It was the 30th anniversary party of Paragon Enterprises. The noise of the ballroom swallowed the sound of Wren’s heels as she walked in, looking around. Just ahead of her, under the glare of the chandeliers, was Felix, who was dancing with a woman…his mistress, Bianca. The woman laughed widely as he said something into her ear.
For three years, Wren had been married to that man. Despite how hard she tried to be a dutiful wife to him, he always treated her like nothing but a ghost. Never did a chance go by where he didn’t show her in his thoughts and actions that he didn’t care for even her shadow, let alone her.
Wren felt a tightness behind her ribs while her eyes remained on the entwined figures. She slowly inhaled and exhaled, forcing her poise and composure into place and stepping further into the party.
Wren continued to move around the crowd, towards Felix and Bianca, when she was distracted by the conversation of a cluster of women standing nearby.
“...but he can’t be married, can he?” one woman asked, her eyes fixed avidly on the dance floor where Felix and Bianca were still dancing.
“Of course he is, darling. Everyone knows he has a wife he hid away somewhere,” another replied.
“Really?”
“Yes, rumor has it his wife is very ugly and manipulative. She’s the sort you would also lock up if you were in that position, wouldn’t you?”
Wren continued to listen to the women and she scoffed silently. Ugly and manipulative? What did they know about her? She felt an impulse to suddenly declare her presence there and shatter their petty fantasy. But why would she do that? What debt did she owe these vultures or this empty marriage she was in? Debunking any rumors was worthless.
Another woman in the group chimed in after she had sipped her drink, “But why marry someone who doesn’t fit his reputation? Felix is a handsome young man who deserves to enjoy his youth with a beautiful women”
“Sometimes an ugly woman can give great sex too, so I guess that could be one advantage of having her. Poor Felix. He was probably forced into marriage by that terrifying grandmother of his. Gosh that woman was a menace when she was alive.”
The first woman sighed dramatically, her eyes lingering on Felix and Bianca swaying to the music in the background. “It’s such a shame though. Look at them. They’re perfect. He should be with someone like Bianca.”
Wren absorbed all their words and how they reduced her existence to a caricature and a sexual object. Worst of all, these were women themselves, and it was all the more disgusting. She couldn’t continue listening to those words, so Wren moved past the gossiping women.
She hadn’t even taken five steps before her path was suddenly blocked by someone and Wren rolled her eyes.”
It was Simone, Felix’s sister who was another thorn in her flesh.
Simone dramatically glanced left and right throughout the room. “What are you doing here? Did you miss your way or something?”
Wren tried to walk past her but she blocked her way again.
“If you want my kind advice, I’d suggest you toddle off before Felix sees you. Because clearly he didn’t invite you here.”
Wren’s posture was deceptively relaxed at Simone’s sneer. “Do you not have anything better to do, Simone?”
Then Wren smiled and tilted her head mockingly. “Oh! I see you couldn’t find a man tonight who is willing to endure your company for longer than five minutes. Or are you still chasing that Italian guy you’ve been stalking for three months who still couldn’t remember your name?”
“Shut your mouth,” Simone retorted.
Wren theatrically sighed, “We’re both unfortunate in love, dear. I feel your pain.”
Already getting her neck mottled by rage, Simone frowned, “Don’t you dare compare me to yourself. We’re not on the same level and it is I who is a true member of the Morell family, not you.”
“That’s all you have though. All you can brag about is the name,” Wren scoffed, shrugging.
“You bitch,” Simone hissed. “Watch your filthy mouth! At least I’m not some gutter rat our grandmother dragged in.”
A droplet of spittle landed on Wren’s face and she immediately rolled her eyes with disgust. “Jeez Simone.”
Then she took out a handkerchief from her clutch to dab at her cheek. “Is this how you go around spitting on people’s faces when you go on dates with them? Little wonder why they never call you back.”
All her pretentious grace seeming to evaporate, Simone raised her hand to slap Wren. Wren grabbed a full glass of red wine from a waiter’s tray and emptied it on Simone’s face.
There was a collective gasp from others around and the scene seemed to suck the air from the immediate vicinity. Simone staggered back, pawing at her eyes as the red liquid dripped down her neck into her décolletage.
Wren returned the empty glass to the waiter’s tray.
“Now go wash up, at least you’ll get busy doing something,” Wren advised and stepped around Simone, leaving her standing there.
The whole family was just embarrassing, if you asked Wren. There wasn’t even one shred of decency in the whole bloodline, except their kind-hearted grandmother who was now late. Parasites, all of them, unworthy of the old woman’s legacy.
By this time, Felix and Bianca had also stopped dancing, having noticed the commotion. Felix’s face went dark the instant he laid eyes on Wren. He let go of Bianca and stepped away from the column, taking out his phone from his inner pocket.
Wren looked down at her own phone and saw the text Felix sent her. “Follow me.” And then he disappeared behind one of the curtains, while Bianca smirked condescendingly at Wren before trailing after Felix.
“Why are you here?” Felix hissed as soon as they got away from the public eye.
“How many times have I told you to stay away from gatherings I’m at and be the ghost you’re so good at being?”
Wren retorted, “Don’t flatter yourself, Felix. It was your beloved mistress who extended the invitation for me to be here. Apparently, she needed to prove to me that she is your true love and that she has you under her control.”
Bianca, who was also there, chose that moment to gasp. “Stop lying. I never said such a thing, you’re just jealous.” She then placed a hand on Felix’s sleeve. “Felix, don’t listen to her.”
“Jealousy? What is there to be jealous of? I could just show the texts you so confidently sent to me last night bragging about your right over Felix and the company.”
Wren was about to pull up the said texts on her phone when Felix snapped again.
“I don’t care to see your nonsense! Stop this pathetic, over-the-top drama. Look at yourself,” he gave her a disgusted once-over. “Compared to Bianca you’re just an embarrassing housewife. Tonight is supposed to be an important day for the company and I have to portray a good image. Yet here you are, throwing a gutter tantrum.”
Did he just say good image? Was he thinking of the same image whilst dancing so provocatively with Bianca earlier? As for his insults, they didn’t really faze her because she was already used to hearing the same words over and over.
“I see that protecting the image of the company also requires parading your whore,” Wren said, locking her gaze on Bianca’s suddenly frozen smirk. “If that’s the case then Bianca is certainly the perfect choice.”
Felix had had enough. He angrily grabbed Wren’s arm, ready to throw her towards the door.
However, his grip on Wren’s arm suddenly loosened when he saw his new business partner approaching with his wife. Felix immediately let go of Wren and plastered a charming smile on his face.
The switch-up from beast to prince was amusing to Wren. She had seen that mask of his a thousand times already but it was just as ridiculous to see every time.
“Mr and Mrs Adler! What a pleasure to see you here,” Felix greeted enthusiastically as he stepped away to meet the couple.
“I had thought you two wouldn’t be able to make it,” Felix added.
Mr Adler answered, “We had thought so too, but we were able to end our engagement earlier than we planned,” he grinned at his wife, “She insisted we use our spare time to attend the anniversary.”
“I’m so honoured to host you both. And thank you Mrs Adler for convincing him to attend,” Felix smiled, at the same time trying to angle his body in a way that obscured Wren from their view.
“The pleasure is all mine. Your party is also very lovely,” the woman complimented and her husband nodded.
“Lovely indeed. You know as they say, behind every successful man is a woman. We would like to meet your wonderful wife, Mr Morrell.”
Then they looked in the direction where Wren and Bianca were standing. “Which one of them is your wife?”
