The Scorned Wife's Return

CHAPTER 5

Mira

Arm in arm, we entered the ballroom. The Perfume Gala hummed with opulence and industry chatter. Crystal chandeliers refracted light onto jewels and gowns. And as we moved through the crowd, I caught snippets of conversation, all orbiting the golden duo near the center.

“...Chloe Kingston, simply luminous…”

“...such talent, Parker Group is lucky…”

“...heard she’s the genius behind the ‘Nebula’ line…”

“...perfect match for Luke Parker, don’t you think?”

The misattribution, the public erasure, was salt in the open wound. Each praise directed at Chloe hit deeper and deeper, and each comment about how cute they looked together made my stomach twist. Few knew the reclusive lead perfumer of Parker Group by sight because I never really showed myself.

Tonight was meant to be my big moment, but it became Chloe's… so as her kind and beautiful elder sister I was here to make it so big for her that she would never forget it.

The slightly large bag Victoria carried would make sure of that.

Then I saw them. Luke dressed in a white suit, looking every bit as charming and handsome as the day I met him. He stood among the guests, smile on his lips, his eyes darting to Chloe as his hand rested on her back. And Chloe.

Oh beautiful, beautiful Chloe. She stood in a gorgeous silver gown, with an extricate embroidery of gems, each one catching the light from the chandelier and creating a dazzling and almost angelic visage. Her smile was just as stunning, with her black flowing hair contrasting with the silver… like the stars in the night sky.

While I looked like sh*t

“I f*cking stitched that dress with my hands.” Victoria growled. I didn't think I'd ever seen her that angry before as she looked like she wanted to tear the dress apart and stuff it in Luke's smiling mouth. But her anger was just a pale reflection to mine, at most a fraction. It just simmered within me, a hair trigger away from exploding.

I hit the floor with my cane three times, each clang ringing through the hall and silencing everyone.

Victoria tightened her grip on my arm. Her voice clear and carrying; “Ladies and Gentlemen, allow me to introduce the actual, Lead Perfumer for Parker Group, the creator of ‘Nebula’ and tonight’s signature scent – Ms. Mira Kingston.”

A ripple of surprise spread through the crowd. Heads turned, conversations faltered. All eyes followed Victoria’s gesture towards Me. And from surprise, it turned into confusion, then disbelief.

“… Who the hell is she?”

“… What sort of circus is she trying to pull?”

“… She's Victoria Winters, what is going on?”

As all heads turned to stare at us, so did Luke and Chloe's. From the corner of my eyes, I could already sight some men in black suits heading for us. Security. But before they could reach.

“Madam.”

A woman in a beautiful red gown bowed infront of me. I was stunned for a moment before she raised her head and I saw the signature front bangs and beauty mark at the side of her lips.

“Leah.”

It was Leah, sub-head of the Scents and perfume unit and one of the few people I had personally worked with. Underneath her gentle image was a fierce character that everyone feared, and she showed it as she sent glares to the security personnels.

“Back to your posts, now.”

The murmurings started again, but this time it was no longer disbelief, just confusion. Leah turned back to me, concern and an apology in her eyes before she moved away from my path. I smiled before walking past her, my cane the ringing above the whispers.

I had no reason to be angry at her. This was clearly an internal conflict between Luke and I, she had already done more than enough as an employee.

A few seconds later, I stood right Infront of Luke, my glare tearing through him.

“Mira!” Chloe’s voice was a breathy flutter of panic. “Please, don’t misunderstand! Luke only called me because you were… unwell.” Her eyes darted nervously around the now interested audience.

I raised a hand to shut her up. I would come to her later but for now I had to deal with Luke.

“How dare you give her my credit?”

Luke's calm expression faltered for a moment before he quickly got his bearings back. “Why are you here, Mira?” He asked, his voice cold. “You should be resting.”

I tilted my head to the side. “Since when did you care? I asked a question Luke.”

