Chapter 125
Iris
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Seeing them together breaks my heart all over again.
Arthur stands tall next to Selina, his hand resting on the small of her back as they chat with a small crowd of admirers. His Alpha President smile is perfectly in place, the one that graces magazine covers and campaign posters.
Selina laughs at something someone says, tossing her perfect hair over one shoulder, her red dress catching the light in a way that makes her look like she’s glowing. She leans into Arthur, whispering something in his ear, and he smiles down at her.
No. No, no, no.
Before the tears that are pricking at the backs of my eyes begin to spill, I duck behind a large sculpture, trying to steady my breathing. Just then, Hunter shows up with two champagne flutes, handing one to me,
“Are you alright?” he asks, furrowing his brow when he sees the horrified look on my face. “You look like you’ve seen a ghost.”
I take a large sip of champagne, welcoming the burn down my throat. “I’m fine,” I lie. I can’t tell him. Of course I can’t tell him.
Hunter follows my gaze across the room, his eyes narrowing slightly when he spots Arthur and Selina standing there. “Ah, I didn’t know the Alpha President and his fiancee were attending. That’s a huge deal.”
“I didn’t know either,” I say quickly. Too quickly.
I turn away, leading Hunter toward another section of the gallery, as far from Arthur and Selina as possible. But it seems the universe isn’t done torturing me yet.
“Oh, and of course when the time comes, we’ll want to ensure our child inherits the strongest Alpha traits,” Selina’s voice carries across the room as we pass by a small group of people. “Arthur’s lineage is exceptional. Our future child will make a powerful Alpha President someday!”
My steps falter. Child? They’re planning a child together?
Hunter steadies me with a hand on my elbow. “You sure you’re okay?”
I nod automatically, moving away from the voice that’s slicing through me like a knife. I focus instead on my breathing, on putting one foot in front of the other. Somehow, I make it through the next hour, accepting compliments on my work, discussing technique and inspiration. But inside, I’m crumbling
I’m examining the refreshment table, looking for something stronger than champagne, when a familiar scent hits me. Flowery, expensive perfume. The same perfume I smelled five years ago when that witch entered my home and took my life from me.
I don’t need to turn around to know it’s Selina. I can feel her presence like a cold shadow at my back.
“Selina,” I say stiffly, turning to face her.
She’s even more beautiful than usual today, her skin flawless, her eyes gleaming with something predatory. “I didn’t know you were going to be showing here,” she says, tilting her head to the side.
I purse my lips. We both know fully well that she knew I made it to this round of the residency selection process. I wonder if Arthur knows; he had to have, right? Did he come here with her, knowing that I’d be here, that I expected him to end the contract, just to… what? Humiliate me? Put me in my place?
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Chapter 125
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When I don’t respond, Selina’s eyes drift to my art piece nearby-“Red Thread“-and her lips curl into a feline smile. “It’s rather… human, isn’t it? All that emotion on display. So messy.”
I still say nothing, not trusting myself to speak. I don’t even trust myself to move, for fear I might slap her.
She sighs, studying her perfectly manicured nails. That’s when I see it–the ring on her finger. Not just any ring The engagement ring. The one Arthur gave her. The one he was supposed to have taken back when their contract ended.
My heart plummets to my stomach. The room starts to spin slightly.
“Does it bother you?” Selina asks. She holds up her hand, letting the massive diamond catch the light. “Most women are intimidated by it. It’s been specially designed, you know. Arthur had it custom made.”
“I didn’t know you were still engaged,” I manage to say, my voice sounding distant and hollow to my own ears. Selina laughs airily. She’s doing it again, ensuring that, to anyone else who might be watching, she’s just smiling and laughing at something I said. That she’s not cutting me up with her words.
“Oh, we never stopped being engaged. In fact, we’ve intensified our contract.” She leans in slightly, lowering her voice to a conspiratorial whisper. “We’ve added a pregnancy clause.”
My blood turns to ice in my veins.
“Arthur will impregnate me, and I’ll have his true heir,” she continues, her eyes gleaming with malice. “Nothing at all like… well, let’s just say a true Alpha heir, not some half–breed abomination.”
Chapter 124
Just then, the gallery director approaches, beaming, “Vlor your work is causing quite a stir. The committee members are very impressed.”
“Thank you,” I say, feeling a flutter of hope surge in my chest, Could I actually win this residency, even against att of the other amazing artwork here tonight?
The director moves on to greet other guests, and Hunter offers to get me a drink. As he walks away, I stand alone before “Red Thread“, taking it in one last time. The severity of the thread cutting across the palm almost seems to make my own palm ache, and I can’t help but press my thumb into the spot.
But no matter how nice the event is, it feels… empty. Looking at the painting of the red thread, I feel a profound absence where Arthur belongs. He should be here tonight, by my side, but he’s not. Because even if we weren’t so distant, he still couldn’t be seen with me in public.
Hence the red thread trailing off the canvas, out of sight, where no one but me knows where it leads.
Suddenly, a hush falls over the crowd near the entrance, and I turn instinctively toward the sound. My heart sinks as I see them–Arthur and Selina, entering the gallery…
Together.
