Julia swallowed hard, her throat dry. She couldn't remember how many times she had done that. The chill from the air conditioner deepened her unease. Funny how, after being Victor's girlfriend and wife for so long, this was her first time stepping into his business.
The elegance of Victor's hotel took her breath away. He was a real billionaire, handsome too. In the eyes of everyone around her, she must seem like the luckiest woman alive as Victor's wife.
But inside, it felt like a different story. She was a woman starved for her husband's understanding and love, trapped in a hellish marriage.
The guests looked rich and powerful. Their straight postures and designer outfits screamed wealth.
Yet, there was no need for worry. Even if Victor felt indifferent toward her, he had ensured she looked stunning tonight. From head to toe, she couldn't find fault with her appearance. It was all for show—to keep up appearances in front of others.
Though confidence eluded her, she had no choice but to walk into the banquet hall. Where was her husband?
Her gaze darted around for Victor, but he was nowhere in sight. She felt out of place, lost in the crowd without knowing what to do. She hated this feeling, like a wet cat surrounded by strangers.
Unbeknownst to her, the spotlight from above was trained on her. That was why all the guests shifted their attention toward her.
"Wow, who is she? I can't recognize her, but she's stunning," Julia overheard someone whisper.
"Why haven't I seen this beautiful woman before? Who is she? Do you know her?" a guest in a silver suit chimed in.
More compliments flooded in, but instead of lifting her spirits, they only deepened her self-consciousness.
"I thought Ms. Hale was the prettiest here. But this woman just outshined her. Her style is simple yet elegant. She must come from a rich family," an older businessman remarked.
"Yeah, she's even more beautiful than Ms. Hale!" others chimed in, nodding in agreement.
She grimaced, her heart sinking. Where was Victor? This was why events like this made her uneasy; she didn't know how to behave.
Lost in her thoughts, she suddenly heard the click of Victor's heels approaching. It felt like a scene from a movie where the crowd parted for him. Silence fell, all eyes focused on what would unfold.
If she hadn't felt his betrayal, she might have thought he was Prince Charming, here to rescue her and proudly display his love.
Every gaze in the room was fixed on them, expectant. Victor halted right in front of her, commanding attention.
"Victor, I've been looking for you," she managed to say, her voice barely above a whisper.
No irritation or anger marred his features. He seemed like a man deeply in love with his wife.
He smiled tenderly, his eyes sparkling with warmth. As he wrapped his arm around her waist, it felt like a time machine, landing her back to when their love was pure and vibrant.
In those simpler days of dating, he had looked at her with admiration and love. But bitter events had turned her life upside down, and their relationship had suffered too.
She tried to sense something from his touch, hoping for that familiar spark. But all she felt was emptiness, the void echoing inside her.
She wasn't happy or angry. She felt absolutely nothing.
She realized Victor was trying to draw everyone's attention to them, and it seemed he had succeeded.
"Oh my God, is that the mysterious wife of Victor Voss?" someone gasped in amazement.
"It sure looks like it. Just look at how closely Victor is holding her. His wife is pretty damn beautiful!" came a delighted reply.
"Victor is so lucky; his wife looks so decent woman!" they murmured, glancing at Julia with admiration.
A satisfied smile crept onto Victor's face. He had made the right choice bringing Julia here. No one would uncover the "dirt" from her past. Showing her off would solidify his ties with business partners and attract potential clients.
His thoughts swirled with visions of money and power, fueling his ambition.
"Julia, smile bigger! Don't let anyone notice that you don't want to be here. If you don't, I'll make sure you regret it," he whispered dangerously, but his lips curled in a smile.
To everyone watching, he looked like the perfect husband, whispering sweet nothings to his wife.
Annoyed, Julia shot back, "You really don't have to threaten me, Victor. Even if you hate me, I wouldn't want to embarrass you in front of everyone."
He chuckled, "That's good to know! I like that about you—you listen to me. Just keep that smile on," he commanded with a smirk.
An eager crowd of guests and photographers closed in. "Victor, is she really your wife?" they all chimed in together.
