Chapter 8
Matheo didn't respond immediately. Instead, he sighed and gently caught Colette's hand, guiding her back into the ballroom. "Come on, I'll call my driver. He'll drop you home," he said, navigating her through the throngs of people.
As they made their way towards the exit, Matheo's phone began to ring. “Iris, just a few minutes. I have to take care of this before—no, I don’t think so….” He muttered something else about business, his focus shifting away from Colette.
Colette stopped walking and pulled her hand away. "It’s okay, Matt. I came here on my own and I can go home on my own. You can go back to Iris; I won’t stand in your way anymore." Her voice was firm, but there was an underlying sadness.
Matheo looked at her, conflicted. "Are you sure?"
Colette nodded bleakly. "Call my driver then. He’ll drop you off and come back for me later," he instructed, still trying to maintain control of the situation.
Nodding again, Colette avoided his eyes. “Goodbye, Matt.” She stood on her tiptoes and kissed the corner of his mouth. "I’m sorry if I troubled you, Matt. I’ll go now."
“You didn’t trouble me, Itty, it’s just that I’m—” Matheo started, frowning as he tried to explain.
“Busy, I get it,” Colette cut in, nodding once more and looking at the floor. “I hope you have a successful night.” ‘And life,’ she added silently, turning away to leave.
Matheo's concern seemed to deepen as he saw the pain in her eyes. “Are you sure—” he began again, but Colette didn’t wait for him to finish. She turned and walked away, her heart heavy with unspoken words and shattered hopes.
At the door, she paused and glanced back one last time. Matheo was surrounded by a group of influential business people, holding court with ease. Iris stood beside him, smiling up at him as he made some remark or another. The sight was like a dagger to Colette’s heart. “I hope this was worth our marriage, Matt,” she murmured to herself before pushing the door open and stepping outside.
Colette stood outside the grand entrance of the luxurious hotel, her frustration growing as she waited in vain for a taxi. The exclusive locale catered to the ultra-rich, where limousines were likely the preferred mode of transport. She couldn't help but feel a surge of disdain towards these people and their extravagant lifestyles. Yet, in a bitter twist of fate, she now found herself among them—indulging in weekly spa sessions at luxurious resorts, dining out at Michelin-starred restaurants, and draped in designer labels like Gucci and Prada. The very thought made her stomach turn. Was this really all her life had become? A mere ornament to be displayed, smiling politely at social gatherings, and catering to her husband's whims?
A wave of self-disgust swept over Colette. She had once dreamed of a loving husband, a family filled with laughter and love, and mutual respect. Instead, she felt cheated. What she had was a husband who seemed only partially present, and even that was slipping away. Glancing back at the glittering facade of the hotel against the night sky, she looked down at her own less-than-impressive outfit. Did she appear cheap to these affluent circles? Perhaps she did. She felt like a woman flaunting herself indecently, a thought she quickly pushed away. Tonight had achieved nothing but humiliation, turning her into a person she despised.
The dazzling lights of the grand chandelier above mocked her as she stood there, reinforcing her sense of not belonging. She couldn’t bear it any longer. Despite the absence of taxis, she started walking, her feet aching in towering high heels, hoping to find any form of transportation nearby.
As she moved away from the hotel steps, a tinkling laugh shattered the silence, and Colette froze. She knew that laugh—it belonged to Iris. Turning, she found the ice-cool blonde woman in an impeccably tailored gown, standing there like a vision of effortless elegance. "Iris," Colette addressed her stiffly, unable to conceal the bitterness in her voice. Facing this woman, who seemed to have taken everything from her—her marriage, her husband—Colette couldn't help but show her vulnerability.
"What the hell do you want?" Colette's words dripped with defiance, though she chastised herself for revealing any weakness in front of this woman. Iris had already dismantled her life piece by piece. What more could she possibly want?
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Iris's smile twisted into something malicious and vile, a sight that sparked a rage in Colette she had never known before. She reached into her purse and pulled out a small paper bag, handing it over with a casual disdain that cut deep. "Matt sent me to give you something," Iris announced, her voice dripping with venom. "Here."
Colette's hands trembled slightly as she accepted the bag, her heart pounding with disbelief and anger. "What is this?" she asked, her tone sharp and bitter as she examined the pharmacy's packaging.
Iris shrugged indifferently, as if discussing the weather. "Matt said your birth control cycle is almost over. He was worried you might forget, unintentionally or otherwise," she continued callously. "So, he asked me to pick up the oral contraceptives for you. He never did like condoms."
