Chapter Twenty One

That same evening, the dance studio was alive with soft Latin music playing in the background as the instructor led the class through warm-up exercises. Kimberly had finished attending to her business and was with Alice for their usual dance class. They had just finished stretching when the doors swung open, and two familiar figures walked in—Daniel and Kelvin together, though they said nothing to each other.

Alice's breath caught in her throat. Of all the times for them to show up, why now? She immediately tensed, her gaze darting between them.

Kimberly, standing beside her, nudged her playfully. “Well, well, looks like we’ve got some new students and one of them is your husband.”

"What's is he even doing here?" Alice asked rhetorically.

Alice forced a small smile, though her mind was racing as they approached her and Kimberly. Daniel’s piercing gaze met hers briefly before he looked away, while Kelvin remained neutral, his usual composed expression in place.

"I figured, I'd join the dance class too" Kelvin spoke, knowing the question on Alice's mind.

"Why?" Alice asked, not minding the presence of Kimberly and Daniel.

"Well...." Kelvin moved closer to her like he wanted some privacy, while Kimberly moved away, towards Daniel, understanding that they needed some time alone.

Kelvin continued, lowering his voice "....I figured, we doing things together might actually make it easier for us to convince grandma that we're actually bonding also you don't get to enjoy your time here after ruining mine by sending Anita away"

"No. This is my 'me' time and I don't need you here. We can arrange for other bonding moments. After all we do share the same suite" Alice replied him still in lowered tone.

"You will not tell me what to do, Alice. I'm the husband here" Kelvin sounded strict and his arrogant manner was in display.

Alice fumed silently and was about to say something when the instructor interrupted.

The instructor clapped his hands together. “Lets get ready ladies and gentlemen. Find yourselves a partner—we’ll be focusing on connection and rhythm today.”

Alice’s stomach tightened and she immediately was about to move away from Kelvin to get a new partner when he held her back.

"Where are you going?" he asked, creasing his brows.

"To get a partner. You heard the instructor" Alice replied.

"You're my wife and so we're partners" Kelvin replied and took her arm.

Alice was not so sure whether she felt affection in his tone or it was just his typically pride and egotistical nature talking. They paired up.

Kimberly looked between them and, without hesitation, faced Daniel. “We're partners Daniel” she said with a teasing grin.

Daniel exhaled through his nose, a knowing look flickering in his eyes, but he smiled. “Perfect.”

With partners set, the instructor guided the class through the first movements of the routine. The dance of the evening was a classic salsa—a style that required closeness and chemistry.

Alice focused on her steps, deliberately keeping her attention on the dance, but she could feel Daniel’s presence in the room. She stole a glance at him once, only to find his gaze already on her. She quickly looked away, concentrating on her moves.

Nearby, Kimberly and Daniel moved in perfect rhythm. Kimberly was naturally graceful, and Daniel was a good dancer.

“You’re dance amazingly,” Daniel commented, a smirk tugging at his lips.

Kimberly chuckled. “Thanks. You're a pretty good dancer too.”

As they continued, Daniel spoke, "I think now would be a good time to tell me about your ex husband"

Kimberly sighed with disgust, "You don't want to bore yourself with that worthless man"

"I'm very much interested" Daniel said.

She sighed, keeping her eyes on their footwork. “Fine. He had a habit of finding company outside our marriage. He was not sorry about it. He had the idea that as a man he could do whatever he wanted and I have not choice but to be a slave. He even had the nerve to bring his pregnant mistress home. I had enough of that torture. I summoned all the courage in the world and left.”

Daniel nodded, understanding. “That must’ve been tough.”

Kimberly glanced at him, surprised by the genuine empathy in his voice. “Yeah, it was. But it was the best thing I ever did for myself. And I got myself a good compensation for it” she smiled.

Daniel admired the strength in her words. “Glad you got out, with compensation too” he said simply. "These kind of men need to be taught a good lesson" he said with a hint of indignation as

he glanced briefly at Kelvin.

