Chapter 4 A VERY CRAZY WIFE.

HAYLEY

“Ugh, who is she…?”

“That thing looks like she crawled out of a sewer…”

“Who let her in?”

“Wait, I think I know her. She’s Mr. DaSilva’s wife!”

Ugly whispers follow me like cheap cologne as I make my way towards the stage. But nothing else matters except the looks on Victoria and Edward’s faces.

Victoria’s face is drained of colour, her brows raised so high, they’re almost skimming her hairline. 

Oh, and I saw it — the way her mouth briefly tightened with anger the moment she spotted me. 

Edward, on the other hand, is as stoic and dignified as ever. The only evidence that he’s unimpressed with my presence is the slight hardening of his steel-gray eyes, and the very tiny tic in his jaw.

That aside, his composure is carved from ice. 

His eyes find mine and as usual, my chest flutters and my cheeks grow hot. At that moment, I almost falter. 

I'm ashamed to admit that even after six years, Edward DaSilva still wields so much power over me. But I’d be damned if I show the tiniest bit of weakness today.

I’m in control. Perfect control.

“Hello, husband.” I whisper, my lips spreading in a wide smile. “Fancy finding you here. I thought you were busy with work.”

Edward remains silent. 

My gaze strays to Victoria. Her smile is even faker than mine.

“Hayley, what a wonderful surprise! I’m so glad you could make it!”

I grit my teeth, stiffening the urge to carve her eyeballs from the sockets with my blunt fingernails.

“Are you sure? I don’t remember getting an invite to your little party.”

Edward’s clipped baritone cuts me off;

“Hayley, I have no idea what drama you think you can act out here, but you still have time to leave before I get upset.”

I angle my head to meet his cold stare, blinking in surprise.

“Before you get upset? Audacity must be on sale today, dear husband, if you think you’ve got any right to be upset in this situation.”

I reach to grab the microphone from the Emcee and Edward snarls;

“If you speak into that mic…”

I lift one hand, effectively cutting him off.

“Testing, testing, can everyone hear me?”

The crowd remains cold and silent, each guest staring at me with obvious bewilderment.

I never liked crowds. Never spoken in front of one either. I have also never disobeyed my husband. 

Anger and alcohol will give you a boldness you never dreamed of. I highly recommend.

“I’m sure most of you do not know me. No surprises there. Today, I found out that my darling husband might be too ashamed to be seen with me in public.”

Edward lets out a groan that sounds more animalistic than human. It’s a warning, I know. But he can go fuck himself.

I scan the crowd;

“My husband definitely doesn't care about my accomplishments, so I’d like to announce that my name is Hayley and I’m an international programmer. I also won my first gold medal and trophy the other day!”

Stoic silence.

No one even bats an eyelash. 

I roll my eyes.

“Christ, ya’ll are acting like I’m holding you at gun point. Won’t you congratulate me?”

A few people give me a weak round of applause. Three men, to be precise. I blow them air kisses, and that earns me another warning growl from Edward.

Is that jealousy? Possessiveness? I don’t give a fuck. Not anymore. 

“Anyways, back to the birthday girl! 

You know, Victoria and I are such good friends. Or so I thought. I mean, I used to unburden my heart to her whenever my darling husband treated me like shit, not knowing she was vying for my position.

Let’s just say our birthday girl is very ambitious. In today’s world, that’s a wonderful trait, isn’t it?”

Victoria lets out a tight, uncomfortable laugh. Behind me, Edward is as stiff as a rock.

“I organized a nice dinner to celebrate my trophy today. Victoria here told me she wouldn’t be there because she was spending her birthday out of town.

You can imagine my shock when I walked in here and found her attached to my husband by the hip. 

Our birthday girl is also a fantastic liar! Isn’t that wonderful?!”

Whispers rise in the crowd like a poisonous mist.

I’m the only person still wearing a smile. Victoria’s is as pale as a ghost. The guests definitely do not share my humour. They’re frowning. All of them.

And I don’t give a bloody damn. The alcohol is working a little too well. 

“Anyways, I have a word of advice for the ladies.” I burp. Loudly. “Sorry about that.”

I inch forward and suddenly lose my footing, wobbling on my too high heels. 

A steely arm clamps around my waist, steadying my frame against a warm brick wall of chest.

Edward.

His fresh water scent drifts into my nostrils, sending my poor, suffocated brain into a spiral.

I jump out of his grip like he’s on fire, shooting him a glare that screams: “STAY AWAY BEFORE I DECAPITATE YOU!”

“Anyways, back to my advice, ladies. If you ever feel like your husband, the love of your life, is treating you like a pile of day old dogshit, please do not just sit in that marriage and endure it like I did for six whole years. 

Leave! Pursue your career. Rebuild your life. Hell, put on sexy heels, go to the club and throw that ass in a circle if you must. Just l-leave…”

On the last word, my voice cracks into a sob, tears scorching my throat like lava.

Before I can say anything else, Edward snatches the microphone from my grasp. 

It all happens in a smoky blur. 

One second, I’m educating the ladies, and the next, Edward bends down and throws me over his shoulder like a sack of potatoes on distress sale.

“You and I need to have a serious conversation, wife.” He growls.

For a flash second, hanging upside down with my hands clamped to my sides, I feel helpless. 

Then it suddenly dawns on me that I’ve felt helpless all my life. 

I felt helpless when my mother overdosed on meth and I had to watch her die.

I felt helpless when my baby sister passed a year later because I couldn’t afford her medical bills.

I felt helpless when I was forced to work my ass off to pay off my mother’s debts.

I felt helpless when Edward suddenly changed, becoming cold and uncaring in our marriage.

And I’m tired. 

I am so, so fucking tired of feeling helpless. 

I want to feel something other than this gnawing feeling of emptiness in my chest. So I let my mind blank as I welcome the rage. 

Then I lash out.

“Let me go right this instant!” I screech at the top of my lungs. “Put me down!! Put. Me. Down!!!”