Chapter 5: Fractures in the Spotlight
576 Words
The venue sparkled with elegance, the chandelier’s golden glow casting soft light over a sea of formally dressed guests. The murmur of polite conversation mixed with the clinking of champagne glasses as servers weaved through the crowd. Mike adjusted the cuff of his sleeve, scanning the ballroom for Diana. She had disappeared the moment they arrived, lost in the swarm of business associates and benefactors.
He exhaled, swirling the whiskey in his glass as he leaned against the bar. Events like these always felt performative—a carefully orchestrated dance of smiles and empty pleasantries. Diana thrived in it. He endured it.
A soft touch on his arm made him turn. Diana stood beside him, radiant in a navy-blue gown, a practiced smile on her lips. "Enjoying yourself?" she asked, sipping her wine.
"As much as I can," he muttered, setting his glass down.
Diana sighed, her smile tightening. "Mike, can you at least try tonight? These people matter."
"Oh, I know they matter—to you." His voice was low, but she caught the edge in it. "This isn’t about us. It never is."
She gave him a pointed look, tilting her head slightly. "Do we really have to do this here?"
Before he could answer, an older gentleman approached, greeting Diana warmly. She instantly shifted, her demeanor polished and charming. Mike clenched his jaw, watching as she laughed at something the man said, resting a hand on his arm in an all-too-familiar way.
Something about it—it wasn’t just the casual touch, it was the way she leaned in, fully engaged, fully present. A presence she never seemed to have with him anymore. His grip on his glass tightened.
Minutes passed, and she barely acknowledged him. The conversation dragged on until finally, something inside him snapped.
He leaned in, his voice low but firm. "Diana, we should go."
She blinked, caught off guard. "What? We just got here."
"I think we’ve stayed long enough."
Her expression flickered with something—annoyance? Guilt? She exhaled sharply, nodding to the man before turning back to Mike. "Fine. Let’s go."
The car ride home was silent. Tension sat thick between them, words unspoken but loud enough to drown out the sound of the tires on the pavement. Mike kept his eyes on the road, gripping the steering wheel tighter than necessary. Diana stared out the window, arms crossed, her mind clearly racing.
When they pulled into the driveway, the house was dark except for the soft glow of the living room lamp. Mike killed the engine, but neither of them moved at first.
"You didn’t have to make a scene," Diana muttered, finally breaking the silence.
Mike let out a humorless chuckle. "A scene? I asked you to leave. That’s all."
She turned to him, eyes flashing. "And why exactly did we have to leave early, Mike?"
He scoffed, shaking his head. "You really don’t see it, do you?"
Before she could respond, the front door creaked open. Karen stood there in her pajama shorts and an oversized t-shirt, rubbing her eyes. Her gaze flickered between them, instantly sensing the shift in the air.
"You’re home early," she said cautiously.
Mike exhaled, stepping out of the car. "Yeah. Change of plans."
Karen’s eyes lingered on Diana, who remained seated for a second longer before finally getting out. The moment Diana passed her, Karen caught Mike’s gaze.
She didn’t have to ask what happened.
She already knew
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