Florence's lips trembled, and she burst into loud, heaving sobs.
"Please don't blame Noel, and please don't send me away. I really do love him. I'm not here to tear you apart. I'm here to be part of your lives."
She dropped to her knees in front of me again, slamming her forehead against the floor over and over.
Noel's expression shifted instantly. He rushed forward, pulling her into his arms, cradling her, his voice turning impossibly soft.
"Didn't I tell you never to hurt yourself, no matter what? Why don't you ever listen? It kills me to see this."
"Forget it. You're too kind and innocent for your own good. I'll just have to protect you more."
Then he looked at me. Something complicated flickered behind his eyes before settling into cold impatience.
"Brooklyn, you scared her. I should've known you wouldn't just leave quietly. You've had your little scene. Happy now?"
The accusation hit me without warning, and my mind went blank.
I hadn't said a single word since I walked through the door.
This villa was our marital home.
I was his wife. His legal, certificate-holding wife.
Yet for the sake of his kept woman, I wasn't even allowed to lay eyes on the person who'd destroyed everything.
When he saw the bitter smile pulling at my lips, something shifted in his gaze. He let go of Florence, walked toward me, and softened his voice.
"Enough. You're both important to me. You're both mine. From now on, the three of us will live here together."
"There's a gala this afternoon. Come with me."
I was about to refuse, but Noel cut me off before I could speak.
"Florence is coming too. It's her first time at one of these events. You'll carry her train and help her make a good impression."
I froze. The absurdity of it almost made me laugh.
Then I thought about how little time I had left, and I didn't argue.
Before the gala, Florence claimed she had nothing suitable to wear. She went through my closet and took the one-of-a-kind gown and matching accessories I'd worn when I debuted as Mrs. Stephens at Noel's company IPO.
She walked in on Noel's arm, wearing my dress, while I trailed behind holding her train. Every eye in the room was on them.
The whispers followed me like shadows.
"You have to hand it to Stephens. Got his wife trained so well she carries his mistress's train without a peep."
"They call her Mrs. Stephens, but let's be honest, she's a glorified servant. Lower than a dog."
"That Brooklyn must be an idiot. Gave him over twenty years of her life and got nothing for it. Might as well be dead."
I fled the ballroom, desperate for the restroom, for anywhere I could breathe.
A slap cracked across my face before I even saw it coming.
I pressed my hand to my burning cheek and stared at the woman in front of me.
Florence rolled her wrist, and the gentle mask she wore peeled away like dead skin.
"Noel and I did all that right in front of you, and you're still clinging to him like a leech. Have you no shame?"
"A piece of trash nobody wanted, no mother to raise you. Divorce Noel now, or one of these days you'll lose a hand or a foot, and wouldn't that be a pity..."
A ringing filled my skull. All I could see was the woman's vicious face, her mouth opening and closing, opening and closing.
Rage boiled over into a sharp, incredulous laugh. But Florence didn't give me a chance to fight back. She let out a piercing shriek, ripped open the front of her gown, and threw herself backward.
"Brooklyn!"
Noel came charging from the center of the ballroom and caught Florence, pulling her into his arms.
She sobbed so hard she could barely stand, tears materializing on command.
"Noel, I know what I am. I'm the other woman. I ruined your marriage to Ms. Simmons. I know I was wrong. I never should have come into your life. I'm the villain here. I'm the disgusting one."
Then she did what she always did. She slapped herself across the face, hard, twice.
Noel grabbed her wrists. His jaw was locked tight.
"Who said those things to you?"
Florence bit her lip, fingers twisting the fabric of her dress until her knuckles went white. "Please. Don't ask."