Victor wrapped an arm around her waist and grinned. "Yes, everyone, this is my wife. She is Mrs. Julia Voss," he announced proudly.
Without the distance between them, Julia might believe that her husband was genuinely proud of her. But she knew that was as impossible as having snow in the desert.
"No wonder her beauty stands out! So, she is your mysterious wife, Victor. She's absolutely stunning," the guests marveled with admiration.
Julia almost felt tempted to accept their words. Was she indeed beautiful? After everything she endured and how Victor treated her, her confidence had vanished, making it hard to believe the compliments she received.
"That's why you've kept her hidden for so long. You hid her from the public. You just enjoyed your private life despite your wealth. I can't blame you, Victor. If my wife looked like yours, I probably wouldn't show her to the public either," responded an older man with a beer belly.
"That's exactly my reason, Mr. Ocampo," Victor replied, and they all laughed.
Julia couldn't resist the urge to look around, a wave of self-consciousness washing over her. The feeling of being watched prickled her skin. She scanned the crowd for those eyes, but everyone was staring at her, leaving her confused about her own feelings.
"Everyone, I want you to meet my beautiful wife. Mrs. Julia Voss," Victor announced proudly, puffing out his chest.
She noticed the envy flickering in the women's eyes, each one thinking she had struck gold with Victor. The luxury of her appearance only fueled their jealousy.
A bitter smile crossed her lips. If only they knew the truth.
"Anyway, the event is about to kick off. Let's head to our seats," an older man said, and they started moving toward their tables.
Victor led her to their chairs. The lights in the banquet hall dimmed slightly as the projector whirred to life. The host stepped out from backstage, waving to the crowd.
Moments later, the event began. The host spoke about many topics that felt foreign to Julia. Then minutes later, they were already at the auction segment, having gone through several items.
"We all know this event aims to create change for children in need," the host announced, as several men strode out from backstage presenting an item.
They lifted the satin covering, revealing a dazzling one-of-a-kind necklace. "Everyone, this is the Celestial Dreamcatcher. It's extremely rare; there are only three of these necklaces in the world,"
The rare blue diamonds sparkled, encircled by shimmering white gold stones, making the necklace truly unique and its beauty shine in the banquet hall.
A sharp gasp echoed from the guests, and Julia spotted excitement shining in the eyes of the women, including Victor's.
"We'll kick off the bidding at $5,000 for The Celestial Dreamcatcher. Who will start at $5,000?" he announced, scanning the crowd.
"$6,000 for that necklace!" a woman with bright blonde hair exclaimed enthusiastically.
"Wow, thank you! Now…? Do I hear $7,000?" The auctioneer pressed on, sensing the excitement bubbling among the guests, and Julia couldn't fathom why they seemed so wild.
"$10,000!" a man in a sharp black tuxedo yelled, raising the stakes in the air.
Julia caught a glimpse of Victor's gaze shifting toward someone in the crowd, but the sea of faces made it impossible to see who.
"The search ends here. I'll bid $50,000!" Victor declared loudly, his eyes once again locking onto someone in the crowd. Confusion crossed Julia's face. Who was he looking at?
It took a moment for her to register his words. What? He was bidding $50,000 for that necklace? What was he planning to do with it?
But then again, he was a billionaire. Spending that much was nothing for him.
"Wow, Mr. Voss is really putting on a show! $50,000! Is that the last offer? Will anyone go higher?"
Julia heard Victor let out a smirk. "Tss, no one can beat that. That necklace is mine," he declared proudly, stealing another glance at the group.
The air thickened with tension. The competition among the guests crackled around them. Everyone was captivated by The Celestial Dreamcatcher.
A wave of shock rippled through the crowd as a man stood up, announcing boldly, "I'll take the necklace for $100,000."
Gasps filled the air, and Julia caught Victor turning sharply to face the speaker. Confusion gripped her. Why did that voice sound so familiar?
It wasn't just familiar; it felt deeply rooted in her past. How could she forget the voice of the "only" man she ever had?
Fear washed over Julia as she slowly turned toward the source of the voice. In disbelief, she recognized Dante! The father of her son stood before her!