Page 4 of His Infatuated Wife

Taunting me.

And today wasn't any different.

Damn her. Damn her. Damn her.

Just remembering how she had me fooled made me grit my teeth.

Damn her.

I can't believe I once thought she was someone without a spark of personality.

Damn her.

She may still have the others buying her act as this prim and proper thing.

But I'm on to her this time, and I'm no idiot to let her deceive me again.

It's so fucking clear now that her quiet ways are nothing but a sham.

And I know what she's trying to do.

Damn her, damn her, damn her.

I'm not going to let her win.

No matter how much she tries to tempt me.

She may have convinced herself this is all a game we can play and walk away from.

But I'm older and I know better.

One mistake is all it takes.

And so for both her sake and mine---

I'd rather destroy the idea of us rather than have us destroy each other.

Riri

He's not here.

I allow myself a second of the most intense despair when my gaze searches the auditorium one last time, and I find it empty of his presence.

It's been two weeks, and this is the longest he's been gone.

I miss him so much.

But I can only afford to miss him for that one second of indulgence.

And after that, I shove all such thoughts aside.

The show must always go on, and by the time I get up on the rehearsal stage, I am no longer the nineteen-year-old girl who's fallen head over heels for the tall, dark, and handsome patron whose billion-dollar fortune is the reason why penniless girls like me can study in one of the world's most prestigious arts university.

Riri is gone, and in her place is Carmen.

And that is how it should always be, to sing with one's heart and soul.

My heart is still pounding even when I'm already backstage. It always takes me a while to shake off my character and remember who and where I am.

---