The new woman

My heart stopped when Daniel spoke those words: "This is Victoria Sinclair. She's my girlfriend." I could feel the air being sucked out of the room, as if everyone was just as shocked as I was.

There was a long, awkward pause where nobody spoke, and I could see Madam Hildegard's eyes widening with surprise. Even Matthew, who was usually calm and composed, looked momentarily stunned.

Then, just as quickly as the silence had fallen, the room burst into a chorus of congratulations.

"How wonderful!" Madam Hildegard exclaimed, clapping her hands together. Her voice was loud and cheerful, but I could tell she was sizing Victoria up with her sharp, calculating gaze.

Victoria smiled sweetly, though I couldn’t help but notice the way she clung to Daniel's arm a little too tightly, like she was trying to stake her claim.

She had the kind of beauty that could easily make a woman like me feel insecure—tall, slim, with curves in all the right places, and a mane of thick, glossy black hair that fell down her back in perfect waves. She wore a sleek black dress that fit her like a glove.

"Yes, we met at a bar, actually," Victoria said, her voice soft but confident.

My stomach dropped. I could feel my face flush with heat, and I had to fight the urge to glance at Daniel. He was standing right next to her, holding her like she was some sort of prize, but all I could think about was how we had met in that exact same way—at a bar, on that night when I was so angry and hurt after what Matthew had done to me. The night I was trying to forget but couldn’t.

"Oh, a bar! How unexpected for someone of your... pedigree, Daniel," Madam Hildegard said with a laugh that didn’t reach her eyes. She was trying to mask her surprise, but I could see the disapproval behind her polished exterior.

"Yes," Victoria continued, oblivious to the tension in the room. "It was such a random night. I wasn’t even supposed to be there, but then Daniel walked in, and—well, you know how it is. Sometimes fate just steps in."

I bit down on the inside of my cheek so hard I thought I might taste blood. Fate. That’s what she called it? That night should have been nothing more than a mistake, a regrettable lapse in judgment. Yet here she was, painting it as some kind of magical encounter, while I stood there trying to hold myself together.

Matthew wrapped his arm around my waist and pulled me closer to him. "Well, that’s great, Daniel," he said, trying to sound supportive even though I could tell he was just as thrown off by this announcement as I was. "It’s good to see you settling down."

Everyone laughed at Matthew's little joke. "How about we have a word brother?" Daniel said to Matthew.

"Sure. Let's go into the study," Matthew recommeneded. The two brothers walked away leaving Victoria and Madam Hildegard alone with me.

In no time, Madam Hildegard excused herself to take a call leaving just Victoria and I.

Victoria was standing there, all perfect and smug, and I couldn’t just let her take over everything. I had to be the bigger person, at least on the surface. That’s what a proper wife would do, right?

I straightened my shoulders and walked up to where Victoria was standing, looking so comfortable in her sleek black dress like she belonged here. It made me sick. But I couldn’t show that.

“Victoria,” I said, forcing a smile onto my face. “I just wanted to welcome you properly.”

Her head turned around toward me, and for a split second, I saw something flash in her eyes—something dark. But she quickly masked it with a sweet smile. “Oh, thank you, Jane,” she replied smoothly. “That’s very kind of you.”

I held out my hand for a handshake, trying to maintain my composure. But the moment her fingers wrapped around mine, I knew something was off.

Her grip was tight—way too tight. She squeezed my hand like she was trying to crush it, and I could feel her nails digging into my skin. My smile faltered, and I had to bite the inside of my cheek to keep from gasping.

What the hell?

I forced myself to meet her eyes, and there it was again—that glint of something malicious. She was still smiling, but her eyes told a different story. She wasn’t just here to be Daniel’s girlfriend. No, she had something else in mind.

I yanked my hand out of her grip as casually as I could, but my heart was racing. She had sent me a message loud and clear. I didn’t know what her game was, but I knew one thing for certain: this woman was not my friend.

And in that moment, I realized she and I were going to be mortal enemies. She wasn’t just another woman; she was a threat. A beautiful, conniving threat.

I could feel it in the way she looked at me like she knew everything, like she was just waiting for me to mess up. And I couldn’t let that happen.

“Well,” I said, clearing my throat as I tried to steady myself. “I’m sure you’ll fit in just fine here.”

Victoria’s smile grew wider, and I couldn’t help but notice how fake it looked. “I’m sure I will,” she said sweetly, though her tone was dripping with something I couldn’t quite place.

“Isn’t she just lovely, Jane?” Madam Hildegard said, her voice a little too enthusiastic as she joined into the conversation. “I’m thinking we should host a grand dinner to welcome her to the family. Doesn’t that sound wonderful?”

I bit back the urge to roll my eyes. A grand dinner for this… snake? Great. Just what I needed. Another event where I’d have to smile and pretend that everything was perfect when, in reality, I was screaming on the inside.

“Oh, that sounds… lovely,” I said through gritted teeth, trying to keep my voice light and polite.

