Chapter 87: It’s a shame, indeed.
>Mallory
"I’ll just go to the bathroom first," I said, standing up and excused myself.
I barely took a few steps before I heard the door open behind me.
"Yo!" that voice was familiar to me.
I let out a quiet sigh and closed the bathroom door harder than needed.
The soft yellow lights warmed the room, and the smell of lavender filled the air. I paused for a second. I never understood why he liked that scent so much. Still, he always bought lavender soap, lavender spray, lavender everything for the house.
I turned on the faucet and cupped cold water into my hands, splashing it onto my face. The chill made me gasp, but it helped. My thoughts slowly settled. I shut the faucet with a small push and leaned closer to the sink.
I looked at my reflection in the mirror. My face looked calm, but my eyes said otherwise. I took a few deep breaths, then dried my hands under the air dryer, the low hum filling the silence.
Once I felt ready, I pushed the door open.
Venz was sitting on the sofa. In front of him sat a man with his back to me. His hair was vibrant red. My steps slowed just a little.
I already had an idea who he was.
The red-haired man shifted slightly, laughing at something Venz said, he was sitting casually with his arm spread in the sofa, legs crossed. My husband lifted his head and noticed me walking over.
His expression changed, softening.
"Here’s my wife," he said, standing a little straighter and taking grabbing my waist as we both sat down, the cushion dipping slightly with our weight.
I physically saw how Kaizer froze at the sight of me.
It wasn’t subtle at all. His shoulders stiffened, and his whole body went still like someone had hit pause. His eyes widened as they locked onto my face, shock clear in them.
I smiled.
A calm, polite smile—one that pretended I didn’t notice a single thing.
"Hi!" I greeted, waving slightly.
"Hi." He replied, but it came out tight. His eyes narrowed right after, and his smile didn’t reach them. I noticed the vein forming along his jaw, pulsing as he clenched his teeth hard.
He looked like he was holding himself back.
"I didn’t expect to see you here," he said after a short pause.
The words sounded normal, but the tone wasn’t. There was something sharp underneath, something only I could hear.
I tilted my head a little. "Really? Small world, I guess."
Venz looked between the two of us, clearly confused. His brows pulled together as his eyes moved from Kaizer to me.
"Do you know each other?" my husband asked.
Kaizer’s gaze snapped to Venz for a second, then back to me. The room felt heavier, quieter, like everyone was waiting for an answer.
I kept my smile in place.
"We’ve met before," I said lightly. "A few times actually."
Kaizer let out a slow breath through his nose, his lips pressing into a thin line.
"Yeah," he added, forcing a short laugh. "You could say that."
Venz frowned, the lines between his brows deepening as his gaze moved slowly from Kaizer to me. He leaned back into the sofa, one ankle resting over his knee, fingers tapping lightly against his thigh. His eyes narrowed, not in suspicion, but in confusion, like he was trying to solve a puzzle that refused to make sense.
"I see," he finally said.
The words came out slow. Thoughtful. He nodded once, then again, as if agreeing with a conclusion only he could hear, though his expression said he wasn’t fully convinced.
The silence stretched, thick and uncomfortable.
I shifted slightly beside him, crossing my legs and straightening my posture. My eyes flicked from Kaizer to Venz before I spoke.
"Are you two done with your discussion?" I asked, keeping my voice light. "I can excuse myself if I’m interrupting something."
Venz waved a hand dismissively, turning toward me. "Oh, it’s not important," he said. "He just came to give me this..."
As he spoke, he reached into the inside pocket of his suit jacket. The fabric rustled softly as his fingers searched before pulling out a small envelope. He held it between his fingers for a moment before lifting it into view.
The envelope was sleek and matte black, its edges clean and sharp. A gold wax seal sat firmly in the center, stamped with an unfamiliar emblem. It caught the light as he tilted it slightly.
Venz extended his hand toward me. I hesitated for just a second before taking it, the envelope cool and smooth against my fingers.
"What is this for?" I asked, turning it over once before carefully breaking the seal.
The wax cracked with a quiet snap. I slid the card out slowly, my fingers brushing against the thick paper.
You are cordially invited to a Masquerade Party and have been selected as one of our most prestigious guests.
— The Union
Below it was a date set two months from now.
My eyes lingered on the words longer than necessary, it looks like an invitation to something very fancy. Even the paper smell good.
"It’s one of the yearly banquets hosted by the biggest investors in Europe," Venz explained, leaning forward slightly. "They control a massive portion of the world’s business and are still expanding."
He gestured toward the card in my hand.
"They invite only a select few companies every year. Who gets in depends on how likely you are to receive their investment—or how valuable they think you’ll be."
He leaned closer and tapped the card lightly with his finger. "The color matters."
Then he pointed again. "Black means we ranked at the top in Asia."
I nodded slowly, absorbing the information piece by piece. My fingers tightened around the card.
"But what does that have to do with me?" I asked, lifting my eyes to meet his.
"One needs a partner to attend," he replied simply.
The words settled heavily in my chest.
Does that mean I have to go with him?
But would I even look good when he introduced me? I don’t have anything to show for. I bit the inside of my lips. I know he choose this but I can’t help the insecurity forming at my chest.
I tried to open my mouth but before I could say anything else, Venz turned his head toward Kaizer.
"But wait," he said. "What about the woman you wanted me to meet? The one you’ve been talking about for so long. Aren’t you coming with her?"
Kaizer stiffened.
It was only for a second—but it was there.
His shoulders locked, his posture tightening like a wire pulled too fast. The fingers of his gloved hand curled slightly at his side, the leather creasing, before he forced them to relax again. His jaw clenched briefly, then loosened.
When he spoke, his voice was light.
"It’s a shame... that won’t be possible anymore," he said with a shrug. "I found out she was married."
His eyes slid toward me.
They held mine—steady, sharp, unreadable—for a brief moment before a small smile tugged at his lips.
"It’s a shame, indeed."
My body stiffened.
Don’t tell me he’s really been talking about me.
I had thought he was just messing around. Just provoking me.
My husband scoffed beside me, the sound short and humorless.
"And when did that ever stop you?"
Kaizer let out a quiet laugh and shrugged again. "That’s true," he said. "But someone wouldn’t like it very much..."
He tilted his head slightly, his smile widening just a bit. "Still, I wouldn’t mind trying."
"I’ll never know," he added casually.
I almost rolled my eyes—but stopped myself.
It wouldn’t be wise for Venz to find out.
Judging by his earlier reaction about the divorce, I knew he wouldn’t take this lightly. Nothing ever happened between us. It wasn’t worth bringing up at all.
My gaze drifted toward the table when a soft glow suddenly lit the surface.
The tablet.
My heart skipped the moment I saw the screen.
It was a photo of my son and me asleep together on the sofa, his small head resting against my chest. The warm light made it feel almost too intimate.
Venz picked it up quickly, his thumb already tapping the screen as he opened the message.
"It’s Grandpa," he said. "He’s asking if we can have dinner with Asher at the main house."
"I’ll go first," Kaizer said, pushing himself to his feet.
He brushed imaginary dust from his pants, straightened his jacket, and adjusted his gloves as if he had all the time in the world.
"Alright," Venz replied with a nod.
Kaizer turned, but his steps slowed just enough for his eyes to linger on my face.
"You’re right," he said calmly. "Your wife looks beautiful indeed."
Then he turned and walked toward the door.
"Wife?"
My husband’s voice dropped to a chilling degree.
"Do you have something to say?"
