real, high-level storytelling actually looks like."
A few awkward giggles rippled through her entourage. It was a harmless joke on the surface, but a razor-sharp insult underneath. She genuinely believed I was nothing more than a bored, talentless housewife trying to play in a sandbox she didn't belong in.
If only she knew. Every single line she had painstakingly memorized, every dramatic scene she planned to perform, and every single word she dreamed would make her an overnight global superstar... had been poured directly from my soul onto a blank page.
⸻
Julian suddenly spoke."I've read those scripts."
Sophia’s eyes immediately brightened, her ego expanding. "You have, Mr. Ashford? Aren't they brilliant?"
"I completely agree."Julian looked at her for a long second.Then said evenly,"I wasn't talking about your performance."
The smile disappeared from her face.
"I was talking about the person who wrote them."
The atmosphere shifted almost instantly.
Even Daniel looked at Julian in surprise.
Julian turned his back on them completely, looking down at me with the same fierce pride he had possessed ten years ago. "You know, Natalie... the real artist should never spend her entire life sitting in the dark, applauding someone else's stolen performance."
⸻
Before I could reply, the grand ballroom lights suddenly dimmed into a dramatic twilight. A brilliant, piercing spotlight illuminated the main stage, and the master of ceremonies walked up to the microphone with a wide, theatrical smile.
"Ladies and gentlemen, thank you for joining the Ashford Charity Gala."
"Before tonight's auction begins..."
"We have one very special guest to introduce."
My heartbeat slowed down to a steady, calm thud. Julian didn't look surprised at all; in fact, he looked as though he had orchestrated this exact sequence from the very beginning.
The host carefully unfolded a heavy gold envelope, his smile widening as he looked out at the crowded room.
"Tonight, for the very first time, we are profoundly honored to welcome the mysterious, legendary creator behind the global multi-billion-dollar phenomenon... Broken Wings."
The ballroom erupted into applause.
Sophia instinctively lifted her chin, smoothing down her silver gown as if preparing to step into the light.
Daniel turned his expectant gaze toward the stage, his mind racing with the commercial possibilities of meeting the writer.
I felt every pair of eyes searching the room.
Then the host glanced down at the card in his hand...
And began to read the name.
But as the spotlight began to shift away from the stage, slicing through the darkness to blind me right where I stood, how many seconds of oxygen would be left in Daniel's lungs when he realized the multi-billion-dollar savior of his industry... was the very wife he had starved, silenced, and discarded just twenty-four hours ago?