The Wife He Underestimated

SIX—It’s Over.

❧

“What is this?” I slowly spin as I take in the room. It’s not what I was expecting at all. The mood completely contrasts the loud, fast music that’s blaring over the speakers.

There are very few guests, all of them look uncomfortable, head huddled together in low conversations. Their champagne glasses are untouched, it seems like nobody is in the mood for a drink.

“Well, look who finally showed up. Why don’t we all give her a round of applause?” Someone speaks from behind me, voice heavily slurred.

I whip my head around, trying to find the source.

It’s coming from a man lying on a couch, his head buried under dark curls on the laps of a blonde woman.

I squint as I walk towards him.

He reeks of alcohol and I scrunch my nose in distaste.

Seems like one person was in the mood to drink after all.

“First things first, somebody turn off this dreadful music.” I take a step back and fold my arms, all the while, my eyes search the room for Sebastain.

I haven’t seen him since I rushed downstairs.

“The music has been turned off ma’am.” A timid voice comes from beside me. It’s one of the maids who was styling my hair upstairs.

“Thank you. Now who are these people and where is my husband?” I level her with a cold look.

She squirms under my gaze and looks to a dark corner of the room. I follow her line of sight to Madame Victoria who is standing rigid.

“You.” I scoff, trying to control my suppressed anger. I’d handle her later.

“Where’s my husband?” I repeat my question.

That’s when I hear the laughter, it’s muffled but clear all the same.

I turn around again and it’s the same man who has his face buried in the blonde woman’s laps.

“Something funny here? You have something to say to me?” I walk closer to him.

“Oh Mari! Don’t be like that, everybody knows already.” He slurs, as he struggles to sit up.

This time, I get a good look at him.

His shirt is unbuttoned and tattered, his open chest covered in a distinct tattoo that makes my heart skip a beat. He looks like he’s been in a fight.

“Sebastain?” I whisper in disbelief.

“What! Can’t recognize me when I’m like this?” He staggers to his feet, laughing.

The silence in the room is loud in this moment.

“What have you done?” I take in his towering form and look around the room in horror.

Sebastian would never let anyone see him this vulnerable, definitely not people he plans to keep alive.

“Who are these people?” I hear my voice shake.

Surely, he doesn’t plan to kill everyone in this room?

“Relax Mari, you don’t have to look so scared.” Sebastain lets out another laugh, and everything about it is wrong. So cold and wrong.

“You there, get me a coat from upstairs. This madness has gone on for too long.” I turn to one of the maids.

“Stop right there.” Sebastain’s voice is ice.

The girl freezes and looks to me in fear.

“What are you doing Sebastain? You can’t act like this in front of guests.” I plead.

“Oh those aren’t guests! They’d be working for my girl from now on. She trusts them with her life.” Sebastain smiles, but it doesn’t touch his eyes. They remain cold.

“Anddddd…I’m the one he’s talking about.” The blonde woman finally speaks.

“Stay out of this.” I dismiss her without sparing her a glance.

“Oh! But I’ve been a part of this from the beginning Mari.” She coos in a seductive voice.

I freeze.

Only two people on earth have ever called me Mari, instead of Maria.

I take my time to look at this woman, past her blue eyes and barbie-doll face, and that’s when I see her, really see her.

“Carla? You…what are…how can you…” I’m in disbelief.

I’ve known Carla Hernandez since I was a child, she used to hangout with Sebastain and me whenever her father came to do business with the former Delacruz head.

“Hello Mari, what a way to reunite, huh?” She blows a bubble gum and pops it in my face.

“Time’s up Maria. It’s been a long, boring ride with you.” Sebastain has made his way over to a table where he pours himself some more champagne. He downs everything in one go.

“What’d you mean time’s up? I don’t understand any of this, why’s Carla here?” I’m standing in place, trying to make sense of all the surprises I’ve been hit with.

“What he means durrrrling, is that your little pretend family is no more. I’m going to be the new Mrs. Delacruz. It’s time for you to leave.” Carla walks up to Sebastain and runs her fingers down his exposed chest.

I burst into laughter.

“You must be joking, this is my home, and Sebastain and I aren’t divorced. You can’t marry a married man Carla, how desperate are you?” I shake my head in pity.

“But Maria, we aren’t married.” Sebastain pours himself another glass and downs it.

“What’d you mean?” I feel my heart begin to race.

A memory is threatening to resurface in my mind.

“Exactly what you think I mean. We were never married, we’ve played pretend for so long, you’re beginning to mix fantasy with reality.” Sebastain has his back turned to me, I can’t see his face.

I feel the tears begin to pour down my cheeks, and it enrages me. I promised myself I’d never cry in front of Sebastain, no matter how he pushed me.

But this? This is low.

“Look at me and tell me we’re not married. Look at me when you say it.” I whisper to Sebastain’s back.

“Awwwwwwww, are we getting emotional now?” Carla teases, her eyes are dancing with amusement.

I feel sick to my stomach that she is here witnessing this.

It must feel like payback to her.

Carla and I were both eleven when she confessed to me that she was in love with Sebastin.

A week later, she walked in on him kissing me and she swore to make me pay.

That was the last time I’d seen her.

Sebastian’s back remains turned, he wouldn’t look at me and Carla begins to laugh at me.

“Look at me Sebastain Delacruz.” I scream at him.

He turns instantly. “IT’S OVER MARIA, HAVE SOME DIGNITY AND LEAVE.”

His golden-brown eyes that I used to love so much frighten me now. They’re so dark, they look black. I try to search for some form of emotion in there, but there’s nothing, they’re just…empty.

“You’re free to go Maria, we don’t have to pretend anymore. Let that childhood fantasy go.” Sebastain doesn’t break eye contact this time.

And I know it’s real, it’s over.

It feels like a lifetime ago when Sebastain and I had stood in a hospital room and declared ourselves husband and wife. He was undergoing a major surgery and needed someone he could trust to make decisions if he was incapacitated.

I had done it without a second thought.

And this is my payback?

I grab the knife in my pocket and lunge for Sebastain’s throat.