My heart still aches just thinking about it.
Last night was supposed to be magical.
It was the annual Starlight Charity Ball, an event Michael and I had looked forward to for months.
I'd spent weeks finding the perfect dress, a shimmering sapphire gown I knew he'd adore.
We’d planned this evening as a celebration, a quiet anniversary of sorts, marking ten years since our first dance.
Everything felt perfect as I put on my diamond earrings, the ones he gave me on our fifth anniversary.
He was downstairs, probably already charming the early guests, a skill he always excelled at.
I took a deep breath, picturing his smile, the way his eyes would light up when he saw me.
Walking into that grand ballroom, with the chandeliers sparkling like a million tiny stars, felt like stepping into a dream.
The air hummed with laughter, music, and the clinking of glasses.
I scanned the room, my smile wide, searching for Michael.
He wasn't hard to spot, always the center of attention, tall and distinguished.
My eyes found him by the marble fountain, near the main entrance.
He was talking to a small group, his back mostly to me.
Then, he turned slightly, and I saw her.
A woman I didn't recognize, standing incredibly close to him.
Her hand was resting lightly on his arm, a gesture that immediately sent a jolt of unease through me.
My smile faltered, replaced by a frown of confusion.
Who was she?
He saw me then, across the crowded room.
His eyes, usually so warm for me, flickered with something I couldn't quite place – surprise? Alarm?
Before I could even take another step, he pulled the woman closer.
He faced the small circle of people, his arm now definitively around her waist.
My breath hitched in my throat.
He started speaking, his voice carrying just enough over the music for me to catch the words.
"And I'd like you all to meet my wife," he announced, a proud smile on his face.
My world stopped.
The sapphire gown suddenly felt like a lead weight, dragging me down.
The glittering chandeliers spun into a dizzying blur.
My ears rang, drowning out the music, the laughter, everything.
Wife?
His wife?
I felt a cold dread seep into my bones, chilling me despite the warm room.
It wasn't a joke.
His hand, the one that used to hold mine so tenderly, was now stroking her back.
Her smile, confident and knowing, was directed solely at him.
I couldn't move.
My feet were rooted to the polished marble floor.
Was this a nightmare?
Had I somehow stumbled into the wrong reality?
I could feel the blood draining from my face, leaving me lightheaded and nauseous.
The faces in the small group around him started to look at her with warmth and familiarity.
They already knew.
They all knew.
