Chapter 12
Calliope’s POV
I turned to see Zephyrine approaching, clad in a breathtaking red evening gown that accentuated her beauty even with her baby bump. It’s such a shame her heart remains so dark.
“Running into you twice today, Zephyrine? That can only be a bad omen,” I remarked.
Zephyrine frowned. “Why? You’re the one who’s always attracting misfortune.”
I raised an eyebrow. “Funny, since it seems you’re not exactly rushing to go inside either.“”
She let out a light chuckle. “Oh, please. Thad was specially invited, and tonight he’s finally
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getting the contract he’s chased for over two years.”
I laughed. “Is that so? Well, don’t let me keep you then.”
“Thad went to fetch our invitations. He left them in the car,” Zephyrine said, smirking as she pulled out her phone. “By the way, I sent you a message earlier, but it seems it didn’t go through.”
I shrugged nonchalantly. “That’s what blocking is for, sweetheart.”
Zephyrine giggled. “Don’t be so glum–you haven’t even seen my message yet.”
With a triumphant flourish, she flashed her phone in front of me, revealing a picture of herself lying in Thaddeus’s arms, both of them scantily clad. I remained unimpressed.
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“You can keep him, Zephyrine. Why do you feel the need to prove anything?” I scoffed, unimpressed.
Her face suddenly softened, tears threatening to spill as she reached for my hand. “I’m just saying, give him a chance.”
I jerked away as if her touch had scalded me, and she stumbled back, losing her footing. “Stay away from me, I snapped.
Thaddeus appeared beside her in an instant, catching her before she could fall. He turned to me with an accusatory glare.
“What’s wrong with you, Calliope? You nearly knocked her down again,” he seethed.
Zephyrine’s voice wavered as she gazed at me with watery eyes. “Don’t worry, Thad,
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Calliope’s just misunderstanding us. I was merely pleading on your behalf.”
Realization dawned upon me, and I clapped mockingly. “What a splendid act, Zephyrine. Perhaps a career in Hollywood is on the horizon.”
“Enough, Calliope!” Thaddeus barked, “Zephyrine is only trying to help. I’m tired of your jealousy ruining things between us.”
“If you don’t have your invitation, I’ll have to ask you to leave. We’re avoiding disturbances tonight,” the security guard stated firmly.
Thaddeus handed over his invitation before casting a hesitant look in my direction. “Can she come in? She’s with me.”
The larger guard looked skeptical, while the
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smaller one whispered that Thaddeus was an honored guest. Reluctantly, the security guard nodded. “Alright, but if she causes any trouble, she’s out.””
“Let’s talk, Thaddeus said, gripping my arm and steering me away.
Reluctant at first, I decided to indulge them, letting them believe they’d managed a noble
rescue.
As we stepped inside, Zephyrine snickered, “Why set yourself up for such humiliation, Calliope? Dressing provocatively just to linger at the entrance of an elite affair?”
I wasn’t oblivious to the jab hidden in her words but chose to hold my tongue as we were ushered through the opulent spectacle.
The room was filled with distinguished
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guests, the decor impeccable. I was genuinely impressed–Lucian had orchestrated something extraordinary in a mere day.
“Enjoy it while you can; soon, it will all be mine,” Zephyrine whispered in my ear.
I sighed, feeling her presence buzz around me like an irksome fly.
“Just wait here, Zephyrine. We’ll be back,” Thaddeus said, leading me out to the balcony. Spotting Leander, I gave him a reassuring nod.
“What do you want?” I hissed once we were alone, away from prying eyes.
Thaddeus seemed taken aback by my
hostility. “Why are you yelling? You should be grateful for the rescue instead of being
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tossed out.”
I scoffed. “I never asked for your help, Thaddeus. I would have found my way in regardless.”
He frowned. “How? By enticing another guest? You’ve forgotten you’re a married woman.”
I chuckled. “Talk seduction with Zephyrine. She’s the expert. And yes, I’m married. How could I possibly forget?”
Thaddeus’s smile was infuriating. “I’m glad we’re making progress, Calliope. I know you were jealous of the attention I’ve been giving Zephyrine, but after this deal, we can go back. Zephyrine will have the baby in two months, then she’ll leave, and I’ll find someone to care for her.”
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I looked at him, shaking my head with a sad smile. “It’s pitiful how naive you are, Thaddeus. Truly pathetic.”
He looked stricken. “What do you mean by that?”
“I mean I’m married, just not to you. And if you think moving on from Zephyrine is that simple, well, that’s just sad.”
Thaddeus grabbed my arm, demanding answers. “What are you talking about, Calliope?”
“Let me go!” I struggled against his hold, but he didn’t relent.
A cold voice cut through the tension behind us, sending a chill down my spine. “What’s happening here, and why are you harassing my wife?”
