Chapter 10
"Daddy, can't you really take me with you tonight?" Celestia grabbed Levi's hand, hoping he would take her out.
Levi glanced at me, and I got the hint.
I pulled Celestia close, "Mommy bought you some new picture books. Shall we read them together?"
Celestia puffed out her cheeks, "But Daddy always takes me. Auntie Jessa gets to go, why can't I?"
Levi checked his watch and said a few words to calm her down.
"Celestia, Daddy will bring you a present when he comes back."
Celestia still wanted to try, tugging at my hand, "Mommy, can you talk to Daddy? Just let him take me, I promise I'll be good."
Who could understand the pain in my heart? The fact that he was taking Jessa as his companion meant my words carried no weight.
"The event Daddy's going to is about work. It's not appropriate for kids to tag along. Next time, okay?" I tried to get my daughter to give up on following him.
Levi seemed satisfied with what I said. He left without looking back, ignoring Celestia's reaction.
Afraid my daughter would be upset, I quickly changed the subject.
Fortunately, Indigo helped comfort her, too. Children's unhappiness comes and goes quickly - soon enough, she went back to her room to draw.
I unwrapped the picture books, ready to enjoy some alone time with my daughter, when Nola called.
"Hello?"
"Blair, our company received an invitation to the dinner party. Your husband will be there too, right? Are you coming?"
Thinking about Levi showing up with Jessa made me deeply resistant. I didn't want to see either of them.
"I'm keeping Celestia company while she reads."
"There's plenty of time for reading. All the important people will be there tonight. I'd rather have you there to back me up than anyone else."
"Don't flatter me."
I was basically a nobody. Although some of my work was quite well-known when I started the company, because of my status as Levi's wife, I'd never gone public under my own name.
Nola urged, "Blair, I really need you tonight. My dad is using this as an opportunity to set me up on a blind date. You have to help me."
"Celestia needs me."
Levi had already upset the child earlier. If I left too, she'd probably feel even more lonely.
Besides, Levi definitely wouldn't want me there.
I didn't want to cause trouble either.
"What's Celestia doing?"
"Drawing."
Nola teased, "Celestia must have inherited your artistic talent. She doesn't need you there at all. Meanwhile, her dear Auntie Nola really, really needs you right now."
Nola had always been straightforward. If she didn't really need me, she wouldn't go on like this.
If I went, I could just stay where Levi couldn't see me. That could work.
"Okay, see you soon."
I went back to my room and changed into a simple, plain-colored dress. Celestia was focused on her drawing, so I slipped out without telling her.
I gave Indigo a few quick instructions and headed to the party venue.
Clinking glasses, cheerful chatter.
In the neon lights, I saw Nola with a smile frozen on her face. Across from her was a clean-cut man, but judging from her frown, he wasn't her type.
So I quickly walked over to rescue her.
"Nola, long time no see. How have you been?"
Nola's eyes widened, then she smiled. She was clearly surprised by my "act," but within three seconds she played along.
"Blair, we finally meet! I've been so busy lately. Let me tell you..."
As Nola spoke, she pulled me to a quiet table. She casually picked up a glass of red wine and swirled it. "You can't drink a drop tonight."
"Not interested in him?"
"Blair, it's not like I can't find anyone. Look at him - so soft and wimpy. Totally not my type."
I smiled and inadvertently turned my head to see Levi.
Nola followed my gaze and pointed at Levi and his group, stammering excitedly.
"No, no, they..."
I slowly looked away. How bright they looked in the crowd, surrounded by so many people, confirming all those rumors.
"Levi is really too much."
Nola grabbed me, wanting to go confront him. I held her back firmly. I couldn't go over there because I had no confidence in questioning him.
I knew yesterday that they were coming together today. If I really wanted to hash things out with Levi, I wouldn't have bottled up all this anger.
I was going to divorce him. I didn't want to make a scene.
Everyone knew that Levi's wife was a mystery.
"I'm going upstairs for a bit." I needed to find an outlet for the frustration in my chest.
Nola looked worried, "I had no idea she was coming; otherwise, I never would have let you come here to be upset."
"It's fine."
I went upstairs alone. I planned to stay for just a few minutes, then go home. I didn't need to explain to Nola, but it wouldn't be good if Levi found out.
I stared at the lights outside, lost in thought.
When Jessa came up behind me and called my name, I nearly jumped out of my skin.
"Blair, Levi didn't bring you, but you came on your own!"
I turned around in a panic, and seeing her wearing the evening dress I had personally selected, my anger instantly flared up.
"I'm also an invited guest. You're the one mooching off my husband's invitation." I didn't give her a pleasant look.
The day she brazenly said she'd be my daughter's stepmother, I decided I wouldn't be nice to her.
Jessa flew into a rage. She pointed at my nose and cursed, "You're just as disgusting as your mother. You're just useless."
"Don't you dare mention my mother!"
I didn't want to bring up old matters, but her mentioning my mother touched my deepest wound.
"Your mom didn't know her place back then, and in the end, she still packed up and left. If you had said a few nice words then, maybe my dad would have thrown you some money."
My heart was torn apart by her words. After all these years, leaving the Greer family was a wound that would never heal. It had scabbed over, but she'd ripped it open again.
Back then, her mother was willing to be a mistress and carry on with my father. When my mom found out, she asked for a divorce. My father refused to divorce because he wanted my mom's family money, making my mother and me the subject of ridicule for so long.
Later, Mom threatened to kill herself, and only then did we escape that hell. Clearly, it was Chase Greer who was in the wrong, yet he made us leave with nothing.
"Why so quiet now? Weren't you pretty cocky? You're not ready to compete with me for a man. If that old man hadn't interfered, we would have been together long ago."
She actually called Aiden an old man. Just like her mother, no manners at all. When Levi wasn't around, she didn't even bother to pretend.
"Jessa, I'm warning you, don't mess with me!"
"What, you gonna bite me?" Jessa suddenly moved closer.
I instinctively pushed her back, "Even your name is stolen from me. What right do you have to compete with me!"
"Blair, Levi can only be mine."
I don't know what went through her head, but she suddenly started fighting with me. I could only back away to protect and defend myself. Suddenly, my foot twisted, and she pressed down on me as we tumbled all the way down the stairs...