Chapter Fourteen. #2
“Me? Have you seen the women Cain’s been photographed with? Supermodels, Zinnia. There’s no way Cain would be interested in a dull housewife.”
“Alicia, you’re not boring. Don’t forget I know your secret.” Zinnia grinned.
“Indeed, you do,” I murmured.
I glanced at Zinnia with a smile, just as somebody barged into me. My glass of wine splashed all over Eve, who wailed loudly. “Oliver! Look what Alicia did!”
“You total bitch!” Zinnia yelled. She shoved a handful of napkins into my hand and pushed Eve backwards as I began dabbing at the stain.
“Oliver, Alicia deliberately threw her drink over me!” Eve continued wailing.
“You lying slut!” I snapped, and silence fell. Even Oliver staggered to a stop at the venom in my voice. “Jesus, I’m tired of you, the constant lies and sabotage. If you’re so desperate to steal another woman’s husband, God help you!”
“Alicia! How dare you shame yourself in public?” Oliver snarled.
Slowly, I turned and held his gaze. Oliver looked shocked. Long ago, I’d stopped answering back and defending my actions. But there was only so much a person could take, and I’d reached my limit. Enough was enough. Fuck Oliver and Eve.
“Screw you and this whore. Eve smacked into me, not the other way around, but yet again, you’ll believe her lies over the truth,” I retorted.
Oliver was now beyond shock. He appeared floored. He’d drummed it into me never to cause a scene, but here I was talking back in public.
“Alicia, remember your place,” Oliver warned.
“You’re so spiteful and hateful lately. Whatever the problem is—” “You. You’re my problem.
Because, yeah, all of a sudden, I’m hateful and spiteful.
But your actions of shoving a mistress in my face are acceptable?
You think that’s how husbands should behave?
” I hissed as years of pent-up pressure suddenly escaped.
“Parading that cheap piece of trash around on your arm like you’re proud of her.
Seriously? You deem it acceptable to have an obvious affair in public, while I should what?
Turn a blind eye and be grateful I’m your wife?
Like I have no personality of my own? Fuck that! ” I spat.
Oliver grew red with temper. A hand raised, and I stared, dumbfounded. Did Oliver intend to hit me? This was what our relationship had become?
An arm appeared from nowhere and stopped the slap.
“Kensington, you’re also my problem,” Cain announced, eyes narrowed in cold fury.
“You were really going to strike your wife over that unpaid whore? Your wife? Any other decent man would be on his knees, begging for Alicia’s forgiveness.
He’d be kissing her feet and praying Alicia would give him a second chance, you entitled piece of shit. ”
“Precisely, Russell, my wife. Not yours. You’ve no right to interfere.” Oliver threw caution to the wind.
Cain smiled evilly and released Oliver’s wrist and shoved him backwards. “You forget who I am, Kensington,” Cain said softly. In a swift move, he stepped forward, grabbed Oliver’s arm and yanked it up his back, forcing Oliver to his knees.
Eve screamed as everyone watched avidly.
“I’d order you to beg, but it wouldn’t mean shit,” Cain murmured. With a cold smile, Cain withdrew his phone and dialled a number.
“Yannos, I want the Kristale contract with Eliganz cancelled—yes, immediately.” Cain didn’t wait for an answer and cut the call as Oliver paled. Cain wrenched Oliver’s arm further up his back, and Oliver gasped in pain.
“Now, you understand nothing apart from money,” Cain hissed, leaning forward. “True emotions are foreign to you. Alicia isn’t a belonging, no matter how you might treat her. She’s a woman with feelings and dreams, and not your toy anymore.”
“You own Kristale?” Oliver whispered.
“Indeed, and you proved my point. Instead of acknowledging your wife, you went for the money. Everyone has seen your true colours tonight, and now I’ll make this very clear.
Remember, Kensington, Eliganz only exists because I allow it.
” With that, Cain shoved Oliver onto his back.
Cain gazed down at Oliver sprawled at his feet, his suit rumpled and his elegant appearance creased and crumpled.
“At my feet, Kensington, just where trash like you belongs,” Cain said loudly.
I stared dispassionately at the man whom I’d loved for ten years. Oliver’s face was red and mottled in embarrassment and temper. His eyes held retribution and hatred. Eve crouched by his side, fear finally showing in her expression as Cain stood above them both.
“The soon-to-be pauper and his mistress,” Cain stated. The murmurs rose in volume as Cain offered an arm, and I took it. Cain, standing beside me, encouraged bravery I’ve not had in a long time.
“It’s pretty obvious what Eve is. What type of man parades a mistress in front of his wife?
Scum, that’s who. Worse is the fact that you continuously keep taking Eve’s side, despite her being a lying bitch.
No matter what anyone says, you always believe her.
God, you’re a slave to your dick,” I said.
Oliver reddened even further; I thought he’d have a heart attack.
“You must have a golden pussy, Eve. I bet you fuck like a pro.” Eve gasped at my words, but I wasn’t finished. The worm had turned—finally. “You’ll hear from my lawyers. I want a divorce.”
Oliver paled dramatically, and Cain snorted in amusement even though none showed on his face.
“You can only push a woman so far before she strikes back,” Cain said, and we began walking away. Dignity in place, nobody would realise I was bleeding inside. No way would I creep into the night, silently like a thief.
“You’ll regret this, Alicia. When you come crawling back, be prepared to get on your knees!” Oliver yelled.
“Unlike you, that will never happen,” I swore as I left the ballroom. Well, Tom got his money’s worth by inviting both Oliver and me. I hoped the prick enjoyed the scene.
“Did you really threaten Oliver with divorce?” Saska demanded. “Everyone’s talking about Tom’s party.”
“Shit, I can’t believe the idiot paraded Eve publicly,” Winona exclaimed.
“Do you have a lawyer?” Oceane asked.
“Saksa, yes. Winona, me either. Oceane, I’m hoping one of you can recommend someone,” I replied calmly.
“Alicia, we’re so proud of you,” Winona said, smiling.
“Honestly, I’m shaking inside. I don’t know what came over me.” Nervous energy was flooding my veins, and I jumped to my feet and began pacing back and forth.
“You’re regaining yourself.” Winona nodded sagely. “We’ve all been there, Alicia.”
The women here were legendary for their own scandals. It had taken strong wills to help them through it. Sad as it was, I wasn’t as tough as they were. Oliver was right, I already wanted to crawl back.
“Don’t you do it!” Saska snapped, seeing my face.
“Huh?”
“Oliver is embarrassing you publicly. If you go back, you’ll have to wait on Eve hand and foot. Do you want that? Can you imagine the mockery and lessons people would turn you into? The wife waiting on the mistress,” Oceane asked.
“Never. I have some pride left,” I whispered.
That would be humiliating, and Eve would enjoy the power trip.
Eve smirked whenever Oliver accused me of something, like she was being placed above me.
Well, the truth was, Oliver had been putting Eve’s needs, thoughts, and feelings above mine.
Eve hadn’t been wrong about her assumptions.
“Then we’re going to go pack your stuff,” Winona stated.
“Today?” I replied, shocked.
“Right now. Girls, grab your cars,” Oceane ordered.
Before I realised what was going on, they were hustling me out of Zinnia’s house and into Rebel’s car.
Somehow, my life didn’t feel my own. I needed time to catch my breath and think, but my friends weren’t going to allow me.
Perhaps they believed I would go crawling back to Oliver.
And quite likely they were right. Oliver had been my staple throughout adulthood. What was I without him?