DECEPTION AND DESIRE

Chapter 8: Something So Personal

My heart races as Richard's parents fix their gazes on me, their expressions unreadable. Are they judging me? Do they disapprove? The air feels heavy with uncertainty.

Then, to my surprise, Alice’s face lights up. “Wow, she’s so beautiful,” she exclaims, grabbing my hand with her perfectly manicured fingers. Her nails, polished and decorated with tiny gems, hint at a woman with impeccable taste. Even at her age, she radiates sophistication.

“Thank you, ma’am,” I reply with a nervous smile. Before I can process it, she wraps me in a warm, motherly hug. It’s the kind of embrace that feels like acceptance.

“Welcome to the family, dear,” Jordan, Richard’s father, says in his gruff voice, giving me a quick side hug.

Alice’s eyes glisten with tears. She seems deeply emotional. “Richard, I’m so glad you’re finally opening up again,” she says, her voice trembling with gratitude.

“Mum, please,” Richard mutters, clearly uncomfortable. I can tell he’s not ready to revisit whatever dark chapter she’s referring to.

Jordan clears his throat, breaking the tension. “So, Jane, what’s your full name? Where are you from?”

My heart skips a beat. I feel my palms growing clammy. I can’t risk saying anything that contradicts the story Richard and the original Jane have spun. My mind scrambles for a response, but Richard comes to my rescue.

“Dad,” he interjects firmly, “questions can wait. Jane needs to relax. Besides, I’m starving. What’s on the grill?”

Father and son stroll over to the barbecue, and I exhale in relief.

Alice stays by my side, flashing me a kind smile. “I love your hair—it’s stunning!”

I blush at the compliment. “Thank you. And I love your style—it’s so elegant.”

“Oh, you’re too sweet,” she replies with a laugh. “Vivian inherited her sense of fashion from me, you know. I’ve always had an eye for it.”

Before I can respond, a sharp voice interrupts us. “Mr. and Mrs. McCarthy!”

I turn to see Stacy, the desperate b***h who’s been throwing daggers at me with her eyes all evening. Her smile is wide, but it irritates me.

“Stacy!” Alice greets her warmly, pulling her into a hug. “You look amazing!”

“Thanks, and so do you,” Stacy replies, her tone sugary sweet.

I watch them chat, feeling like an outsider. Richard and Jordan discuss business at the grill, and Alice and Stacy dive into what seems like a never-ending conversation about fashion and past events.

The night air grows chilly, and I pull my jacket tighter around me. Taking a deep breath, I sit in one of the fancy chairs, my thoughts swirling. This might be my last night with Richard. I can’t keep up this charade much longer. No matter how much I enjoy being part of his world, I’m not sure I dare to continue pretending.

My thoughts are interrupted by the sound of Vivian’s voice. “Mum! Dad!” She rushes into the garden, her dress clinging to her as she moves. Her face lights up with joy as she throws her arms around her parents.

“Mum, Dad,” Vivian sobs, tears streaming down her cheeks. “I didn’t think you’d come!”

“Of course, sweetheart,” Jordan says, patting her head affectionately.

“Don’t ruin your makeup, darling,” Alice teases, wiping away a stray tear from Vivian’s cheek.

“I thought you were on your Japan tour!” Vivian exclaims, still overwhelmed.

“We wanted to surprise you,” Jordan replies with a proud smile.

“Aww, you guys are the best,” Vivian says, pouting playfully.

Alice strokes her daughter’s cheek. “How could we miss our princess’s special night?”

As I watch their tender reunion, a pang of sadness hits me. Memories of my own family flood my mind—my mother’s warm hugs and the days before my father abandoned us for someone else. My eyes sting with tears, but I quickly blink them away.

“Alright, enough family time,” Stacy says abruptly, breaking the moment.

Waiters arrive with trays of wine and plates of perfectly grilled barbecue. The tantalizing aroma fills the air.

Stacy leans back in her chair, cutting into her steak. “I miss the good old days,” she says, glancing at Richard. “Remember when you’d bring me to Thanksgiving dinners? Your mom’s turkey and duck were legendary.”

Richard gives a tight nod, but his face darkens.

“And,” Stacy continues, completely oblivious to the tension she’s stirring, “everyone thought we’d end up together. Not until you went to college overseas and married Eva.”

The name hangs in the air like a thundercloud. Silence falls over the group. Richard’s jaw tightens, and a storm brews in his eyes.

“Let’s go,” he says suddenly, turning to me.

I reach for his hand, but his expression stops me. He’s too upset to want comfort. Slowly, I drop my fork and stand, my appetite gone.

“Richard, please,” Alice says, her voice soft and pleading. “Don’t leave.”

But Richard’s tone is firm. “Not when Stacy thinks it’s okay to dredge up something so personal.” He grabs my hand, his grip firm but not harsh. “Goodnight.”

Without another word, we walk away, leaving the party behind. As much as I’ve enjoyed glimpses of this glamorous world, tonight proves one thing: even the rich and powerful carry their wounds. And Richard’s are still raw.

*****

The ride is eerily quiet as Richard insists on driving me home.The sound of the engine is the only sound hanging in the quiet. I can’t help but glance at him again—something I’ve done more times than I can count. His face is tight, his expression shadowed with a sadness that feels almost suffocating.

I open my mouth to speak, searching for the right words, but nothing comes out. My throat feels dry, and the silence between us grows heavier. I want so desperately to comfort him, to ease some of the pain I can see etched into his features. But I stop myself. Starting a conversation right now might only deepen his wounds.

I can’t help but wonder—what caused his late wife’s death? And as I watch him now, so consumed by grief, it’s clear the loss still clings to him like a second skin. He hasn’t healed. He might never truly heal. He must have loved her with all his heart.

A part of me aches with an emotion I didn’t expect—envy. She had his love, his whole heart, and now even in her absence, she still has a hold over him.