Chapter 6

~Emily~

Funerals...

The last time I attended one was 10 years ago, a day filled with memories I have chosen to keep buried, forever. 

The priest said a few prayers while the pallbearers carried the silver casket into the mausoleum 

"Timm" Tabitha welled and even I could tell that it was all a facade

Who else but Tabitha would wear a show-stopping outfit to her husband's funeral? Her grief seemed suspiciously understated, too - a single tear had barely grazed her cheek since the service began.

"On behalf of the family, I invite Tabitha Stanford, the beloved wife of the deceased to share a few words in celebration of their life," The priest said

Barely waiting for the priest to complete his statement, Tabitha stood gracefully, and with slow calculated steps, walked to the microphone 

"Dear Family and friends, I am very grateful for taking time out of your busy schedules to pay my husband one last form of respect" She paused

"Tim and I met in high school. We started as teens and made a lifetime of memories together. We built a life, a home, and a family. Tim was more than just a husband to me. He was my best friend, my partner, and my soulmate."

Tabitha's voice cracked slightly as she spoke, but she quickly regained her composure. Her eyes swept across the crowd, making eye contact with various individuals, as if to emphasize the sincerity of her words.

"We had our ups and downs, like any couple," she continued, "but our love for each other only grew stronger with each passing day. Tim was a kind and gentle soul, always putting others before himself. He had a heart of gold, and his generosity and compassion inspired countless people" 

She took another pause, and with a deep breath, gazed upwards as if to fight back tears and for the first time, a single tear dared to smudge the perfection of her makeup, leaving a blemish on her otherwise flawless face

Tabitha's eyes locked onto the casket in the mausoleum, and she took a step forward, her hand reaching out as if to touch it. "I miss you, Tim," she whispered, her voice trembling. "And I will continue to love you until the day we meet again."

She stood there for a moment as if frozen in grief, before regaining her composure

"With love, your princess." She whispered 

The crowd erupted into a soft murmur of condolences, and Andrew stepped forward, embracing his mother before guiding her back to her seat. 

**********

The reception was packed with high-profile individuals, representing a broad range of professions and interest

Secluded from the crowd, I savored a glass of wine, my eyes scanning the room as I observed the atmosphere

"Not exactly thrilled about the crowd, huh?" A familiar voice remarked

"Can't seem to keep your intrusive thoughts inside that head of yours, can you?" I turned to face the speaker, my eyes narrowing slightly as I took in the familiar features

"Emily, or should I say, Mrs Emily Stanford" Kate smirked with unmistakable sarcasm

She stood confidently, her curves accentuated by a sleek, burgundy dress that hugged her figure. The gown's plunging neckline dipped daringly low, revealing more than half of her cleavage.

"And you are... underdressed, I must say" she continued, her eyes roaming over me, conducting a deliberate, head-to-toe assessment 

"Respect for the deceased takes precedence over my wardrobe choices" My gaze swept over her, lingering on her exposed cleavage with an unimpressed expression

"All that wealth, yet so little elegance," she said, her words punctuated with a scornful chuckle

"Moderation is elegance, don't you think? And frankly, high-value men prefer subtle charms, not... unveiled temptations. Now, if you may excuse me, I'd rather not be seen conversing with someone of your...social standing"

I walked away with a sly smile, leaving Kate's haughty expression behind.

I made my way over to where Andrew stood with his mother, chatting with a small group of people. Just as I approached them, the familiar scent of a male cologne wafted through the air, catching my attention. But before I could process who it might be, Tabitha grasped my arm, her grip tight. "Behave," she whispered urgently, her eyes sparkling with warning. "Stop walking around like you're lost. You're drawing attention to yourself."

"Okay Mother" I replied, forcing a calm tone as she loosened her grip on me

The familiar scent of cologne still lingered, teasing my senses, but I couldn't see who it belonged to. Yet.

Just as immediately, the deep voice of a man broke into the hum of conversation, sending a shiver down my spine. "Tabitha, it's been far too long," the voice said, low and smooth, like a fine whiskey.

I turned around to see an older man, his face chiseled with age, yet surprisedly unblemished by time. His hair, a rich mixture of black and grey cascaded down his head, adding a touch of sophistication to his impressive presence.

Beside him, familiar piercing blue eyes bore into mine, as if seeing right through my soul.

"Mrs. Emily Stanford, I am deeply sorry for your loss,” Thomas Brown said, catching me off balance

His gaze was intense, unnervingly so, that I struggled to maintain eye contact and for a moment, it seemed as though I was caught in a haze

Tabitha's hearty laughter brought me out of my trance and without sparing Thomas another glance, I shifted my attention to Tabitha.

I couldn't help but notice that the older man had a striking resemblance with Thomas like they could be related. His warm exchange with Tabitha suggested a long history of friendship

"Tabitha, dear, I'd like you to meet my son, Thomas," the older man said, his eyes beaming with pride.

Tabitha's eyes sparkled with amusement as she gave Thomas a slight handshake, "Ah, Thomas, the infamous celebrity charmer. You certainly take after your father in the looks department, don't you?" She turned to the older man. "And speaking of charming men, I'd like to introduce my son, Andrew," she said, gesturing to Andrew, who stood beside me.

"Ah, Andrew, it's an absolute pleasure. You have a wonderful family, Tabitha. And who might this lovely lady be?" he asked, his eyes crinkling at the corners as he turned to me.

Tabitha waved her hand dismissively. "Oh, I'm not sure she's relevant here."

"Actually, he's Andrew's wife."Thomas cut in

Andrew's hand brushed against mine, sending a jolt of surprise through me. "Yes, my wife," he echoed, his eyes meeting mine in a glance.

Thomas's gaze narrowed, his eyes glinting with sarcasm, "I'm surprised you're staking a claim, Andrew. You're not exactly known for your devotion." His smirk was a subtle jab

Andrew's expression darkened, his eyes flashing with anger. "There seems to be a certain familiarity between you two" he growled, his tone laced with accusation 

"I'm not familiar with your wife, Andrew, but I've noticed a troubling trend. You're always absent when she needs you most, leaving her isolated and forgotten at social gatherings. It's almost as if you're intentionally pushing her into the background. A wife as remarkable as hers deserves better. Tell me, Andrew, what kind of husband ignores his wife's needs so blatantly?" Thomas's eyes blazed with indignation, but he quickly masked his emotions, his expression slipping into a polite, detached smile

Andrew's face twisted into a snarl, his fingers digging into my arm like talons. But before he could unleash his fury, Thomas's father intervened, “We will be leaving now, Tabitha. Urgent business awaits."

As they exchanged a final, strained farewell, Thomas's father turned to leave, with Thomas and Andrew locked in a fierce unblinking stare, hostility crackling between them

As they walked away, I felt like a mere pawn in a complex game of power and deception, with no control over the moves being made around