Married to Destroy You

Giant crystal chandeliers bounced off the ceiling of the ballroom, creating a golden glow that enveloped the 100-plus guests in slick suits and elegant dresses who were chatting with each other with glasses of champagne in their hands. The room was magnificent. The walls were adorned with classical ornaments, and the giant windows in the room complemented the beauty of the evening's event, which featured a panoramic view of the sparkling city. This place is said to be the heart of the Vanderbilt Hotel. The hotel itself stands tall in the center of the city, striking among other skyscrapers, and has been named the country's grandest hotel, the proud masterpiece of the Vanderbilt family whose name has dominated the hospitality industry for decades. In the center of the ballroom, an elegant gentleman stood against a large LED screen, which displayed the words "Welcoming the New CEO of Infinity Corporation". Clad in an impeccable black suit that flowed along the lines of his well-built body, he was the master of ceremonies for the evening, Joshua Salvador Vanderbilt, a 30-year-old man who had this evening been named the new CEO of Infinity Company, the Vanderbilt family's primary business controller, which controls a chain of hospitality businesses that dominate Europe. The ballroom, which had been filled with conversation, fell silent as he takes the stage. All eyes were on him, attentive and respectful. The executives, investors, and business leaders who filled the room did not take their eyes off the man on stage. Neither did the woman sitting elegantly in the front seat. A dark blue satin gown wrapped her body perfectly, her long hair styled in soft waves that fell down her back, her red lips curled slightly as a low chuckle sounded from behind. "Joshua... he's really amazing..." "So charismatic... a man like that must be hard to conquer." "Imagine if you can be his wife, you must be very lucky, besides being very handsome he is also influential...." The woman smiled, a small smile that only she understood. She didn't take her eyes off Joshua, who was speaking respectfully on stage to his guests. She was Anna Cristian Leona, Joshua Salvador's secret wife. No one knew about their wedding. No news, no photos in the media. To the world, Joshua was the most desirable single man, a business magnate with a handsome and influential face. But to Anna, he was a cold man and always kept his distance from her during their 3 years of marriage. However, she persevered and tried to be a good wife to him and believed that one day, he would let her into his heart. "This success is not just mine. I wouldn't be standing here today without someone who has always supported me. A special woman who has been by my side through every storm." Of all the words Joshua had spoken on stage before, this was the only one that rang so clearly in Anna's ears, a line that left her frozen in place. Her breath caught in her throat as her eyes widened, unable to believe what she had just heard. That man, mentioning her? Anna's chest felt warm, as if those words had infiltrated the deepest recesses of her heart. Joshua... mentioned her in front of everyone? How could that be possible? All this time she had only been a shadowy figure. But now on this night of witnesses, Joshua her cold and distant husband on this night chose to acknowledge her existence. Is this the moment? Would Joshua finally recognize her as his wife in front of the world? "That woman..." Joshua continued, then his eyes swept the room before his voice deepened, "I want her to come forward now, to my side." Anna's world stopped for a moment. Anna felt her heart beating so hard, as if the hope she had buried was real. Joshua was calling her! Asking her to stand beside him! A smile was on her lips, her eyes flashing with hope. Her heart beat faster, not from nervousness, but from the conviction that this was the moment she had been waiting for. Joshua was beginning to open his heart to her. Or maybe she was wrong all along... maybe he did love her, he just never said it and chose to hide it. Warmth ran through her chest as she stepped onto the stage. For the first time, she was no longer a shadow. She was the woman standing by Joshua Salvador's side. Bruk! The sound of the ballroom's main door suddenly grabbed everyone's attention. Whispers instantly spread among the guests, creating a wave of excitement that moved quickly from one side to the other. Paying no attention to her surroundings, Anna's gaze was straight up on the stage, her only attention focused on Joshua with adoration. A subtle smile graced her lips as her feet began to step on the steps leading to the stage, the excitement growing. Just as Anna's foot stepped onto the second step... Joshua's voice echoed through the room. "The special lady I just mentioned is someone I adore, intelligent and talented, she is Isabelle Elisabeth..." The whispers in the room erupted into a frenzy, as the reporters' cameras moved within seconds to focus on the person Joshua had just mentioned. Every guest's curiosity was piqued, wanting to know which woman had captured the heart of the Vanderbilt family's only son. "Oh my... that's Isabelle!" "Joshua's ex-fiancée... She's back?" "Don't tell me they're together again..." Anna froze on the steps, as if the world had slapped her mercilessly. The tips of her feet still held on to the second step, but her whole body felt collapsed inside. Joshua's voice was respectful, almost gentle, but not for her. Not for his wife. It was for another woman. His chest felt tight, as if this magnificent room no longer had air. He wanted to believe for a moment that he had heard wrong. But Joshua's eyes weren't looking at her. Not even a second glance at her... his eyes were only on Isabelle... Anna's body trembled, feeling like she had been thrown alive. Shame, pain, and devastation... In front of hundreds of eyes, she stood foolishly as a legitimate wife who too naively hoped to be chosen. At the doorway, a woman stood with an elegant smile. A blood-red dress wrapped around her slender body, her blonde hair flowing perfectly over her shoulders. She was extraordinarily beautiful, her every step graceful under the admiring gazes of all the guests. In fact, Anna herself was in awe of the woman's beauty. Isabelle... Joshua's first love. The woman stepped in with confidence, the smile on her lips was beautiful. Compliments for her broke out all over the room. She was the daughter of the country's top military officer, the honorable and genius woman who had been rumored to be engaged to Joshua. Then after a few things happened, Joshua ended up marrying her. What does her appearance tonight mean? Anna turned to the stage with a thump in her chest. She desperately hoped that what she was thinking didn't happen... But what she saw was Joshua smiling. For the first time in the show, the cold expression on the man's face melted away. And to make matters worse, that smile wasn't for Anna. It was for Isabelle. And in slow motion that shattered Anna's world, Joshua held out his hand. Anna froze. She didn't. No way. Yet, what she saw with her own eyes was how Joshua took Isabelle's hand so naturally. How his fingers grasped the woman's hand tightly, as if it was where it belonged. The world around her slowly faded away. Anna wanted to believe that this was just a misunderstanding. That just maybe, there was another reason behind all this. "Tonight I will introduce this special woman in front of you all. She is the woman I love, the woman who has always been a part of my life... my loyal supporter." Joshua spoke again with a smile on his lips and was greeted by a standing ovation from the audience. Her eyes unblinkingly gazed at the two lovely people on stage. Joshua's gentle smile was only for Isabelle, his hands grasping her waist in a way she had never done for her before. The light shone on them, as if the world was celebrating their togetherness. As for Anna... she stood dumbly at the side of the stage, nothing more than a strange shadow. She was the hidden wife, who now had to watch her husband adore another woman in front of everyone. The roar of applause continued to echo with praise for the couple. Anna couldn't hear anything else. Her hands that had been trying to lift her dress to get on stage now fell to her sides. Her fingers felt cold, as if the blood in her body had stopped flowing. Isabelle... not just present. But adored. Recognized. Chosen. While she? The wife who had been kept a secret. No one looked at her. No one cared whether she was standing there or not. Because to them, she never existed. The reality tore at her slowly, like a deliberately dull knife. Her tears didn't fall in torrents, they just seeped silently. A drop ran down her cheek, almost imperceptibly, like a remnant of pride that had finally fallen... without her being able to stand it anymore.