Page 55

Valeria

B efore I could mingle with the spectators in the VIP saloon, Chester saw me.

Initially, I wanted him to notice me. I wished to see how he would react to me knowing about his redhead girl and the one million bucks he put into a poker game.

But then, I decided to use a different approach.

Sadly, he caught a glimpse of me before I could disappear from his reach.

The moment our gazes met, Chester arrogantly smirked. Despite the heavy makeup, he knew who was hidden under it. He sent my replacement away with a firm wave, and she obediently left his side.

I wasn’t sure if I was furious with her that she had started an affair with a married man or felt sorry for what kind of man she chose.

Chester was a nightmare when he was in a good mood. With his violent tendencies, the girl was in an unenvious situation. Perhaps she was abused more than me, considering he spent more time out than at home.

“Valeria,” Chester called out for me, standing up. His face lit up as if he were happy to see me, but I knew better.

He didn’t expect me to be here. Maybe the beating should’ve kept me at home to avoid a jealousy episode. It made sense, knowing my husband had information about my affair .

Plastering the fake smile on my face, I grasped a strong drink and approached him. He curled his arm around my waist possessively and moved to kiss me, but I turned my head to the side. His lips landed on my cheek, which he had marked with a belt the other day.

My chest tightened, and I had difficulty keeping a happy expression. I was a good actress, but this was revolting. Chester’s touch caused bile to rise in my throat. I had to forcefully gulp the saliva that gathered in my mouth instead of spitting on him.

My body involuntarily shivered, and I had to quickly escape his proprietorial embrace because I barely controlled myself.

With Zyon close by, I had the courage to stand up to my husband and shout everything I felt toward him in his repulsive face. But it wouldn’t help anything. I had to play my part as a submissive accessory, and maybe I would be lucky to uncover Chester’s agenda.

“Stand behind me, doll,” Chester commanded quietly, rubbing his hand on my back. “I’m sure your presence will bring me luck.”

“As you wish.” I smiled, casting him my best fake smile.

I drank a glass of vodka and cranberry juice in one gulp before standing behind him. The alcohol burned my mouth and throat, but it didn’t ease the feeling of humiliation. He wanted me to stand in the same place his mistress had just left.

It was a disgrace. I was so embarrassed I only stared at the top of Chester’s head and sometimes checked his cards.

I avoided meeting Zyon’s or Alice’s gaze I felt on my face.

I smiled happily when Chester won and frowned when he lost. I was like a programmed robot that ignored everyone and everything and hoped this mortification would end soon.

I stood behind my husband for an hour and a half, cheering on his success. My feet hurt from high heels, and I felt tingling in my toes. I only shifted weight from one leg to another to ease the pressure.

The entire time, the smiling waitress supplied me with alcohol.

My glass seemed to be bottomless, but after a nasty head spin when I had to grasp Chester’s chair, I stopped drinking.

My empty stomach couldn’t take more, and when my vision slightly blurred, I asked for water.

The last thing my poor reputation as the victim of his infidelity needed was to end up on the floor, drunk .

“Let’s make a ten-minute break,” Zyon suggested, but it sounded more like a command. I lifted my eyes and met his look for the first time, but he quickly directed his attention elsewhere. “I have to go cut the cake.”

The players left their places and moved to the main hall, where the party was in full swing. In a few seconds, the VIP saloon was empty, and I intended to find Alice and talk to her, but Chester halted my movements. He appeared out of nowhere before me, roughly grabbing my arm.

“What the fuck are you doing here dressed like a prostitute?” he hissed, tugging me to the side so the waitress couldn’t hear us.

“What the fuck are you doing here with one million dollars and another woman by your side?” I shouted, yanking my arm from his hold.

Chester’s face contorted with anger, and he stepped dangerously close to me.

“I thought I made myself clear yesterday.” His devious whisper echoed in my ears like a deadly curse. “Do you need another lesson to remind you of your place?”

I fisted my palm, barely stopping myself from punching him straight in the middle of his disgusting face. My vision blurred from the high blood pressure from the fury that consumed my body. He had no right to threaten me. I wouldn’t let him stomp on my dignity anymore. We were done.

“You’ll be reminded of your place soon enough,” I spat, pushing him off when he grasped my arms and shook me.

“What is going on here?”

I seized the opportunity when Alice emerged to slip from Chester’s bruising hold. She took my hand and pulled me away from him, looking like she wanted to murder him on the spot.

