Chapter 6: "Stay Away From My Man"

Emma’s Point Of View

The murmurs of conversations and the faint clinking of glasses echoed in the grand hall, blending with the low hum of classical music in the background. My fingers fidgeted with the fabric of my dress, its luxurious silk far too extravagant for someone like me. Standing beside Adrian, I could feel the weight of the evening bearing down on me.

He looked completely in his element, exuding confidence as he discussed business with a client. Meanwhile, I was struggling to breathe normally under the scrutinizing gazes of Evelyn Steele and Celia, the blonde woman who seemed all too comfortable in Adrian’s world.

I forced myself to keep my shoulders straight, though my palms were sweaty, betraying my nerves. Evelyn's icy eyes scanned me with such intensity I almost squirmed. Celia, with her model-like elegance, stood poised and graceful, her sharp gaze darting to me with subtle disdain. My thoughts wandered, questioning yet again why I had agreed to this charade. Then I heard it... my name, spoken sharply by Evelyn.

“Emma,” she said, her tone clipped, almost impatient.

My head snapped up, my eyes meeting hers. I could feel the tension in the air as every set of eyes focused on me. Evelyn's thin lips curved into a smile that didn’t reach her eyes.

“We were discussing the projections for the upcoming Partnership,” Evelyn said, her voice laced with condescension. “Perhaps you’d like to share your insight?”

It wasn’t a request, it was more of a challenge. I could feel the blood rush to my face. She wanted to humiliate me. She assumed I wouldn’t have the intellect to navigate this conversation, forgetting or ignoring that I had handled files on this offer for months. My throat tightened as I considered just staying silent, but Adrian’s hand suddenly found mine.

His warm grip grounded me, and he squeezed my fingers lightly, a silent encouragement. “You’ve got this baby,” his low voice whispered, just for me to hear.

Taking a deep breath, I forced a smile. “Actually,” I began, keeping my voice steady, “I believe the projections suggests that focusing on integrating the technological capabilities first will ensure a smoother transition. Additionally, the market research indicates a preference for scalable solutions, which could offer a competitive edge in the long term.”

The investors exchanged surprised glances, nodding in agreement. Evelyn’s expression faltered, and for a brief moment, her mask of superiority slipped. Adrian chimed in effortlessly, “I think I may agree with my wife on this.” His voice was firm, and as he said those words, he let go of my hand only to place it on my waist, pulling me closer to him.

The gesture sent a wave of warmth through me, but I couldn’t ignore the daggers Celia was glaring in my direction. She didn’t bother hiding her disdain anymore. Feeling her eyes burn into me, I mumbled an excuse and left for the restroom.

Once inside, I leaned against the sink, gripping its edge. My reflection stared back at me, pale and weary. “You can do this, Emma,” I whispered to myself. “Just two years. For Brandon.” I closed my eyes, inhaling deeply to steady the knot of nerves twisting in my stomach.

The door creaked open, and the sound of heels clicking against the tiled floor broke the brief silence. I straightened, pretending to rummage through my purse.

“If it isn’t the gold-digging bitch,” came a voice dripping with malice.

I froze. Slowly, I lifted my eyes to the mirror and saw Celia standing a few feet behind me, her arms crossed and a sneer on her perfectly painted lips.

I turned to face her, clutching my purse tightly. “What do you want, Celia?”

She stepped closer, her heels clicking ominously. “I want you to stay away from my man,” she hissed, her voice low but venomous.

I let out a frustrated laugh. “You mean my husband?”

Her eyes narrowed as she closed the gap between us. “I see you’ve got guts after all,” she sneered, her tone mocking.

“I don’t have time for this,” I muttered, zipping up my purse and stepping around her. But before I could take a step, her manicured hand shot out, grabbing my arm. She spun me around with surprising force, and I felt a sharp pain on my wrist as her bracelet grazed my skin, leaving a stinging scratch.

“Oh, the gold digger actually  has such delicate skin,” she mocked, her eyes gleaming with satisfaction.

I clutched my wrist, biting back a yelp. Blood welled up from the scratch, and I glared at her. “You’re insane,” I spat, my voice trembling with anger.

She smirked, unfazed. “This is just the beginning. Divorce Adrian and walk away unscathed, or you’ll regret it. You wouldn’t want to make an enemy out of me.”

The door swung open before I could respond, and Celia’s demeanor changed in an instant. She rushed to my side, feigning concern. “Oh no, Emma, I told you to be careful!”

I turned just in time to see Adrian stride in, his expression darkening when he saw the blood on my wrist.

“What the hell is going on here?” he demanded, his voice sharp.

Before I could explain, Celia chimed in, her tone sickly sweet. “I just came in and saw her hurt.”

Adrian’s jaw tightened as his eyes locked onto mine. “Emma, let’s get this checked out.”

He didn’t wait for my response, taking my good hand and leading me out. I avoided Celia’s smug gaze as we left the restroom. Back in the event hall, Adrian paused to inform his mother that he was taking me to the hospital. Evelyn barely acknowledged him, her cold gaze flicking to me for a brief second before she returned to her conversation.

The ride to the hospital was silent. Adrian stayed close as the nurse dressed the wound, his eyes filled with what seemed like genuine concern. But I couldn’t let myself believe it. This marriage was nothing more than a transaction.

Back at the house, I kicked off my heels at the entrance, exhaustion settling into my bones. As I started toward the stairs, Adrian’s voice stopped me.

“Emma,” he said, his tone softer than I expected. “What really happened in there?”

I turned to face him, keeping my expression neutral. “I got scratched. You saw it.”

“You know that’s not what I’m asking,” he pressed, his brow furrowed. “Did Celia do this to you?”

I hesitated, debating whether to tell him the truth. But then I remembered the way he had called her name earlier, the way he had glanced at her like they had shared something in the past, would he even believe my word?

“No,” I lied, my voice barely above a whisper. “She didn’t.”

His jaw clenched, and I could tell he didn’t believe me. “Emma... ”

“I’m tired, Adrian,” I cut him off, my voice firm. “It’s been a long day. I need to rest, please.”

He sighed, stepping back to let me go. I climbed the stairs, each step feeling heavier than the last. Once in my room, I collapsed onto the bed, still fully dressed. Pulling the covers over me, I closed my eyes and whispered, “God, help me survive this.”

The weight of the day pressed down on me as sleep claimed me, offering a brief escape from the chaos of my reality.