Julia's eyes grew wide, fixed on Dante. A rush of feelings surged through her—shock clenched her heart; embarrassment burned her cheeks. She hadn't realized others knew her husband had a mistress. Did she really appear so foolish, so naive?
"How did you find out about that…?" The words slipped out, barely a whisper.
Dante's gaze was sharp, as if she were shockingly "ignorant."
"You weren't born yesterday. It's clear your husband has someone. Look at them together, the way they gaze at each other. And why is he so eager for The Celestial Dreamcatcher? His competitiveness, maybe. He won't let anyone outdo him. But why is that the only thing he wants then?" His question pierced her thoughts.
Yeah, why was Victor so desperate for that necklace? The auction had so many items earlier, yet he only cared about that one. Dark ideas crept into her mind like shadows. It felt like poison spreading, trying to seep into her very thoughts, threatening to ruin her.
"Because that necklace is for his mistress. What do you think? It's for you? You're joking!" A voice inside her screamed.
Her heart twisted painfully at that thought. It felt like Dante could read her mind. "You don't need to hurt yourself like this. You're right. He wants it for his mistress, none other than Iris Hale."
It was as if she was slapped hard across the face. If Dante knew, maybe others did too—other businesspeople… They must have noticed! How foolish she must look here. What would she look like now? A laughingstock, surely! Just a name on paper, Victor's wife. How could she compete with someone like Iris Hale, anyway, a rich socialite?
She trembled, unsure where to go. She thought she could hide the mess of her marriage from everyone. But now she knew, she couldn't escape it.
"Your husband is something else, Julia. I admire his boldness. He brought you here to boost his image. A trophy wife! But when the cat's away, the mice will have fun! Here he is with both his wife and mistress tonight!" His fists clenched, his anger palpable. She wondered what stirred such rage in him.
Right now, she felt like she was drowning in a deep, endless sea. She couldn't breathe. She was hurting. She was angry.
She felt her eyes start to burn. A sign that at any moment, the tears from her mixed emotions would fall.
She shook her head fiercely, trying to push away the thoughts. "Hearing those honest words from someone else is just so pitiful," she said, bitterness lacing her voice. She inhaled deeply, gripping the fire exit door. "I'm going back," she finally declared.
But hestood firm, his body and hand like stone, blocking her way. "Let me through, Dante. I need to go back," she pleaded.
"For what? Just to get hurt? To look foolish in front of your husband and his mistress?" His voice rose, brimming with urgency.
Weakened, she felt like she was fading. The night wasn't over, yet it felt like a grueling day of battles waged within her.
"You don't understand. I have to go back. You don't grasp the situation… if Victor discovers you are the man… the man…" Words tangled in her throat. How could she define their shared past? "He'll turn your life into a living hell. Your life will be chaos,"
She noticed the bitterness etched on Dante's face. "Just like what he did to you? I'm the man who wrecked your life, right? Why can't you just say it? No matter how you spin it, that's who I was to you," his voice trembled with deep hurt.
Pity washed over her. Although it seemed wrong to her husband and the judgemental people, she and Dante were victims of cruel fate. He was merely swept up in her troubles. She didn't want him branded that way. He had helped her survive, and because of him, she was still here, alive.
"I-It's not like that, Dante. You know that's a lie. You didn't ruin my life; you saved me. It was that evil men that destroyed everything. I've never blamed you. I just want to avoid making things worse if Victor learns it's you, that we talked again. He seems furious with you," she explained, urgency in her eyes.
Dante sensed the sincerity in Julia's voice, realizing she truly didn't hold him at fault. But deep scars from their past remained. How could he make up for it? All he knew was that he felt happiness at their paths crossing again.
"You won't go back to your useless husband. Stay by my side. I don't like what's happening in your life. How your husband treats you. How thick-skinned he is to bring his mistress here too. You don't deserve to be treated like this," The man's tone was pleading for her not to leave.
She turned her gaze aside, anxiety swirling in her chest. Was it that obvious to everyone how Victor treated her? Could they see the empty spaces where love should be? "Why you've stayed married to him for so long is a real mystery. But I can see you're in pain. Victor punishes you for a sin you never wanted in the first place,"
This cracked open her vulnerable side. If only she could let the tears spill and share the heavy burden she carried. But she forced it down; she couldn't let Victor taint this moment. She wanted to protect their conversation from his shadow.
"I'm glad to see you again, Dante. But I think this is it. I really must go back,"
His solid frame didn't move an inch, like a sturdy wall blocking her way. He stood unyielding, a fortress she couldn't breach.
"Dante… please… if I don't return, Victor will become suspicious," her voice trembled, fear seeping through.
He let out a heavy sigh, the weight of knowledge resting heavily on him. Behind the curtains of the Voss family, many secrets lurked. He had to rescue Julia from a man who was hurting her without understanding.
"I'll let you leave, but I need your contact number—the real one. I want to make sure you're safe," he insisted, his tone serious. "I don't trust your husband. He's an asshole,"
She sighed, resigning to the moment. She typed her number into his phone, her fingers trembling. He called her number to make sure it was really hers. "Okay, I'm heading back now,"
He nodded, concern etched on his face. "Take care. If anything happens, don't hesitate to call me,"
All she could do was nod. She reached for the door handle, ready to leave. "Julia…?" he called after her.
She glanced back, and her breath caught. A smile lit up his face, a warmth her husband had denied her for so long. "I'm so happy to see you again…"
Her eyes widened, her heart racing wildly. No words escaped her, and she hurried through the fire exit, nearly running back to the banquet hall.
The auction had ended, and guests were lost in laughter and chatter. Groups gathered, discussing business, but her eyes roamed, searching desperately.
She returned to their table, but Victor was missing. Where had he gone? Had he left her? That seemed impossible; her husband never left a party early. He always stayed until the last moment. But where could he actually be?
She felt several eyes on her, probing. "Hello, did you see Victor?" she asked an unfamiliar old man. "Your husband? I saw him head that way," he pointed toward a dark hallway she didn't recognize.
She thanked him and stepped toward the hallway he indicated. Nerves twisted in her stomach, but she couldn't pinpoint the reason.
She walked down a hallway that seemed to lead out to the hotel's spacious balcony. The cold breeze nipped at her skin. This spot was quiet, a stark contrast to the lively business chatter inside.
"Victor…?" Had he truly left her? Had she said or done something to upset him once more?
She heard rustling near the balcony, urging her feet to move even though this was her first time stepping outside.
As she approached, strange sounds and moans filled her ears. Her brow creased in confusion. A strange dread washed over her, as if an unseen force was pulling her into the dark balcony.
It was dim in that area; the lights were off. As she pressed on, the strange sounds became louder, echoing in her ears.
"Ohhh! I love you so much!" A woman's voice rang out, slicing through the tension.
Her heart skipped, panic rising inside her. She didn't like the images forming in her mind. Quickening her pace, she finally reached the balcony. Her eyes darted around; tall potted plants blocked her view, so she moved deeper to find the source of the voices.
"Your useless wife can't even give this to you!" The woman's familiar voice cried out again, laced with taunts.
Her eyes widened, shock washing over her as she spotted behind the plants a woman sitting on a man's lap—and that man was Victor! Her husband!
Her vision blurred, darkness creeping in. "Shameless!" she yelled, fury igniting within her.