Chapter 49 Anniversary
Verena
~Neil and Jana’s Wedding Anniversary~
They say the best revenge is silence but in my own books, the best form of revenge was pettiness. And tonight—Neil and Jana’s wedding anniversary— the only star of the show would be me.
As I strutted into the hall where people dressed in black—the official dress code for the party—huddled together in small groups. Slowly, the laughter and music ceased as heads turned to me, gasps and murmurs trailing behind me.
A small gasp was elicited from Kian’s mouth as he poured non-alcoholic wine into Zita’s glass, the liquid rising higher with every second that his eyes followed me until it hit the brim and spilled all over Zita’s black dress.
Annoyance blared in her eyes as she shrieked, ready to slam both hands on Kian’s chest only for her eyes to widen to a fraction as they clashed with mine.
All I did was give her a smug smile.
I wasn’t here for either of them. I was here for the woman who raised a glass of martini to her mouth as she stood before the ice sculpture made of wedding rings. Jana stood tall, graced and poised in that full-length white dress with her dark obsidian hair packed into a sleek bun.
She loved being the center of attraction whether it was her party or someone else’s. Anyone who dared to outdress her unfortunately subscribed to an unending version of her glares and indignation until the party was over. And if the person was far below her status? Good lord. That was the beginning of their trouble.
It reminded me of her birthday party, where the maid she had mistakenly invited had on the same earrings as Jana. Those earrings were knockoffs but they had rubbed on her the wrong way.
The poor woman who hadn’t realized what she had done got fired.
So, whenever she hosted a party, she would always make the guests wear dull colors that made them invisible next to her. And right now as she tipped her nose up, eyes sweeping around the hall in pride, I couldn’t help but smother a chuckle.
She stylishly touched the silver earring dangling from her ear, ready to gesture to her poor husband whom she forced into wearing his usual black suits when her eyes suddenly locked on mine.
The color drained completely from her face as she choked on her wine.
I was the nightmare she dreaded. The woman she hated to see. A devil dressed in a sparkling white gown studded with crystal diamonds unfolded right before her.
Her breathing became shallow and heavy as she stared at me with mortification slowly slipping through her features. “Who invited you?” Her voice was rough.
I flicked my hair back, wishing it could hit her in the eye if she were behind me. “Do…”
Before I could finish, a warm hand rested on my open back and I sucked in a gasp as the familiar scent tingled my nostrils. His fingers glided down my spine until he wrapped his arm around my waist and pulled me closer to his side. “She is my date” He answered coldly.
I glanced up at Daxton, almost melting at the spark that danced in his eyes and the hint of annoyance unfurling behind his irises. He’d told me to wait as he retrieved the gifts in his car’s trunk but I had been so focused on seeing the horror on Jana’s face that I slipped away when he wasn't looking.
My fingers rested on his. “I am sorry”
Daxton only shook his head and returned his gaze to Jana. “Is there a problem with my woman being here?”
She scoffed, slamming her hand over her chest as she glared at me through the corner of her eyes before she whipped her head back to him. “I specifically asked you not to come with her…” Her tone was clipped.
With a face devoid of emotion, he responded. “And why should I listen to you?”
She winced, stumbling back as she placed a hand on her head. “I can’t believe this,” Her husband and son who rushed towards her were quick to catch her before she could fall.
“You were surely not expecting me to listen to you, right?”
“She is your nephew’s wife” She choked.
“Ex…” He corrected. “Ex-wife”
Kian’s eyes darkened to a shade as if the subtle reminder just hit him in the chest. His hand dropped from his mum and he pivoted, walking away—to the bar in the corner.
“Kian!” His mum called, tears glistening in her eyes before she darted them to me. “This is all your fault, you—” The demeaning words she almost hurled at me didn’t make it past her tongue as her eyes slid up to Daxton’s.
She swallowed hard, averting her gaze as her jaw clenched and she had to force this tight-lipped smile to the guests that walked past us.
“This isn’t the right time for any of this…” Neil’s gruff voice filled the air as he pulled her into his arms. “Can I have a word with you, Daxton?”
Daxton glanced at me, pressing a kiss to my cheeks. “I will be right back,”
It seemed like fate wasn’t on Jana’s side tonight because why would they leave her with me?
I tilted my head to the side, a smile creeping at the corner of my mouth as she took me in before her eyes returned to my face. “I know that you came here to ruin my party, right? That is why you are wearing a white dress!”
I laughed, swinging a hand over her shoulder. “You called me a bitch and I am only living up to that name right now,”
She glared at me with scorn in her eyes. “Take your hands off me…”
I chuckled to her face, much to her displeasure as anger burned her cheeks. If she could rip my dress off or slap me across the face, she would have done that.
But that fear of Daxton was so evident in her eyes that it was laughable. She kept tossing glances in his direction as if expecting him to pounce anytime soon.
“You seem scared!” I teased.
She groaned, removing my arm from her shoulder. “No, I am not,”
“Yes, you are!”
If looks could kill, I would have been dead already. She pretended to catch the attention of someone, waving at them as she hurried away from me.
Soon, Daxton returned to my side, slipping a hand above my waist. “What happened while I was gone,”
“Pissed her off. You could have seen the look on her face as she scurried away”
His face broke into a smile as he pinched the bridge of my nose. “You are a big bully, Verena. A cute one”
“I agree with ‘cute’ but being a bully? Nah. She bullied me first”
“I know princess…” He said, holding me to him by my waist as he stared deep into my eyes and I could feel all sorts of butterflies floating in my stomach. “Have I told you that you look so beautiful tonight?” His eyes softened.
“I have heard that a thousand times”
He angled his head, his lips almost brushing past mine—not giving a care to the fact that pairs of eyes were on us right now. I could already picture being the talk of the week over dinner, spa houses, and in every corner where they gathered. Those who knew Daxton as Kian’s uncle would feast on every detail, spinning theories about what was happening between us three.
And I knew how the story would go. I would be slut-shamed for ever having something to do with two relatives. However, my consolation was that gossip in the elite circle rarely made it out to the public. Or never.
It would start and die here so I didn't have to worry about my business being out.
“But you haven’t heard this then…” He kept his gaze locked on mine.
My head dropped forward to his chest. “What?” I asked softly.
“That you look so pretty that I want to fuck you in this dress”
Blood rushed to my cheeks as visceral images of all the dirty things he could do to me in this dress flooded my head. Warmth pooled between my thighs and clenching it didn’t help. I could barely breathe.
“Daxton…” I blushed. Hard. Really Hard.
He was about to speak when someone cleared their throat. A hazel-eyed woman stood right before us, her black hair tumbling down her shoulders in soft waves. While I raised a brow, Daxton remained indifferent.
She smiled, her lone dimple popping out while Daxton and I exchanged confused glances. “Who are you?”
“I am Cassandra—” Her words trailed as she fixed her eyes back on Daxton. “—and I flew all the way from Georgia just to meet you months back”
Daxton’s hand slowly left my waist, his brows scrunching in confusion. “Me?”
She nodded, tucking a loose strand of hair behind her ear. “I am the woman you were supposed to go on a blind date with until you canceled because of some woman…”
She gave me that side-eye that took me aback. “And you were supposed to be my date tonight, according to what Ms. Jana and Mr. Neil told me.”