CHAPTER FIVE- THE BANQUET

Ella's POV

The air inside the grand banquet hall was suffocating. The chandeliers sparkled, casting a golden glow over the sea of people, all dressed in their finest. I clutched my clutch bag tightly, forcing a polite smile as Dave’s hand rested possessively on the small of my back. It was an act, just like everything else between us.

I wanted to be anywhere but here. The weight of the last few days still sat heavy on my chest. Every time I glanced at Dave, his calm, confident facade made my stomach churn. Did he really think he could drag me to this event, parade me around like some trophy, and all would be forgiven?

“Ella,” Dave’s voice cut through my thoughts. He leaned in, his breath brushing my ear. “Remember what I told you. Smile. Be charming.”

I nodded stiffly, swallowing the retort bubbling up in my throat. I had no energy for another argument, not here, not now.

We approached a group of well-dressed men and women. Dave’s parents were among them, their smiles as polished as their jewelry. His mother, a woman with sharp eyes and an even sharper tongue, pulled me into an embrace that felt more like a performance for the crowd.

“Ella, dear,” she cooed, her tone syrupy. “You look stunning tonight.”

“Thank you,” I replied, keeping my voice polite.

As the small talk carried on, my attention drifted. That’s when I saw him—Collins. He stood a few feet away, casually leaning against the bar with a glass in hand. His dark eyes locked onto mine, and for a moment, the world around me seemed to blur.

I looked away quickly, my heart racing. Why was he here? Why was he looking at me like that?

Dave followed my gaze and stiffened. His hand on my back tightened, pulling me closer. “What are you looking at?” he asked, his tone laced with irritation.

“Nothing,” I lied, forcing my attention back to the conversation.

But Collins wasn’t nothing. His presence unsettled me, and I couldn’t shake the memory of that night. His words, his touch—they haunted me. I felt like a fraud standing beside Dave, pretending everything was fine.

As the evening dragged on, Dave introduced me to more family members. Some were warm, others indifferent, but all seemed curious about our marriage. It was exhausting.

Then came the moment I dreaded most: the elders. They were seated at a large table, their expressions a mix of authority and expectation. Dave’s father gestured for us to join them.

We sat down, and immediately, the questions started.

“When will Collins finally settle down?” one of the older women asked, her sharp gaze fixed on him.

Collins shrugged, a small smirk playing on his lips. “I’m not in a rush,” he replied smoothly.

The elders weren’t pleased. They turned their attention to us.

“And what about you two?” another elder asked, her eyes darting between me and Dave. “When will we hear the news of a little one?”

I froze. The question hung in the air, and I could feel Dave stiffen beside me.

“We’re not—” I began, but Dave cut me off.

“Soon,” he said, his tone firm. “Very soon.”

I whipped my head toward him, my eyes wide. “What?”

He didn’t look at me, his gaze fixed on the elders. “We’ve been discussing it,” he continued, as if I wasn’t even there.

“No, we haven’t,” I said, my voice sharp.

The table fell silent. All eyes were on us.

“I’m not ready for a child,” I added, my voice steady despite the tension.

Dave turned to me, his expression dark. “Ella, this isn’t the time or place.”

“I don’t care,” I shot back. “I’m not going to lie for you.”

The elders exchanged uncomfortable glances, but I didn’t care. I was done playing this game.

Dave’s jaw tightened, and his hand gripped my wrist under the table. “We’ll talk about this later,” he hissed.

“No, we won’t,” I said, pulling my hand away.

The tension was palpable. I could see the anger simmering beneath Dave’s composed exterior. But before he could say anything, Collins spoke up.

“Perhaps we should give them some space,” he said, his tone casual but his gaze sharp.

Dave glared at him. “Stay out of this, Collins.”

Collins raised an eyebrow, his smirk returning. “I’m just trying to help.”

The rest of the dinner was a blur. I barely touched my food, too focused on the storm brewing beside me. Dave’s mood darkened with each passing minute, and I knew this wasn’t over.

As soon as we were alone, he exploded.

“How dare you embarrass me like that?” he shouted, his voice echoing in the empty hallway.

“I didn’t embarrass you,” I shot back. “You did that to yourself.”

His eyes narrowed, and he stepped closer, his presence looming over me. “You’re my wife. You’re supposed to support me.”

“Support you?” I laughed bitterly. “You mean lie for you? Pretend everything’s perfect when it’s not?”

He raised his hand, and for a split second, I thought he was going to hit me. My breath caught in my throat, and I braced myself.

But before anything could happen, Collins appeared out of nowhere.

“That’s enough,” he said, his voice calm but commanding.

Dave turned to him, his expression a mix of anger and disbelief. “This has nothing to do with you.”

“It does if you’re threatening her,” Collins replied, stepping between us.

I couldn’t breathe. The tension between them was suffocating. Dave’s fists clenched at his sides, and for a moment, I thought he might actually swing.

But instead, he took a step back, his glare fixed on Collins. “Stay out of my business,” he growled and walked toward Collins like he wanted to hit him.

“I see you, you've been looking at my wife in some kind of way, what the heck do you think you're doing?" Dave yelled, gripping the collar of Collins and I gasped.

I hope this would not escalate, my mind raced.

“How about you talk to your wife, why had she been staring at me also!” Collins blurted and my vision widened.