Chapter 4
The ballroom glittered beneath crystal chandeliers.
The air was heavy with the scent of expensive lilies, while an orchestra played softly in the background.
I stood at the entrance in a purple silk evening gown, the gentle cut flattering my six-month baby bump.
For one brief moment, I let myself believe I had won.
I had brought Grant back to me.
We were still the powerful couple everyone envied.
“Claire, Grant certainly spared no expense.”
A socialite beside me smiled, gently waving her fan. There was something almost teasing in her eyes.
“But Mrs. Bennett hasn't opened her husband's gift yet. We've all been waiting to see it.”
I smiled and turned toward Grant, who was seated at the head table.
“She's right. Where's my gift?”
Grant was idly turning his wineglass between his fingers.
His gaze kept drifting toward a woman in a white chiffon dress standing in the corner of the ballroom.
Audrey Collins.
It was as if Grant had only just remembered my birthday gift.
He casually lifted a hand.
Audrey immediately understood.
She picked up a small gift box and walked toward us.
Grant took it from her so naturally that something inside me went cold.
As if she were simply handing him a briefcase.
“Audrey and I picked it out together,” he said.
His voice was flat.
There was no warmth in his eyes when he looked at me.
“She said you've been into this brand lately.”
Audrey stood beside him with that delicate, sweet expression I had come to hate.
She gave me a slight bow.
“Happy birthday, Claire. It's just a little something from me. I hope you like it.”
The air around us seemed to freeze.
I could feel every eye in the room turning toward me.
Those were the cruelest looks in a room like this.
Amusement from people enjoying the show.
Smothered laughter.
And worst of all, pity for the wife whose husband had just humiliated her in public.
Their stares felt like spotlights burning into my skin.
How could Grant be so calm?
How could he not see anything wrong with this?
My husband had chosen my birthday gift with another woman.
He had taken his duty as my husband and Audrey's supposed thoughtfulness and wrapped them together like something I should be grateful to receive.
My stomach turned.
It was not just the dizziness from my anemia.
It was humiliation.
Pure and deep.
“Time to cut the cake, Claire,” Grant said impatiently.
He did not even look at me.
I swallowed the ache in my throat and walked toward the cake.
I would be gracious.
I would be composed.
I picked up the knife and prepared to make the first cut into the cake covered in fresh flowers.
Then Audrey let out a small cry.
“Ah—”
Her body swayed like she was about to collapse.
“Audrey!”
Grant moved before anyone else could react.
He rushed to her and swept her into his arms.
His movements were frantic and careless.
He crashed into the champagne tower beside them.
Glass shattered across the floor with a deafening crash.
Grant did not care.
He held Audrey against his chest and hurried past me.
Past the cake.
Past every guest in the room.
He never looked back.
I stood frozen.
The knife hovered above my birthday cake.
My hand would not stop shaking.
I did not follow him.
I did not call Grant again.
I simply stood there, staring at the broken glass scattered across the floor while whispers spread through the ballroom.
Eventually, the event manager approached me carefully.
“Mrs. Bennett, would you like us to end the party early?”
I looked at the birthday cake I had never cut.
The candles were almost burned down.
“No.”
My own voice surprised me.
“The party continues.”
So I finished the evening alone.
I apologized to the guests.
I had the broken glass cleaned up.
I made sure Audrey had been taken to the hospital.
I did everything a gracious wife was supposed to do.
Then I walked into the private lounge and called my attorney.
“It's me.”
There was a pause on the other end.
“Claire?”
“You asked me a question the last time we spoke.”
My hand was still trembling.
But my voice was perfectly calm.
“I can answer you now.”
I took a slow breath.
“Start preparing everything.”
I ended the call and returned to the ballroom.
The stage lights fell across me.
Everyone assumed I was about to apologize for my husband's sudden departure.
I picked up the microphone.
The whispers slowly faded.
Grant's business partners watched me.
His family watched me.
And every guest who had just seen my husband carry another woman out of my birthday party watched me.
I looked down at the wedding ring on my finger.
Grant had placed it there three years ago.
He had promised me that no matter what happened, he would always stand by my side.
I slowly turned the ring around my finger.
Then I took it off.
The ballroom went completely silent.
I placed the ring beside the microphone.
“Thank you all for coming tonight.”
My voice carried through the ballroom.
“Before this evening ends, I have something to announce.”
Every eye in the room was on me.
I tightened my grip on the microphone.
The next words out of my mouth would end my three-year marriage.
They would decide what kind of life my child and I would live from this moment on.
I raised my head.
“Starting tonight—”