Luke's face turned ugly, clearly irritated. “Why must you always cause a scene Mira?” His glare turned frosty. “Why can't you just be happy for your sister and willing to share? I only gave her some credit so she could establish herself faster, you know how cutthroat the industry is.”

I clenched my hand into a fist, holding the cane tightly as my hand trembled. My work, my effort, my child… he was using it to create a stepping stone for Chloe.

Her ‘congrats on getting promoted’ party was just yesterday!

Then Luke added, totally oblivious to my pain. “Besides you are my wife, Mira ‘Kingston’, that's all you need to be.”

I was instantly filled with revulsion. “No, that was who I was. But I am no longer your pet.” I spat, taking a step forward to bring us to mere inches apart from each other. “And I don't share. Not anymore.” I added, clearly hinting at Luke's hand still holding Chloe's waist.

“Go back to the Hospital Mira.” Luke growled. “You're causing a f*****g scene.”

I ignored him completely, turning leisurely to face Chloe. Causing a scene?, but I haven't even started yet.

Chloe took a step back as I turned towards her. For the first time I saw an expression on her face that wasn't fake or carefully curated. It was fear. Good, she knew danger when she saw it.

I spoke to cut through the hush that had fallen over the room. “Did the concept of asking permission escape you before you decided to steal my dress, Chloe? Or does taking what belongs to others just come naturally?”

Chloe’s face turned red instantly. She looked down, unable to meet my piercing gaze. “My dress… it was ruined. L-Luke arranged for Ms. Winters to provide another… he said it was available…” Her voice trailed off into a pathetic whisper.

Victoria snorted, crossing her arms. “Borrow? I didn't even know until you walked in clinging to his arms. And if I’d known it was for you,” her glare at Chloe was venomous, “I’d have burned it first.” She turned her fury on Luke. “My works are my pride, not to be worn by just ‘anything’.”

Chloe looked on the verge of theatrical tears. Luke stepped forward, placing himself squarely between Chloe and I, his expression hardening.

“It’s just a dress, Mira.” His tone was dismissive, an attempt to minimise the issue. He reached out, his hand landing lightly on my shoulder. The touch felt like a contamination. “You’re clearly unwell. This isn’t the place. Let’s get you back to the hospital.” The sudden, performative concern was more insulting than his coldness.

This was the third time I had been told that I was not thinking straight due to being sick, and each time he said it just made the issue worse. Not better. Like I said previously, all my anger needed was a hairline trigger.

Well that was more than enough.

I tossed Luke's hand off before locking eyes with Chloe again. Some people had brought out their phones, while others were just staring in surprise. But I didn't care.

“Wearing stolen clothes isn’t just tacky, Chloe. It reveals a profound lack of character. It’s trashy.”

The gasp from the onlookers was audible. Chloe shrank further, looking genuinely mortified now, pressing closer to Luke’s side as if seeking shelter.

Luke’s face tightened, his patience snapping. The mask of the concerned husband vanished, replaced by icy irritation. “Let Chloe keep the damned dress,” he stated, his voice tense. “I’ll have ten new ones sent to you tomorrow. Now, stop this spectacle and go home.”

A gentle, humorless smile touched my Lips. “No.” Luke frowned even more. “From now on, what's mine stays mine.” I wasn't just talking about my dress, I was also talking about the stolen praises, the years that were stolen from my Life.

“I don't give away my property to thieves.”

Luke’s expression darkened, like a storm cloud gathering. But he must have misinterpreted my defiance as jealousy, or a child throwing a tantrum. “I only brought Chloe because you were incapable of attending!” he snapped, his voice rising slightly.

“I don’t care why you brought her,” I countered, my voice chillingly flat, devoid of the heat he expected. “I care that she’s wearing what belongs to me. I want it back. Now.” I had let too many things go, my husband, my dignity, now my clothes... Even if I didn't want them again, even if they had passed – they were mine.

