Part 2When His Secretary Slandered Me

Alistair’s mother trembled with rage, her face burning with a humiliation so intense it seemed to radiate heat. She was a woman who had carried herself with grace her entire life; I doubt she had ever been so publicly shamed.

“Genevieve,” she began, her voice strained, “I know a long-distance relationship with Alistair was difficult, but you can’t have…”

I knew words wouldn’t fix this.

I pulled out my phone and started dialing 911.

I’d only pressed the first two nines when Alistair snatched the phone from my hand. “Don’t make a scene. It’s supposed to be a happy day. I believe you, okay? Is that enough?” he hissed. “The ceremony is about to start. Calling the police over something so trivial is just bad luck.”

Disappointment washed over me, a cold wave that left my head ringing. For the past year, ever since Lina had appeared, I’d felt a subtle distance growing between us. He’d barely shown any concern when I was in a minor car accident in Berlin. I’d told myself it was normal for passion to cool after so long. But now, seeing him shield her, I feared the person he wanted to protect was no longer me.

“Are you worried the police will bring bad luck to our engagement,” I asked, my voice dangerously quiet, “or are you afraid they’ll arrest your little liar?” I fought to keep the tremor of betrayal out of my voice and shook off his hand as he tried to grab me again.

“Genevieve, I…”

Before he could finish, Lina burst into loud, theatrical sobs. “I’m sorry, it’s all my fault, boohoo… Fiancée, please don’t fight with Mr. Finch. All his business partners are here! If you cause a scene, how will he face his clients?” she wailed. “I was wrong, okay! I made it all up!”

I almost laughed at the sheer audacity. She was a master of feigned retreat. With her carefully chosen, ambiguous words, she had convinced everyone in this room that I’d been a prostitute in a foreign country. If I didn’t clear my name now, would Alistair have any "face" left when he stepped out with a wife everyone believed was a whore?

I clenched my jaw and forced a chilling smile. “I don’t care what your motives are for this little drama. You are going to tell everyone the truth, right now. Or I swear, you will regret it.”

Lina’s face went white. She began to sob even harder, her body wracked with performative grief. “I already said I was mistaken! What more do you want from me? The account of that online performer has been deleted anyway. I won’t show anyone the videos I downloaded, I promise! Please, please don’t use your power as the future boss’s wife to get me fired…” she pleaded. “Do you want me to kneel? I’ll kneel and beg for your forgiveness!”

And with that, she started to buckle at the knees, ready to prostrate herself on the floor.

But before she could, a strong arm caught her.

Alistair shoved me aside, sending me stumbling. His face was a thunderous mask of fury, and the look he gave me was laced with pure venom. “Genevieve, have you not had enough?” he snarled. “I have been patient, but this is too much. Even if you made a mistake and filmed those videos, I was willing to turn a blind eye and move past it! Why do you have to be so relentless? Why must you bully her like this?”

The world tilted. My heart seized, and for a moment, I couldn't breathe. This man, the man who had been a third of my life, the man who, just an hour ago, had sworn to love me until our hair turned gray, didn't believe me.

What, then, was the point of any of this?

“If we can’t sort this out here, then we’ll sort it out at the police station,” I said, my voice flat. I reached past him to grab Lina.

She shrieked like a frightened rabbit about to be slaughtered, thrashing wildly. “Alistair! Alistair, save me! I think she wants to kill me!”

I ignored her hysterics, my grip tightening as I started to drag her toward the exit.

Alistair pried at my fingers. When I wouldn't let go, he swung his arm back.

A sharp, ringing CRACK echoed through the room.

The noisy ballroom fell instantly silent.