Chapter 1.2
1389 Words
The city lights glittered like scattered diamonds as Elijah and Scarlett stepped out of the car and entered the grand lobby of the charity gala. Scarlett couldn’t stop the quiet smile tugging at her lips, no matter how hard she tried to hide it. Elijah had brought her with him tonight—something he rarely did.
Ever since their marriage, she had spent most of her days inside their house, waiting for Elijah to come home, praying for affection that seldom came. Tonight felt different. Tonight, she could at least pretend she belonged by his side.
Elijah walked ahead, composed and dignified, the very image of a young, powerful CEO. Scarlett followed silently beside him, her arm lightly touching his, her heart fluttering with the simple pleasure of being included.
Inside the ballroom, Elijah was instantly surrounded by familiar faces—businessmen, investors, corporate allies. He slipped effortlessly into conversations, his expression as unreadable as ever. Scarlett stayed at his side, quiet and observant, her hands clasped gently in front of her.
Across the room, Camila Mason spotted them. Her brows rose sharply the moment she saw Scarlett standing beside Elijah. She leaned closer to her mother.
“Mom, why is she here?” Camila whispered, unable to mask her annoyance.
Eleanor Mason followed her daughter’s gaze and frowned.
“I don’t know. Maybe Elijah brought her. I thought you said you were on good terms with Mr. Logan. Why would he bring that woman tonight?”
The two exchanged irritated looks before Camila rolled her eyes and walked toward the group surrounding Elijah. She put on her sweetest smile, the kind she always used when she wanted attention—and admiration.
“Hi,” Camila greeted brightly. “I hope you’re all enjoying the night.”
Several men immediately complimented her.
“Miss Mason, you’re stunning tonight.”
Camila beamed at them, then shifted her gaze toward Elijah with a practiced, charming tilt of her head.
Finally, she turned to Scarlett.
“Scarlett, I didn’t know you were here too. It’s good that you decided to accompany Elijah.”
Scarlett smiled softly. “He brought me tonight.”
Camila didn’t respond, her interest clearly elsewhere. Instead, she turned to Mr. Smith, one of the investors.
“Mr. Smith, I heard your last project was a huge success last month. Congratulations, you truly are remarkable.”
More compliments followed—praise for business acumen, achievements, future plans. Scarlett simply stood at the edge of the group, offering small smiles whenever someone glanced her way, but more often than not, she was invisible.
The conversation flowed effortlessly around her, all about business—numbers, mergers, expansions—topics she had once dreamed of learning but never had the courage or opportunity to pursue.
“You were born for business, Miss Mason,” one elderly gentleman remarked with a hearty laugh. “The man who ends up marrying you will be incredibly lucky. Do you have a boyfriend? Maybe I should introduce you to my son.”
Camila laughed again. Scarlett kept her smile small and polite, swallowing the sting in her chest.
One middle-aged man suddenly noticed Scarlett.
“Is she your wife, Mr. Logan?”
Elijah offered a minimal, polite smile but didn’t answer.
Scarlett did.
“I’m his wife, sir.”
The man nodded. Before he could say another word, Camila interjected smoothly.
“She’s my cousin, but she’s a housewife now.”
“Oh, really? Is she the only daughter of Mrs. Wesley?” another asked, curiosity piqued.
Camila nodded proudly.
“I knew your mother,” the man said, turning to Scarlett. “She was well respected in business. Why didn’t you follow in her footsteps? Don’t you have a job now?”
Scarlett lowered her gaze, her stomach tightening.
Camila didn’t give her time to formulate an answer.
“She’s a housewife, sir. She has no interest in business,” Camila said sweetly, yet with unmistakable condescension.
Elijah remained silent beside Scarlett, drinking glass after glass of wine without glancing toward his wife.
“You didn’t inherit your mother’s talent, Mrs. Logan?” another businessman asked, genuinely curious. “What a shame. Her legacy deserved to be continued.”
Scarlett’s heart clenched. Camila’s smile widened, proud and satisfied.
“But Miss Mason is here,” one man added. “If Mrs. Wesley were still alive, she might have mistaken Camila for her own daughter. I hear you’re quite the rising star, Miss Mason. Many successful projects already—and I heard you even inherited Mrs. Wesley’s business since you’re the most capable.”
Camila glowed under their praise. Scarlett fell silent beside Elijah, shrinking into herself.
Then Elijah suddenly murmured, “Excuse us,” and grabbed Scarlett by the wrist, pulling her away.
He stopped a few steps from the group, his grip tight, his voice tense.
“You should’ve just stayed quiet,” he muttered.
Scarlett blinked at him. “Love… I only answered their questions.”
“I shouldn’t have brought you,” Elijah whispered harshly. “Why must you embarrass me? This is the last time. Don’t come near me tonight. Eat if you want, but stay away until the event ends.”
He left her standing there, humiliation burning in her chest. She lowered her head, fighting back tears. He couldn’t even defend her—couldn’t even acknowledge her presence.
She wished she could tell him the truth.
That she had given up her dream of becoming a designer just to support him.
That she had done everything a wife could possibly do.
That she wanted to be proud of herself too—but she didn’t know how anymore.
Scarlett ended up eating alone at their assigned table. She searched the ballroom repeatedly for Elijah, but she couldn’t find him anywhere.
Camila found him first.
She approached Elijah with a glass of wine in hand, her smile intoxicating.
“Hi. Why are you alone? Did Scarlett leave you?”
“I left her. She knows nothing about business,” Elijah said without hesitation.
Camila smirked.
“Why did you even choose to marry her? You get embarrassed at events like this. You can’t even introduce her proudly—but her? She introduces you like you’re a prize. And who wouldn’t be proud to have you as their husband?”
Elijah cracked a faint smile.
Camila stepped closer.
“Do you want to spend time alone with me later?” she whispered.
Elijah only looked at her, but the answer was clear enough.
As hours passed, the two remained together—laughing, drinking, talking—while Scarlett lingered alone, unnoticed.
Even other guests teased them.
“You two look perfect together,” someone joked.
Camila laughed lightly. “But Mr. Logan is already married. If he weren’t, maybe we really would be a perfect match. We both love business, after all. We would definitely get along.”
Scarlett waited until the event neared its end, searching desperately for Elijah among the thinning crowd. People were leaving one by one. She remained standing there, hoping—believing—Elijah would come back for her.
But Elijah had already left the hall.
Camila had pulled him toward a private room.
The moment the door closed, she kissed him fiercely. Elijah didn’t push her away—he kissed her back. Their mouths moved hungrily, recklessly. Elijah pinned her against the wall, deepening the kiss.
“You naughty woman,” he growled, dragging her onto the bed and climbing over her. He removed his clothes and kissed her again, not bothering to hide how much he wanted her.
Camila smiled against his mouth. She had won tonight.
Meanwhile, Scarlett stepped out of the empty ballroom, her stomach sinking as she realized Elijah had disappeared. She tried calling him several times. No answer.
Left with no choice, she hailed a taxi and went home alone.
Silence greeted her when she entered the house. No Elijah. No message. Nothing.
She waited all night.
Elijah never came home.
Scarlett sat on the edge of their bed as dawn crept in, guilt pressing on her chest like a weight.
This was her fault.
She had embarrassed him.
She had nothing to be proud of.
She wasn’t enough.
Not for him.
Not for anyone.
And tonight proved it more than ever.
- Writer
