Chapter 1 Betrayed
1020 Words
"Ladies and gentlemen..."
The emcee's cheerful voice echoed through the glittering ballroom, silencing every conversation.
Crystal chandeliers sparkled overhead while hundreds of influential guests turned toward the brightly lit stage.
Natalie slowed her steps near the entrance.
She had barely arrived.
"...it's finally time to announce tonight's most anticipated award."
Applause erupted.
"The Best Couple of the Year Award."
Natalie's lips curved into a small smile. Jullian had insisted he would meet her here after an emergency meeting.
Although he hadn't answered her calls all evening, she believed him.
He was her husband.
Natalie forced a small smile to her lips before moving forward, her eyes searching around the ballroom looking for just one person.
"And this year's winner is..." The emcee's voice sounded through the speakers again which snapped her attention back to him.
A dramatic pause. Everyone went quiet.
"...Mr. Jullian Vale..."
Natalie's smile widened. He got it, he got it...
"...and Miss Mirabel Lawson!" The emcee continued, and the smile which had begun growing on Natalie's lips froze.
Everything stopped. The entire congregation, the music, the applause, and Natalie's heartbeat.
She whispered in shock, "...What?"
How could her husband and...
Before she could finish that thought, she spotted Jullian walking onto the stage, but he wasn't alone.
He was with Mirabel, hand in hand, with huge smiles plastered on their faces.
Natalie felt her body tremble in shock.
This...
This was impossible.
How could...
Natalie's eyes caught the dress Mirabel wore, which swayed elegantly as she climbed the stage. She remembered that dress.
That black body hugging long gown with a low neck cut was hers!
She bought it.
Then...
She notices something even worse.
The diamond earrings.
Also hers.
The audience starts whispering.
Nobody realized Natalie is standing just inside the ballroom.
"I thought Jullian was married." She heard one of them say. "Maybe they're divorced." Another one chipped in, her heart sank.
"No... his wife is pregnant."
"Then who's that woman?"
Natalie couldn't control her body anymore, and she began shaking in anger, and shock and spite.
Her mood only worsened when the host suddenly laughed as he congratulated Jullian and Mirabel. "Now that's what true love looks like!"
What?
The congregation erupted into a loud clap, and Mirabel blushed hiding her face behind her hands, while Jullian smiled, showing of his teeth.
He placed one arm around Mirabel's waist.
Then... Leaned in and kissed her forehead.
He kisses her forehead.
Natalie's heart shattered as sge watched.
Not because of the kiss.
Because...
He's never kissed her like that.
Not once in four years.
A tear slowly rolled down her eyes.
...
Lucien had absolutely no interest in awards. But his assistant had insisted he attended. For what he intended to do, he needed allies, and this was the best place to get that.
He planned on leaving in the next ten minutes.
Until...
He noticed her.
His fingers froze around his wine glass.
'Impossible.' he thought as he watched her.
His eyes never left the pregnant woman standing near the entrance.
No...
It couldn't be...
His face slowly morphed into an expression of disbelief.
His assistant noticed and came to stand next to him. "Boss?"
Lucien ignored him, his eyes darting between Natalie's face and her huge belly.
She was focused, staring at someone on the stage.
He traced her line of sight until he saw who she was staring at.
His younger brother.
Lucien's expression darkened.
...
Natalie finally turned.
She wants to leave before anyone notices her.
She had only taken a step when she felt a sudden gush of pain.
She froze.
Another pain attacked her, much stronger.
She gripped a nearby table.
Someone noticed and asked, "Ma'am, are you alright?"
Natalie smiled weakly. "I'm fine."
Another contraction.
This time...
Her water broke.
The glass she was holding fell to the floor.
CRASH!
Everyone turns, including the two people on the stage.
"Someone help, she's going into labor!"
Jullian looked toward the noise.
He saw Natalie and his eyes widened. He had forgotten that she would be here as well.
A wave of concern washed ovee his face.
Mirabel noticed it and panicked.
She immediately grabbed his arm. "Baby..." She called him. "I don't feel well..."
Jullian immediately turned back to Mirabel, examining her face before yelling into the crowd. "Someone take my wife to the hospital."
Then he walked away, holding Mirabel's hands in his like an egg.
Natalie heard every word.
She didn't know how to feel.
She was already in so much pain.
She stumbled, and the table she held shifted under her grip. She missed her step, and began falling backwards.
Just when her body was about colliding harshly with the ground, someone caught her.
Natalie barely looked at him.
Her vision blurred from the unshed tears.
She whispered. "My husband..." Looking towards the direction Lucian had taken.
She didn't notice the way her saviors jaw tightened at her words.
Natalie heard the man who caught her voice,
"Call the ambulance." He said to someone she couldn't see. "And don't let anyone near her."
Those were words she had expected her husband to say.
But he wasn't here.
Natalie tried to hold on, but the second she was loaded into the ambulance, her eyes rolled backwards and she lost consciousness.
...
Lucian watched the ambulance until it disappeared from sight.
Even in that condition, even after all she saw, she was still waiting on Jullian.
"Boss..." Lucian's assistant, Alan called. "You know her?"
Silence.
He didn't answer at first and just keep staring into space. It took almost a minute before Lucian finally spoke. "I told you that there was two reasons for my return." He began.
Alan nodded immediately, he knew that. Lucian slowly turned to look at him, "She's the second one."
After nine months, he was finally seeing her again. But just like the first time, her eyes were still on his brother.
"And my i***t brother still her."
Last time he had to leave in a hurry, but this time... This time he was going to make sure she sees him. Only him.
- Writer