Victoria, of course, beamed at the suggestion. “Thank you so much, Madam Hildegard,” she said in that sickly sweet voice of hers. “That would be absolutely wonderful. I’d love to get to know everyone better.”

I could barely contain the urge to roll my eyes, but instead, I let out a soft, exasperated sigh. “How thoughtful of you, Madam Hildegard,” I muttered, just loud enough for only Victoria to hear. She glanced over at me, and I saw the corner of her mouth twitch as if she was trying not to smirk.

I suddenly felt nauseous. I needed to get out of there, away from Victoria and her too-perfect face.

“Well, I think I’ll go check on something in the kitchen,” I said, giving them both a tight smile before turning on my heel. As I walked away, I could feel Victoria’s eyes on me, and it took every ounce of strength I had not to turn around and glare at her.

As soon as I was out of sight, I let out a breath I hadn’t realized I was holding. My hand still ached from the way Victoria had squeezed it, and I rubbed it absentmindedly as I made my way to the back of the house.

I needed a moment to collect myself before I could go back out there and pretend to be the perfect wife again.

.    .    .

Later that night, I was standing in front of the mirror, trying to put the finishing touches on my appearance for the grand dinner.

My red satin dress hugged my body perfectly, and my hair was styled into loose waves that flowed down my shoulders. I was just fastening a pair of diamond earrings Matthew had given me when I heard a soft knock on the bedroom door.

My heart jumped in my chest. Matthew was already downstairs, and I wasn’t expecting anyone else. My mind immediately went to Daniel, but I quickly pushed the thought aside.

It couldn’t be him. We had barely spoken since his little introduction of Victoria.

With a deep breath, I walked over to the door, my fingers trembling slightly as I grabbed the handle. When I opened it, my heart sank. It wasn’t Daniel. It wasn’t even Matthew.

It was Victoria.

She stood there in the doorway, dressed in a sleek, emerald-green gown that clung to her every curve. Her dark hair was pulled back into a high ponytail, and her lips were painted a bold red. She looked every bit the part of a stunning, confident woman who knew she could command any room she walked into. And that infuriated me.

“Victoria,” I said, surprised and unsure of how to react. “What are you doing here?”

She smiled sweetly—too sweetly. “Can I come in?” she asked, her voice dripping with fake politeness.

I hesitated for a moment. Every instinct I had was screaming at me to slam the door in her face, but I didn’t want to cause a scene. Not yet, anyway. So, with a reluctant nod, I stepped aside and let her walk into the room.

As she entered, she glanced around, taking in every detail of the bedroom. Her eyes lingered on the large four-poster bed, the ornate dresser, and the expensive decor that Matthew had insisted on. I could feel her judging everything, and it made my skin crawl.

“So, this is your little nest,” she said, her voice laced with mock curiosity. “It’s nice. Comfortable.”

I folded my arms across my chest, trying to keep my composure. “Victoria, what do you want?”

She turned to face me, her smile fading as she looked at me with cold, calculating eyes. “I wanted to talk,” she said bluntly. “About you.”

“About me?” I repeated, narrowing my eyes. “I’m not sure what there is to talk about.”

“Oh, I think there’s plenty to talk about,” she said, her tone sharp. She took a few steps closer to me, closing the distance between us. “I know exactly how you got into this family, Jane. And trust me, it wasn’t by chance or by love.”

My heart began to race, but I forced myself to stay calm. “What are you talking about?”

She raised an eyebrow, a smirk playing at the corners of her lips. “You know exactly what I’m talking about. Your little arrangement with Matthew wasn’t some grand love story. You were sold into this marriage by your father.”

I felt a wave of anger wash over me. My fists clenched at my sides as I glared at her. “Don’t you dare speak about my father,” I said, my voice shaking with barely contained rage.

Victoria laughed softly, the sound like nails on a chalkboard. “Oh, come on, Jane. Don’t pretend to be all noble and innocent. We both know that your father wasa petty thief, and Matthew bought you as his little trophy wife to free your dad. That’s how you ended up here, isn’t it?”

My jaw tightened, and I struggled to keep my composure. “You don’t know anything about me or my family,” I snapped. “So stop acting like you do.”

“Oh, but I do,” she said, her voice low and dangerous now. She took another step closer, until she was right in front of me, her eyes boring into mine.

“I know exactly how women like you operate. You play the innocent, devoted wife, but deep down, you’re just trying to secure your place in this family. But let me make something very clear, Jane.”

She paused for a moment, letting her words sink in before she continued. “I will not allow you to become the family’s favorite daughter-in-law. Not while I’m around.”

I stared at her in shock, my mind racing. I had known that Victoria was dangerous, but I hadn’t expected this. She wasn’t just here to cause trouble—she was here to take over. To push me out.

I couldn’t let that happen.

“And what makes you think you can stop me?” I asked, my voice steady despite the storm of emotions raging inside me.

Victoria smiled again, but this time it was colder, more menacing. “Because, darling, I know how to play the game. And unlike you, I’m not afraid to get my hands dirty.”