Kyle's embrace was a comforting anchor in the storm of my emotions. He held me tightly, his chin resting on my shoulder, swaying slightly to some imaginary tune. I hadn't realized how much I'd missed his irreverent humor, his easy affection. Since I' d married Corbin, Kyle had kept his distance, respecting the boundaries I' d inadvertently built around my life. He' d always been a bit much, too flamboyant, too honest for Corbin' s tightly controlled world.
I remembered how he used to cling to me in college, a mischievous imp trailing behind the elegant heiress, always ready with a witty remark or a daring adventure. He was the wild to my cultivated, the chaos to my order. He was the one who saw beyond the Ward name, who cherished the fierce, intelligent woman beneath.
"Still clinging, are we, Albert?" I teased, but a genuine smile touched my lips. He was one of the few people who could make me smile like that anymore.
"Can't help it, Addy," he murmured, his breath warm against my ear. "You're just so wonderfully huggable. And I have to say, seeing you tonight, it's like watching a phoenix rise. And I'm ready to bask in your fiery glory."
Just then, Corbin's voice, sharp and cold, sliced through the air. "What the hell is going on here?"
He stood a few feet away, his face a mask of thunderous rage. His eyes, usually so composed, now blazed with a raw, primal fury. He looked from Kyle's arm around me to my relaxed posture, then back to Kyle's grinning face.
Kyle, far from releasing me, tightened his hold slightly. He turned his head to face Corbin, an amused glint in his eyes. "Oh, hello there. And who might you be, interrupting such a tender moment?"
Corbin's fists clenched at his sides. "I'm her husband, you arrogant prick!" he snarled.
Kyle's eyebrows shot up. "Husband? Really? Last I checked, a husband usually wears a ring. And doesn't abandon his wife to go fawn over some artist. Or has the definition of 'husband' changed dramatically since I last paid attention?" He glanced pointedly at Corbin's bare left hand. "Funny, that. I was just telling Addy how utterly devoted you seem to your latest 'project'."
Corbin's face went from crimson to a dangerous shade of purple. The veins in his forehead pulsed. "You have no idea what you're talking about! My marriage is none of your damn business! And you, Adeline," he snarled, turning his fury on me, "are you so desperate for attention that you have to throw yourself at the first available man? We're still married, for God's sake!"
I watched him, a strange calm settling over me. This was the Corbin of old, the one who would lash out when his carefully constructed world was threatened. In the past, I would have rushed to soothe him, to explain, to apologize for whatever perceived slight had set him off. I would have put his feelings before my own.
But tonight, I felt nothing but a cool detachment. The urge to appease him was gone, replaced by a quiet strength.
I gently, but firmly, pushed away from Kyle's embrace. "Corbin," I said, my voice steady, "I assure you, I am not desperate. And I certainly don't need to 'throw myself' at anyone. Unlike some people, I don't have a habit of giving my affections to whoever happens to be convenient or compliant." I glanced pointedly at the empty space on his lapel where the lily had been. "I'm also not in the habit of sending flowers to my lovers, only to lecture my wife about materialism."
"Kallie is not my lover!" Corbin roared, his face contorted. "She is a friend! An artist! You are just jealous and petty, Adeline! And you," he spat, turning to Kyle, "you are a parasite! Trying to exploit my wife's vulnerability!"
Kyle leaned down, his lips brushing my ear. He really needs to get a grip, doesn't he? And to think I almost felt sorry for him.
Corbin's hands clenched, his knuckles white. He looked ready to spring, to physically attack Kyle.
I stepped in front of Kyle, shielding him. "Corbin, stop. Kyle Albert is one of the most respected gallery owners in this city. He's also my oldest and dearest friend. He has supported me, truly supported me, in ways you never bothered to. You will apologize to him."
Corbin stared at me, dumbfounded. "Apologize? To him? For what? For telling the truth about what kind of man he is?"
"For insulting my friend," I stated, my voice unwavering. "For your boorish behavior. And for the disgusting display you've put on tonight."
"You're insane, Adeline!" he exclaimed, his voice incredulous. "You're absolutely insane!"
Kyle put a hand on my shoulder. "Addy, it's okay. I can handle him."
But before he could say more, Kallie, who had materialized beside Corbin, grabbed his arm. She looked up at him, her eyes wide with concern, and then turned to me, her face contorted with anger.
"How dare you, Adeline Ward!" she shrieked, her voice surprisingly powerful. "You have no appreciation for art, no understanding of beauty! You just want to destroy everything pure and good! Not every woman wants your husband, you know! Some of us actually have integrity! And an artistic vision that doesn't involve playing pathetic games!" She gestured wildly between Kyle and me. "You're a manipulator! You're just trying to humiliate Corbin, to drag him down to your level! Don't you dare insult his genius, or his music!"
