Chapter 22

22 22. I am still Mrs. Montgomery

The charity event would be held in the rooftop garden of the hotel. Everybody was present but William. Everybody? Yes, everybody meant all members of the Montgomery-and Lea-were attending the event.

Paula was taking a seat apart from William’s family. Although she was still Mrs. Montgomery, Lea’s presence at the venue made her feel out of place. Her beautiful long black dress can only support her appearance, not her heart. It had been a long time since her heart was in such a mess. The last time she experienced it was when her mother left her dad for a richer guy.

Paula stole glances at Lea who was having a chat cheerfully with Lisa. Lea looked charming in her short-sleeved pink dress. The dress was slightly loose. Perfect choice to hide her slight baby bump-if there was one. Her figure was the complete opposite of Paula’s.

Paula was a little jealous of her love rival but forced herself not to. She had to maintain her professional looks. No jealousy. No feelings. Just like ending the friends-with-benefits thing with William-in a little more complicated way because they were still having the rings on.

“So, is this the end of your sexy-homie relationship with him?” Samuel’s voice startled Paula, cutting her gloomy thoughts. She then turned to face the handsome tanned skin man in a fancy white suit and threw him an annoyed gaze.

“Don’t start a fight in this very place. Please, behave well, my dear cousin-in-law!” Paula tightened her lips, forming a thin line. “I am still his wife. Don’t make a scene!”

Samuel glanced at Lea and his aunt and then turned to Paula again. “My question is, how did you manage to persuade my aunt to accept that bitch?”

“Language, please!” Paula snarled.

“Just answer my question!” Samuel snapped back.

.....

Inhaling deeply, Paula crossed her arms under her breasts and said, “It’s not me.”

“Liar!” Samuel shot her an intense look. “William failed many times. How could he suddenly turn the situation upside down? Is Dhar Mann infiltrating his body? How funny.”

Paula could only stare at Samuel as a reply. She exhaled lightly and refused to say anything. But, Samuel’s nosy brain wouldn’t give up so easily.

Before long, Samuel said what he guessed in his head, “Ah, don’t you dare to say that he knocked that bitch up!”

Paula’s face turned to Samuel’s. “Mind your own business, Sam! You’re supposed to play around with the piano, not with me!”

Samuel smirked while Paula’s face turned pale. He shook his head since he saw it coming. “If pregnancy can solve everything, why didn’t he make his fucking dick do the task earlier?”

“Sam!”

Samuel snorted. “So, when will you divorce him?”

Paula’s eyes popped out. “Samuel! Watch your mouth-”

Paula couldn’t finish her sentence since someone tapped her shoulder. “Paula, William is too late. The committee wants you to give the opening speech instead of waiting for him to show up,” Danica whispered close to Paula’s ear. “And only God knows when.”

Paula looked at the watch on her right wrist. “He is taking a good time, huh?”

“Paula, please! We can’t wait for him forever,” Danica pleaded.

Paula hesitated to do that because her marriage was almost over. Her mind was debating.

“If I were you, I would never do that. Sometimes he should learn his lessons, no? You spoiled him too much,” Samuel muttered. He glared at Paula and persuaded her to blame William-only-for the messed-up schedule.

Paula turned to her mother-in-law who seemed busy, chatting with her colleagues and leaving Lea alone. How sad but it couldn’t be helped, the bond couldn’t be built instantly.

Before she knew it, her gaze met with Lea’s. A sudden possessiveness attacked her heart.

The woman then looked at Danica and said, “Why not? I am Mrs. Montgomery, no?”

A graceful smile of victory plastered on Paula’s face. She wanted to show the world that the Montgomery family would endure such a big loss if they ditched her. It was indeed a hypocrite but she couldn’t help it. Her jealousy brought her there.

Paula gracefully stepped on the podium and brought the mic close to her. Her eyes roamed, making sure all the audience’s attention focused on her. She then started her greeting in confidence. She wanted Lea to know her place.

“Ladies and gentlemen, all the earnings we get from this charity event will be distributed to some chosen orphanages in the city. We know that there are not many on the list, but we hope we will increase the number by the end of this year,” Paula proudly announced the goal. The audience gave her standing applause at the end of her speech.

When Paula stepped down, all family members greeted her and gave her formal hugs and pecks on the cheeks. When it was time for her and Lea to shake hands, that’s when an unwanted tension suddenly arose.

“Hi .... Is everything okay?” Paula hid her real feelings and greeted Lea as normally as possible. Her heart was beating so fast but she managed to maintain her calmness and graceful looks.

“I ... I don’t know what to say. But, I am sure you are a crazy cold-hearted woman,” Lea said in a whisper. She wanted to thank Paula, but her pride didn’t allow her to do so.

“I don’t want a word of gratitude from your little foul mouth, but could you please at least pretend that we are on a good term?” Paula replied in a bland voice. She didn’t want her in-laws to hear anything. “Will you?”

“Of course, I will not! How can I forget that my lover dipped his dick in your c-”

“Then, you should learn,” Paula insisted, stopping Lea from continuing her sentence. She then hugged Lea for the show. “The auction will start in no time. Behave! Don’t ruin your soon-to-be husband’s company event!”

Paula tapped Lea’s back and went back to her seat. But, before long, she felt like there was an earthquake. Of course, there’s nothing. She was the only one who was feeling that the earth was moving around ... and finally, she collapsed on the floor.

The situation became very chaotic. Samuel, who was about to play the piano, immediately ran into the crowd to see what happened with Paula. Without being asked, Samuel immediately lifted Paula’s not-so-light body. No one but him in the crowd had the strength to do it.

“Dad, Uncle, I will bring her to the hospital!” Samuel stated.

“Who will play the piano?” Danica tried to hold him. “I can ask someone to bring her to the hospital.”

“As if I will give a fuck,” Samuel cursed. He ignored everyone and brought the fainted Paula out of the venue.

Seconds later, the sudden presence of the most wanted man stole some of the audience’s attention. He came from a different entrance and was greeted by his secretary.

“William, how could you take so long to reach this place?” Danica’s frantic face calmed down.

“Where is Paula?” William asked. His eyes roamed to the crowd to find the woman.

Danica, the organizer, didn’t listen to him well. Her mind was busy with her thoughts. “Thank Paula, we made it in time. She was the one who gave the speech. Now, prepare for the auction. You are supposed to bring your-”

“Shut up, Danica! Where is Paula?”