"Victor, you look sharp tonight! I knew you wouldn't skip an event like this. A man like you!" Mr. Pascual beamed at Victor, his smile wide. The old man's eyes scanned the room, searching for something. "I thought your wife would be here too? Everyone was excited to see her tonight. Your wife is such a mystery. No one has ever met her yet!" he exclaimed, his tone exaggerated.
That was a fact. He never meant to keep Julia away from the public at first. She was lovely, even if she wasn't rich. And she was smart, too. But after what happened to her, about her dark past, he couldn't introduce her to anyone. His interest faded because, to him, Julia lost her appeal. He couldn't even show her off to anyone.
That's why he never made an effort to show her to the public. His marriage wasn't a secret, but he was careful to keep details about his wife private. He didn't want anyone to discover that Julia's past was stained; it would be shameful for him. He couldn't bear to damage the image he had built for so long.
He glanced around nervously. Where was she? Before entering the banquet hall, she had looked so anxious and asked to use the restroom. He let her go, not wanting her to feel foolish in front of the other guests at this charity event.
Why was she taking so long? Did she decide to leave him?
He forced down a grimace. "I'm with my wife, Mr. Pascual. Don't worry, before the night is over, I'll make sure everyone gets to meet my lovely wife,"
Mr. Pascual raised an eyebrow, intrigued. Whispers spread through the crowd, and everyone's attention turned to the figure approaching. Even Mr. Pascual glanced in that direction.
"Oh my God! Is that Ms. Iris Hale? I had no idea she would be this beautiful in person!" Victor heard the guests gasp in surprise.
A frown crossed his face as he glanced at the red carpet. His eyes weren't mistaken; the woman stepping towards him was none other than Iris—his lover and ex-girlfriend!
Victor was left in awe as he saw how beautiful his girlfriend was. She was wearing a tight red bodycon dress. The color suited her well, with a deep neckline that made her ample breast visible to anyone. Her hourglass figure was beautifully accentuated by the style of the dress. She wore high heels that were incredibly thin and tall. Her makeup was clearly well-prepared, colorful on her face, and her lips were strikingly red.
She was breathtakingly sexy and stunning! Victor felt his mouth go dry as he watched her.
Male guests leaned in, eyes wide and mouths slightly open, staring at her alluring figure. Annoyance simmered in Victor. Iris belonged to him alone. At that moment, he felt a sharp regret for marrying Julia. Her reputation was stained, leaving her with nothing to flaunt.
Iris shimmered with independence, a smart and classy woman who was rich, sexy, and beautiful. Unlike his fragile wife, whose very dependent on him. Unlike Iris. Any man lucky enough to have her would be blessed. Why did he let pride hold him back? Why did he not forgive her so easily before? They could have been happily married by now.
But it was alright; he and Iris were together again. Even if he couldn't offer her marriage, their love was real. Iris was his, and he felt her belonging to him, too.
"Oh yes, that's her! Who wouldn't recognize our famous international model?" one guest chimed in, excitement in his tone.
Iris beamed, relishing the crowd's attention. Cameras flashed, clicks echoing around her as photographers hustled to capture her. She posed, the spotlight shining bright. She thrived on the admiration from the men and the jealousy she could see in the women's eyes.
Her gaze swept across the crowd until it landed on him, her eyes sparkling with joy. A smile lit up her face as she waved. He longed to return the smile, but thoughts crashed into him: why was she here? She hadn't been invited! And Julia mustn't see her!
Julia, his legal wife, was the one he should be showcasing to the crowd. The world couldn't discover his hidden relationship with Iris. That could destroy him. He needed to present himself as a devoted and loving husband.
So the happiness he felt at seeing her quickly vanished. He fixed a serious gaze on his girlfriend and silently gestured for her to follow. Iris caught his meaning without hesitation.
Anxiety coiled in his stomach, making his heart pound. Where was Julia? She couldn't find out about Iris, not now. What was on that woman's mind to show up here?
His feet moved swiftly to the rooftop of the hotel. Moments later, the door creaked open, and Iris stepped inside.
"Lock the door. Make sure to do it," he instructed, his voice firm.
Iris nodded and quickly locked the door. Then, with a bright smile, she dashed to him and wrapped her arms around him.
"Victor! Darling, you look so handsome in that suit! I just want to eat you up," she teased, leaning her proud breast against his arm.
If they weren't at an event, his reaction would have changed. He forced himself to push her away, not wanting Julia's nose to catch another woman's scent on him. Everything could fall apart.
Anger flashed in his eyes. "Iris, why are you here? You're not invited, so how did you get in? You shouldn't have come!"
Iris pouted, her eyes wide with surprise. "Why are you mad at me, Victor? Aren't you happy to see me? Don't you think I look beautiful?"
"You know that's not true, Iris. Don't change the subject! There's a reason I didn't invite you—now you just appear! What if they find out—"
"That I'm your mistress?" she raised an eyebrow, challenging him. "So what if they find out? I'm the one you truly love. We're in love! You belonged to me first," she insisted.
Victor felt pressure building in his skull because of her. "I know we love each other, but do you think the people in this party will understand? No! Come on, Iris. Cut me some slack. If you love me, you'd get why I didn't bring you. I need to look good for everyone. I can't give my rivals a chance to ruin me!"
Iris rolled her eyes dramatically. "This is why I get annoyed! You only care about your business! Is that dumb business really more important than me?"
"Don't be ridiculous, Iris! I love you, but you know how much status and power mean to me. There's nothing I can do now that you're here. But you can't approach me. We can't have eye contact. People with evil intentions have strong instincts. They'll definitely notice if we're not careful."
Iris's expression twisted with fury. "Damn you, Victor! Are you ashamed of me?!" her voice sharp and hurt.
She slammed her fist into his chest, tears spilling down her cheeks. He grabbed her wrists, stopping her before she could hit him again. "I'm not ashamed! But you should've realized what this meant when you chose to be my mistress!"
Her hand connected with his face, stinging. She wept openly. Everything around him blurred. "I'll overlook that slap because I get it. But I have to return to the party."
Fire lit up Iris's eyes. "Why?! Is it because your stupid wife may be waiting for you?!" she spat, her voice full of rage.
"Yes! You knew that! Why did you come here?! Do you want to destroy me in front of everyone?" he shouted, frustration boiling over.
Iris's fists tightened, her eyes narrowing. "Your wife must feel so great now that you brought her here. I'll make sure she knows the pain I feel tonight! I won't let her be happy while you're ashamed of me. You'll see, Victor!" Her voice dripped with menace as she turned away, leaving him shaken.
Anxiety clawed at Victor's insides. Would Iris actually follow through on that threat? Would she really confront Julia? He didn't care about what his wife felt, but he worried about what others would think of him. He had to stop Iris!