Victoria stepped slightly forward, a predator’s smile on her lips. “If you’re so generous, Mr. Parker, buy Ms. Chloe Kingston her own wardrobe. Why cling to Mira’s cast-offs like a security blanket? Unless, of course, stealing is part of the thrill?”

Then she opened the large bag that she had been holding and brought out a purple gown and handed it over to Chloe. “Here, you have it, it's on the house.”

Luke’s glare could have frozen lava. He stared at Me, baffled and furious by this unrecognizable woman who refused to play the meek, suffering wife. “Do you have to humiliate everyone?” he ground out. “Don't push me Mira.”

I met his gaze without flinching. “I’m not humiliating anyone. I’m retrieving stolen property.” Then I turned to see Chloe’s panicked stare. “Take it off, or I will have security remove it from you. Your choice.”

The threat hung in the air and Chloe’s lower lip trembled. She tugged on Luke’s sleeve, her voice a desperate whisper meant for the crowd as much as for him. “I’ll go change. Please, Luke, don’t fight because of me.” She played the martyr beautifully.

But Luke's expression didn't flicker, his eyes trained on me as he held Chloe back from leaving. Then with a slow curve of his lips, the tension in the room suddenly shifted. I could almost hear his voice in my head… I warned you.

"Change?" Luke said, his voice projecting across the ballroom, laced with concern. "No, Chloe. You've done nothing wrong. There's no need for you to change."

He turned his gaze from me, addressing the audience as if he were a doctor presenting a troubling case.

"Everyone, please, forgive my wife." His voice almost broke, slightly trembling. "As some of you know, Mira has been… unwell. A recent, severe accident. The trauma… it hasn't just been physical." He paused, letting the implication hang in the air. "She’s been suffering from severe emotional and psychological distress. Paranoia. Delusions of persecution."

My blood ran cold. "You lying–"

"These outbursts," he continued, speaking over me as if I were a child having a tantrum, "this fixation on things being 'stolen'… it's a symptom. Her doctors have been very clear. She needs rest. She needs peace. Not this… chaos she seems determined to create."

He looked back at me, his eyes full of concern and I could see the same glint that Chloe had whenever she was winning. "I brought her sister tonight because I hoped a familiar, loving face would help stabilize the company in her absence. To protect Mira's legacy while she heals. And this…" He gestured at me, a sweeping motion that took in my trembling form, my cane, my fury. "This is the result."

The crowd's murmurs shifted. The shock and judgment I’d directed at Chloe was now turning, slowly and inevitably, towards me. It was no longer a scene about a stolen dress; it was now about a tragic woman who didn't know her right from wrong.

I was being used as a publicity case.

Then Chloe played her part. She placed a gentle hand on Luke’s arm, her eyes brimming with tears. "It's okay, Luke," she whispered, her voice carrying perfectly. "Don't be upset with her. She can't help it. She's… she's just sick."

The final word landed like a blow. Sick, not angry, not wronged. Sick.

Luke nodded, his expression grim. "I know." He looked at the security team hovering nearby and gave a small, resigned nod. "Gentlemen, my wife is unwell and a danger to herself and the decorum of this event. Please, escort her out. Be… firm, but gentle. She needs to return to the hospital immediately."

The two large security guards began to move towards me, previously they didn't dare to touch me, and Luke wouldn't dare order them to bundle out his own wife. But now he had a good reason, and the heir to the Parker company had spoken.

Victoria stepped in front of me, her gown fluttering at her side. "Don't you dare touch her!"

I stood frozen, the cane feeling like my only anchor to reality. My victory had been stolen, twisted into proof of my insanity. I had walked in to reclaim my name, and Luke had just publicly destroyed it, painting me as a fragile, delusional woman who needed to be put away.

I looked at Luke for a moment and even though he looked away, unable to meet my gaze, I saw Chloe smile as she snuggled into his chest.

My heart broke.