CHAPTER THREE:

KIM

Sitting beside Nathan is a lady I despised so much. The lady I wished her existence could be wiped out of my life. The lady who had caused me so much pain and wound that I thought I had healed from.

I feel cold, I feel nauseous, and my head throbs with pain as I struggle to keep the bitter memories from flooding in.

All I wanted right now was to move away from them, away from these people trying so hard to make my life miserable.

I turned slowly, trying my possible best to leave the room unnoticed. I hadn't taken the second step when I heard a familiar voice call out my name.

“Kim Danielson" Eleanor's irritating voice had me frozen in a spot.

I pivoted around towards the irritating voice and I couldn't help but roll my eyes, ugh!

What the hell is she doing here? How in heaven's name did she end up in my soon-to-be ex-husband's house?

Is she here to hurt me? Obviously yes, of course, she's here to hurt me and reveal the past I had always prayed would forever stay in the past.

“Mrs Pearce, please join us for dinner” Eleanor's irritating voice broke through my train of thought. Only then did I realize I was still rooted in the same place I was when I first entered the dining room.

I smiled sardonically and took dreadful steps towards the dining table, with each step making my fear reach new heights. I could feel my heart beating rapidly against my chest and my blood felt warm.

Butler Lee pulled out a chair for me beside Nathan sitting directly opposite Eleanor. I picked up the napkin and gracefully placed it on my lap trying to calm myself.

I picked up my wine glass from the table and twirled it a little to stir the aroma. I gently bring it to my nose and the fruity Smell helps me calm a little enough to take control of the situation.

Eleanor is best at using your fears against you. If I show her how much her presence troubles me, I fear she will use that as my weakness.

“Butler Lee, please serve dinner,” I said, looking intently at Eleanor. It is my way of telling her that I'm in charge here and this is my house. I knew she got the message when I saw her lips twitch in disgust.

‘You know Eleanor quite well Kim, you can play her game. You must be in control tonight,’ I reminded Myself.

“So what are you doing in my husband's house, Eleanor Duke?” I said, trying to enunciate ‘husband’ hoping she'd get the gist behind that, but Nathan was the one who replied to me.

“I invited her,” he said curtly

“And why did you invite her for dinner?” I asked, my voice dripping with sarcasm.

Nathan looked up from his plate and shot me a confused look.

“What? You think I don't deserve to know the reason why we had a guest in our house without me knowing” I stated, my eyes blazing with anger.

“She needed my signature on an important document for a project I'm working on, and since she's already in the area, I asked to drop by.” Nathan carefully explained, as if he was scared I'd get the wrong idea.

Did he care if I'd get the wrong idea? Sadly, I don't know the answer to that question.

The maid carefully served our dinner and I waited until Nathan picked up his cutlery before I picked mine. That was the training I received from my family, it's a sign of respect they say.

It's not like I'm doing that because I respect Nathan, let's just say that it has become a habit.

I slowly cut into my steak and I could see the juice seep out as I cut through the juicy beef. Mine was medium well while Nathan and Eleanor Steak were medium rare.

I place the small bite I cut into my mouth and savor the taste. It was soft and flavourful.

I pick up my wine glass and take a mouthful of the smooth fruity drink and the sensation makes me braver. I suddenly had the urge to stir up trouble.

With a playful smile finding its way to my lips, I gently placed the wine glass on the table and fixed my gaze on Eleanor who was busy cutting into her remaining steak.

As if on cue, she looked up from her plate and caught me staring at her. The disgust I had for her built up and I tried my best to make the look evident on my face.

She wasn't bothered by the look at all. Instead, she smiled at me and took a sip from her wine while holding my gaze.

“Mrs peace, how long have you been married to Mr peace?” She asked, looking innocent.

If I didn't know Eleanor and know for sure that she's far from being innocent, I would have fallen for that look.

I scoffed, feeling my irritation rising By the second. I pick up my wine glass and gulp down the rest of what was remaining inside.

I shot her a glare and asked, “Why are you curious about that?” And her response justifies my irritation.

“Oh well, because I haven't heard Mr Pearce talk about you” she replied, raising her eyebrows with a smug look on her face.

Ouch, that hit a sour spot. And I know what she wanted. She wanted to tell me that my husband doesn't talk about me or act like he's crazily in love with me.

As if I needed confirmation from her to know that my marriage was loveless. But I will not give her that satisfaction.

“How do you expect my husband(stressing the word husband) to talk about our family to his mere worker?” I responded, raising my eyebrow with a sarcastic smile tugging at my lips.

She scoffed, obviously taken aback by the way I addressed her as a mere worker. Her lip twitched and her face contorted with rage. She nervously picks up her wine glass and takes a large gulp.

I would lie if I say I wasn't satisfied with her expression. I raised my empty wine glass, signaling to the maid standing by the entrance of the dining hall to refill my glass. The lad scurried over, picked up the big wine jug from the table and refilled my glass.

I took a sip from the wine, feeling content with the way I got back at Eleanor. But my happiness soon fled through the window as Eleanor delivered a huge blow causing me to spill my wine most embarrassingly.

“You know Jake Smith works at ‘The Pearce’ right?” she said, a smug look plastered over her face as she smiled triumphantly that she got such a reaction from me.

My heart palpitates at the sound of his name and my head throbs with pain. Beads of cold sweat formed on my forehead and my breathing became hitched.

My hand shakes nervously as I try to place my wine glass on the table at which I failed miserably. My glass came tumbling down and the content spilled on my gown before shattering into millions of pieces replicating the state of my heart.

“Who is Jake Smith?” Nathan's cold voice pierced through my hazy mind.

I quickly look up from the shattered glass and my hazel eye meets Nathan's burning blue gaze. His eyes were demanding an answer.