Colette felt a surge of humiliation and fury. The implication was clear—Matt's disregard for their intimacy cut deeper than she had imagined. "Don’t forget to take them, darling," Iris added with mock concern, her voice dripping with spite. "Otherwise, you might lose him before your time's up! Anyway, I should get back. Matt must be waiting for me."
The words struck like daggers. Colette's restraint snapped. "How dare you! How dare you speak to me like that?!" Her voice cracked with rage, eyes blazing with liquid fire as she confronted Iris head-on. "You have no right!"
Iris's smirk faltered for a split second, a flicker of surprise crossing her cold demeanor. "Oh, darling, don’t be so sensitive," she retorted, her voice taking on a condescending edge. "It’s not personal. You’re not Matt’s first... woman," she sneered, emphasizing the word with a bitterness that stung. "I've always been there to assist with his... arrangements."
Colette couldn't contain her fury any longer. With a swift motion, she slapped Iris across the face, the sound echoing sharply in the quiet night. The impact left a vivid imprint of her red fingerprints on Iris's cheek—a mark of retribution and release for Colette's pent-up anger and pain.
Watching Iris recoil, Colette felt a grim satisfaction. "You deserved that," she spat, her voice low and fierce. "For everything."
As people continued to move in and out of the venue, Colette's desire to remain unseen intensified. She didn’t want to be here, to witness any more of the charade that had become her life. With a sudden burst of resolve, she crumpled the bag of contraceptives in her hand and hurled it to the ground, the act a defiant declaration of her rejection of everything it represented.
Out of the corner of her eye, she noticed Matt emerging from the venue, the departing investors beside him, exchanging final pleasantries. The sight sent a chill down her spine. They were leaving, and Matt stood alone at the entrance, a figure of solitude amidst the dissipating crowd.
Colette should have left, escaped the humiliation that clung to her like a shroud. She had endured enough pain for one night, enough heartache to last a lifetime. But despite her resolve, her feet remained rooted to the spot, her heart clinging to a shred of hope.
Matt's gaze swept the surroundings, searching, uncertain. When his eyes found Colette's, something flickered in them—relief, regret, perhaps even longing. He approached her slowly, his voice tender as he spoke. "Still here, sweetheart?" he murmured softly, his finger tracing her cheek. "Would you like to have dinner together? My work here is finished. We can leave now. Iris can handle the rest."
Colette stared at him, torn between love and betrayal, anger and longing. Her emotions churned like a storm within her, uncertain of where the tempest would take her next.
Matheo noticed a flicker of pain in Colette's eyes the moment he mentioned Iris's name. He didn't like it. He never wanted to see his wife hurt, but Iris was an integral part of his life, and Colette needed to accept that. "Colette…" he began, but she didn't respond. Instead, his attention was drawn to a glimmer of icy blue and silver emerging from the shadows behind her. Iris stepped into the light, tears streaming down her cheeks.
"I'm so sorry, God! I am so-so sorry, Matt!" Iris sobbed, her voice shaking with emotion. Matheo frowned, confused, until he noticed the red, angry marks of fingers on Iris's cheeks. The realization hit him hard—Colette had slapped her.
He stared at his wife in disbelief. The sweet, gentle woman he knew wouldn't harm a fly. Yet, the cold, wooden expression on her face confirmed the unthinkable. She had struck Iris. A surge of anger flooded his veins, more intense than he had ever felt before. Tonight, Colette had crossed boundaries he couldn't fathom. First, she had shown up dressed provocatively, and now she had physically attacked Iris. It was beyond his imagination.
Matheo recalled Iris's words from earlier that evening, just after Colette had stormed out of the party. "I'm a bit afraid, Matt. Mrs. Angelis doesn’t like me very much. She doesn’t understand the business world, nor does she understand our relationship. The way she looked at me tonight... I’m afraid she wants to hurt me."
At the time, he hadn't taken Iris seriously. He knew there was tension—Colette was jealous of Iris and angry at him for not giving her enough attention—but he had never imagined Colette would resort to violence. He was wrong. The realization stung. It made him wonder what else Iris might have been right about, things he had dismissed or ignored.
"Colette, what have you done?" Matheo's voice was low, strained with the effort to contain his fury. "This is not you. This is not the woman I married."
Colette's eyes flashed with a mix of defiance and hurt. "I did what I had to do," she said, her voice trembling but firm. "I won’t let her come between us anymore."
Iris sniffled, stepping closer to Matheo, seeking his protection. "Matt, please... I never wanted to cause any trouble. I just wanted to help."