Kimberly noticed and said, "I believe he will get his own share. Alice is a strong woman and she will handle him perfectly. Plus she has me on her side"

Daniel smiled, "Thank you."

By the time the dance class ended, Alice felt exhausted—not from the dancing, but from the emotional weight of the evening. She quickly grabbed her bag and walked out of the room with Kelvin right behind her. Kimberly and Daniel also followed.

"Alice" Kimberly called out.

Recognizing her voice, Alice stopped and turned to her, ignoring Kelvin's presence.

"We're still having dinner together, right?" Kimberly asked.

"Sure. I was going to freshen up and then text you" Alice replied while Kimberly flashed a smile.

Kelvin stepped in, facing Kimberly, "Actually miss....I have a date planned for my wife and I....so she won't be having any dinner with you"

Kimberly raised an eyebrow, ready to release a word when Alice spoke,

"I was not aware of any such date"

Kelvin turned to Alice, "You do now" he commanded.

"No, I don't" Alice was firm.

"Alice.....don't start now. We're having dinner together, tonight. That's final" Kelvin said.

"You're not the boss of me. If you want a real date with your wife, you'll have to act appropriate" Alice said.

Daniel and Kimberly just stood, watching silently.

Kelvin was getting angry. Alice was intentionally disrespecting him before strangers, especially before Daniel. "You do not want to get me angry Alice" he raised his voice.

Daniel made to face him but Kimberly motioned her hand, stopping him.

"Like I'm scared. One moment you act like you're a good person who's sorry for his nonsense and the next thing you begin to display your annoying proud and arrogant nature." Alice threw at him, "I'm not having dinner with you, you can die if you want" She added and turned to walk away.

Quickly, Kelvin held her arm, stopping her. Alice saw the anger written on his face. He leaned closer to her and lowered his voice so only her could hear, "You are having dinner with me, in our suite, whether you like it or not. You don't get to send my girlfriend away, leaving me all alone while you go out and have fun with others"

"This is exactly the punishment you get for luring me into this marriage trap" Alice spoke to him,

wriggling her self from his grip.

"That's enough, Kelvin" It was Daniel. He placed his hand on Kelvin's shoulder. "That is not way to treat a woman."

Disgusted, Kelvin released Alice arm and brushed Daniel's hand from his shoulder, facing him.

"You better mind your business, Daniel. And do not forget who you are"

Daniel smiled and calmly said, "This is my business and you wouldn't want me being a witness to Grandma about how you're treating your wife"

"You good-for-nothing, Idiot" Kelvin cursed, stung by his threat. His face reddened with anger and restraining himself from punching Daniel in the face.

Kimberly suppressed a mocking laugh and walked to Alice and whispered, "You're husband is getting it very hot"

"Serves him right" Alice said and added, "let's go get dinner. I'll freshen up afterwards"

Both ladies left, leaving the oblivious men to their face-off.

"We've never really had the opportunity to chat about your act towards Alice and men I have a

lot I want to say to you, Kelvin" Daniel said.

"I don't need your lecture or warning or whatever nonsense you might want to say to me. This is

my life and my business. Alice is my legally wedded wife and I have the right to do with her as I please. You better mind your business and stay out of my life. And don't you think you can threaten me with my grandma. She would never take your word over mine" Kelvin said.

"Not if Alice confirms it" Daniel said.

"Ha!" Kelvin scoffed, "You see Alice has a bargain in this. She's getting a part of my inheritance and so she would never confirm your words to grandma. Like said, you better leave us to handle our matter." he said and stormed off to his suite.

Alice returned from her relaxing dinner with Kimberly. The moment she entered the suite and shut the door behind her, she sensed something was wrong.

Kelvin stood right before her, like he had bee waiting for her arrival, his posture rigid, hands clenched at his sides. His jaw was tight, and his eyes—usually impassive—burned with restrained anger as he turned toward her.

“You humiliated me, Alice” His voice was low, controlled, but dangerously close to breaking.

