The Ex Wife's Revenge

a's

and, Dorian's twe

. Happy days didn't really exist inside the Ha

econd, before I was fully awake, I thought: today might be different. Then I heard the voices outside

t seven when the

trust me to dress myself. I'm not sure she trusted me to do anything, if I'm honest. Exce

omen walked in, carrying bags and cases. Vivienne walked in behind them. She was already dr

looked at

problem that needed solving. "Add extensions. Lots of them. I won't have her walking around today looking like a peasant. My son is tu

gue. She just agreed, which was w

I see exactly what yo

eflection in the mir

long time ago, that saying anything on

at chair fo

were pressing into my scalp. Every time I opened my mouth to say anything... even some

lipstick needs to be set perfectly. If you keep moving, we'l

ist in the mirror. She p

n August. The silk is pulling at the waist. It makes you look..." She paused, as if searching for a word that was just polite enough to say out loud. "...fa

. There was absolutely no

ick and glossy, her makeup was flawless, her dress was simple

looked like a doll that had

r at all. I didn't re

~

y began

n and flowers that probably cost more than most people's monthly rent. Servers in white j

t the Hargrove world was beautifu

for. I heard Dorian mentioning it once, almost a year ago. I remembered because I always paid attention to him more than he ever paid attention t

m near the

. His tuxedo was perfectly fitted. I

hday, honey. I got you something. I spent a long time finding it. I thou

is eyes were scanning the crowd over my shoulder,

d. "Don't try making tod

our birthda

sun. She might get a headache. I need to bring her a drink before sh

and tried to ke

e entire job tonight is to carry drinks. Can't you stay here for

ce tig

ting my feelings, but because he didn't want to create a scene. "She's my mother, Nadia

d right

lder. He just stepped around

I had gotten very good at breathing through moments like this. It was either th

ind somewhere to sit, a

introduced to Dorian by Vivienne a few months ago... a model from a good family, Vivienne had said, as if she wer

reaching out to touch Dorian's arm. He was laughing back. He looked

ugh my chest. And I

th another woman at his birthday party. I wrapped my arm through Dor

g to wonder where you disappeared to." I turned to look at Lena, still smiling. "Oh

a bug on her shoe. Then she

oks." She glanced at me from head to toe. "Some people just

red at my elbow. She was older, elegantly dressed,

ning color. That shade of blue is absolutel

suddenly, Vivienne mate

oked at my dress and then looke

Nadia doesn't really have a strong eye for fashion. She tends to gravitate toward things that look expensive but aren't, if you know what I mean." She laughed softly. "It's difficult to teac

nicured hand. She made a sound tha

n is practically a language. You

slightly uncomfortable. She glanced betwe

in my face, then

is mother to stop. To defend me, even once.

at the ground. Like

ss for me. He picked it himself. He told me it was the most beautiful thing he'd seen in years." I looked at her steadily. "So if you

hat followed

ell open. Vivienne's expression didn't change exactly,

lt a hand

ri

me away properly because that would have been too visible. He just gripped me and leaned i

not talk to my mother like that. Do you understand me? This is her event. These

orward. I kept m

quietly. "In front of the stylists. She said the dress makes me look fa

ying to h

jaw was tight. "She is cruel. And you stand next to

d works. You don't. And instead of being grateful that she tries to show you, you stand here and make scenes and make me look like I can't c

go of

were red marks where

ing because I didn

ather in law, Richard's voice cut th

by men in dark suits. Richard himself was tall and broad, he was the kind

sed hi

to know that he's become such a fine young man." He smiled. "He has a great deal still to learn, about

rden e

Dori

lasses. I raised mine too, because I was

wn also. He stood for a moment, the glass still in his hand, and hi

untain and the people who h

anded

s eyes were warm. It was the only warmth I had felt all day. Then, just as quickly as it happened, he mov

h I hadn't realiz

~

to the gi

fectly wrapped gifts from jewelers and designers and the kinds of people who

hat it was from me.

to nobody. My voice was barely a w

ther now, deep in a conversation, probably planning a wedding that didn't include me. I looked

ooked at

having, by all appearanc

he family name. I had given up the friends who made me feel like myself because they didn't fit the Hargrove social calendar. I had give

It wasn't even love anymore, if I was hone

ass of wine from

cided to grip my arm again. I stood in the middle of the beautiful, g

asy to mistake beautiful for good. It was so easy to look at marble

ersation with one of his business partners, gesturing

ne who had looked at

Dorian," I said

to run until 4pm. It wa

traight and holding my glass correct

o it for

ee years. What's one