My Husband Chose His Ex I Became His Regret novel Chapter 2

Chapter 2

Chapter 2

Two days before the gala

5 vouchers

The dress came the day before the gala, carefully folded in tissue paper like it was important to someone.

I shut the door to the guest room, which was also my room, and laid it out on the narrow bed

Light blue silk

Stylish without trying too hard.

Weeks ago, I had chosen it after Mark’s assistant casually mentioned that the Knight Group preferred “soft, non-distracting colours” for spouses at public events.

I ran my fingers over the fabric and imagined how it would look under the ballroom lights. I imagined Mark’s eyes widening just once-staying open long enough for me to believe that the might be different. That he might, just maybe, see me.

Laughter drifted down the hallway.

I stopped moving.

It carried easily through the house, warm, familiar, bouncing off glass and marble.

Mark’s laugh.

I knew it well, even though it was never meant for me.

The carpet muffled my bare feet as I walked out. The door to the main bedroom was open.

That door had been closed to me since the first week of our marriage.

Sienna’s voice floated out, light and teasing.

“You still keep everything the same.”

“And you still notice everything,” Mark replied.

I froze, my hand braced against the wall.

Sienna laughed softly.

“Of course I do. Remember, I lived here too.”

There was a pause.

Mark said quietly, “It never felt right to change it.”

Something tightened around my chest.

85

Chapter 2

I leaned closer. No one saw me.

“You shouldn’t let her change the decor,” Sienna said.

“This place, it’s you.”

“She doesn’t,” Mark replied. “Touch anything, I mean. I hardly even know she lives here. I spend most of my time with you.“

There was a smile in his voice.

“It’s not like you want to spend it with that puppet wife?”

I shut my eyes.

When I’d asked to change the curtains in the master bedroom, when I still believed it was ours, Mark hadi looked at me like I’d crossed a line.

“That room isn’t yours to redesign,” he’d said calmly.

“You don’t go in there. Use the guest room.”

I had nodded.

Apologized.

They moved my things that same night.

Now Sienna sat on the edge of that bed in a silk robe, running her fingers over furniture I wasn’t allowed to touch.

“Are you sure she’s okay with me staying the weekend?” she asked, without much concern.

Mark snorted softly.

“She won’t say anything. It’s not the first time. Her opinion doesn’t matter.”

“That’s right,” Sienna said, pleased.

I stepped back before they could see me and retreated to the guest room, closing the door gently.

Not too loud.

I didn’t want to bother anyone.

The mirror showed my bare face, hair pulled back, eyes still too hopeful for a woman who should have known better.

I breathed.

It’s only the weekend, I told myself.

Tue, May 12

Chapter 2

Tomorrow is the gala. Then she’ll go.

85

I lifted the dress, holding it against myself, tilting my head, imagining Mark looking at me as I walked beside

hmm

Not behind him.

Next to him

An hour later, there was a knock.

By then. I’d washed my face and braided my hair. I’d put on the mask I wore whenever Mark was home

“Come in.” I said.

Sienna walked in without waiting.

Yoga pants. Cropped tank top. Flat stomach. Wet hair.

Mark’s shower.

“Oh good, you’re here,” she said brightly. “I need to borrow some jewellery for tomorrow night. Mark said you wouldn’t mind.”

I blinked.

“Jewellery?”

“For the gala,” she said, inspecting her nails. “I’m Mark’s plus-one, but I didn’t bring anything fancy. You must have something.”

“I’m his plus-one,” I said slowly.

“I’m his wife.”

She laughed, light, pitying.

“Sweetheart, wives don’t sit at the head table. They sit in the back with the other wives while the important people do business.”

She tilted her head.

“Did no one explain that to you?”

“Mark told me to come.”

“He asked me last week.” She shrugged. “He always brings me. That’s just how it’s done.”

Her eyes landed on the blue dress.

“That?” She wrinkled her nose. “God, that’s old-fashioned. You’d look like a nurse.”

15:15 Tue, May 12

Chapter 2

She opened my jewellery box and lifted out my grandmother’s pearl necklace.

“This is nice. I’ll take it.”

“That was my grandmother’s.”

“Great. I’ll be careful.”

She fastened it around her neck and admired herself in my mirror.

“Pearls need the right skin tone.”

I couldn’t move as she continued searching.

“Oh…and Mark wanted me to tell you something,” she added casually.

“He needs you to stay home tomorrow night.”

My head spun.

“Why?”

85

#5 your her,

“Someone has to be here for the caterers on Sunday morning. Mark doesn’t want Knight Group staff alone in the house.”

She selected my diamond earrings, my wedding gift.

“These too.”

“Those are mine.”

“They’re Mark’s,” she corrected. “He bought them. He can lend them to anyone.”

She smiled at me, my jewellery glittering on her.

“You’d hate the gala anyway. Too many people. Too much small talk. Mark says you’re not good at networking.”

She stepped toward the door, then paused.

“One more thing. Mark wants you to clear out this closet. I’m staying the weekend.”

“This is my room.”

“This is Mark’s house,” she said gently. “You’re just living in it.”

Her necklace caught the light as she walked away.

I collapsed onto the bed, the blue dress wrinkling beneath me.

That night, I set the table for two.

15:15 Tue, May 12

Chapter 2

Habit.

Or hope.

:

Mark came down first. His jaw tightened when he saw the table.

“Sienna says you’ve been rude.” he said.

“That you wouldn’t lend her the earrings.”

“She’s your ex,” I said. “I’m your wife.”

“Why am I being accused…”

“Because you’re acting like a jealous child,” he snapped.

“Sienna is a guest. Respect her.”

“I do.”

“Then why is she upset?”