Alice exhaled sharply, “I'm not in the mood for this,” she answered, keeping her tone neutral. She walked past him, heading towards the bedroom, but his voice stopped her mid-step.

“You blew me off in front of them. In front of that riffraff, Daniel”

She slowly turned, arching a brow. “Is that what this is about?”

Kelvin took a step forward. “I demanded that you have dinner with me. You insulted me by refusing. And you did it in front of them.”

Alice crossed her arms, tilting her head slightly.

Kelvin’s lips pressed into a thin line. He exhaled through his nose, his frustration evident. “You’re my wife, Alice. Do you know how humiliating that was? That weasel had the nerve to threaten me all because of you.”

Alice let out a bitter laugh. “This is funny, because you'd always humiliate me with your beloved Anita and I never complained. So you should not.”

Kelvin’s eyes darkened. “That’s different.”

“Is it?” Alice challenged, stepping closer. “You married me for your inheritance, Kelvin. You never wanted this marriage. You never wanted me.”

A muscle in his jaw twitched. “That doesn’t mean you can disrespect me.”

Alice scoffed, with her voice raised. “But you can disrespect me?”

The air between them crackled with tension on the verge of exploding.

"You've not seen any disrespect yet, Kelvin because I will definitely show you how it feels to be constantly insulted" Alice spoke.

Kelvin took another step forward, and before Alice could react, his hand shot out, gripping her arm firmly, with anger flowing through his veins. His hold was brutal, that she winced in deep pain

Pain shot through Alice’s arm, and she sucked in a sharp breath. “Let go, you're hurting me” she demanded, her voice barely above a whisper.

Kelvin's grip remained firm, as his bore

into her with his fiery eyes, "I haven't even started hurting you, Alice. You don't get to make me feel little in public and certainly not before my employee. When I say something I demand that it is done as I have said"

Alice winced the more in pain, so much that tears formed in her eyes and as she shut them tight, they rolled down her cheeks.

Kelvin felt something sharp in his heart, like a pain, as he saw the tears. He realized how he was crushing her petite arm with his strong palm and instantly, he loosened his grip.

She opened her eyes and his gaze dropped to her arm, where his fingers had left faint marks. His expression shifted—anger melting into something unexpected - something he could not quite explain. He found himself caressing the arm, tenderly.

Alice pulled her arm free, cradling it as she stepped back. Kelvin swallowed, his throat tightening at the sight. It bothered him greatly that he had caused her pain.

His heart clenched in a way he didn’t understand, a foreign ache blooming in his chest. He had spent so long convincing himself that Alice was not worthy of his affection, she was just a means to an end. So why did seeing her in pain make him feel like he was the one bleeding inside?

Alice turned away, hugging her arm to herself. She could not say why he stopped and soon seemed like he was concerned about hurting her.

Kelvin watched her, feeling something shift within him. He didn’t recognize this feeling, didn’t know what to do with it.

“I ...... I didn’t mean to hurt you, I'm sorry,” he muttered, the words foreign on his tongue. "I'll get some ice for that" he added and left for the fridge.

Alice watched him, surprised. He returned with the pack of ice and led Alice gently to the sofa. Alice followed without a word, like she was hypnotized. He made her sit down and gently reached for the throbbing arm and applied the ice on them.

Alice looked at him as he worked softly like a nurse tending to her wounds. It was like a dream to her. She could not fathom what was happening. She was quiet till he finished soothing the pain with the comforting coolness from the ice.

"Why?" Alice asked as he dropped the ice container on the coffee table before them.

He looked at her.

"You hurt me one minute and then you're caring the next minute. Why?" she asked, eager to know.

He was quiet for a while. He could not answer the question. Why was her pain troubling him that he had to comfort her? Why did he feel that way when she was in tears? He was battling with the answers to that question in his heart but could not find an answer.

He ignored her and stood up, talking the ice container with him. He walked back to the fridge to replace it in its position. Alice watched him saying nothing.

"I'm off to bed." Kelvin said and went into the bedroom.