“How dare you touch her?” she seethed, standing between me and him. “You fucking bastard. Hit her again, and I’ll kill you.”

“Stay out of my marriage, Alice,” Chester warned, raising his trembling index finger at her. “Or you might get hurt. ”

“Are you threatening me, you fucker?” she yelled, lifting her chin as if she were challenging him.

“I’m warming you. Stay away from us,” Chester repeated, shooting me a murderous glare. “You’ll stand behind me when the game starts,” he commanded and turned on his heels, leaving me with Alice in the corner of the room.

“Thank you,” I mumbled, releasing a shaky breath. My hands and knees trembled, and tears of helplessness welled in my eyes.

“Always, Valeria.” Alice pulled me into a hug, stroking my back slowly. “You understand you can’t return home after tonight, right?” she whispered, brushing my hair. “He would kill you.”

“I know,” I confirmed, tilting my head back and staring at the high ceiling. My teeth sank into my bottom lip to stop me from crying, yet the tears burned in my eyes like hot coal.

“I have to call Lisa and ensure she won’t give him Zara. Or better,” I mused, forcing my tired, tipsy brain to devise another option. “I’ll talk to Zyon and take her without setting foot into Chester’s apartment again.”

“That sounds like a good strategy.” Alice smiled at me encouragingly. “But what about the game? He wants you to stand behind him.”

“I will play by his rules,” I replied instantly, refusing to endanger my position. Chester had no idea I planned to leave him and take our daughter with me.

“With this speed, he’ll get drunk soon.” I pointed at the unfinished glass of whiskey beside his chair. “He’ll lose the money and leave to get more from his wealthy friends. It’ll be my chance to take Zara and disappear.”

Alice nodded, squeezing my hand supportively.

I didn’t want to spread panic, so I hadn’t told her about my suspicion that Chester had another agenda.

Zyon and his brothers weren't stupid. They knew my husband could be behind something.

They had surely covered all bases. And Chester might be a violent dick, but he wasn't an idiot. He wouldn’t blow the Starlight building into the air if he were still inside.

The guests’ cheering and shouting brought me back from my thoughts. A minute later, five servers with plates of birthday cake showed up, one of them handing me a generous piece .

I accepted it with a polite smile, but my stomach resolutely refused any food. I was too anxious to eat.

Alice wolfed down her cake and returned to her place to continue in the game. Players sat on their seats, but Chester was missing.

Zyon’s dark eyes pierced mine when I frowned at him, motioning to my husband’s empty chair. His brows knitted together as he waved at the security guard. He discreetly told him something, but Chester showed up before the guy could leave.

He was disheveled, and his usually flawless hair was slightly messy. His tie was loosened around his neck, and his white button-up shirt stuck out from his pants.

I gulped the bitter saliva down my tightened throat, suspecting him of having a quickie with the redhead from before. It was precisely his style. Take whatever he wanted and leave.

I cast a glance at Zyon as I stood behind my husband’s chair, noticing a gathering fury behind his look. He was tense. I could sense his possessiveness through the entire poker table.

It flew around me, wrapping around my aching, quivering body. Chester frightened me again, but Zyon’s presence erased any remains of violence and threats that he seethed at me.

The chain around my throat, created from menace, distress, and fear, lost its choking hold on me. I could breathe freely with him close. He and Zara were the only reasons I stood straight, patiently waiting for Chester’s mistake.

The game continued calmly for another half an hour. Zyon and Chester occasionally exchanged sharp remarks or perfectly aimed comments, but the atmosphere was relaxed. No one would say these two were mortal enemies until they crossed paths in a massive hand.

When I saw the number of chips they put in the middle, my breath hitched. It was a battle of cards and egos. They used money to show their superiority over one another.

In my eyes, Chester could never win over Zyon, but my husband clearly had a different opinion. He pushed against a wall built from money and power like he was on a mission to break it down .

Zyon defended himself with admirable determination. I watched the big hand with awe over their skills. They were both great poker players, and the game quickly escalated.

My head spun when Chester called a two-million-dollar bet, and Alice looked at me baffled. He kept the remaining six million behind the line, focusing on Zyon.

My heart clenched with the uncertainty of something terrible coming. My gut often warned me, and this time was no different. Something was about to happen in this hand. I was sure of it.