Chapter 59
The champagne was flat.
Not literally. The bubbles still fizzed cheerfully in the crystal glass she held, but the taste on her tongue was sour. Plat. No matter how expensive the vintage, it couldn’t cover the bitterness lining her throat. It matched the way this entire party felt -polished on the outside, but dead beneath the surface.
This whole event was a lie.
Did they know Laura was a lowlife whore? That she was pregnant? That the soon to be groom was a cheating asshole with a little dick that wasn’t even that good in bed? Blair hadn’t known that back when she was with Dan. She’d spent too long thinking something was wrong with her.
Until Roman.
Blair scanned the garden, the pristine hedges and fake smiles. Why was she here? She didn’t need to be. Not really, She had nothing to prove.
Roman leaned in, whispering in her car. “We can leave at any time.”
He was picking up on her inner turmoil as always.
She had lasted longer than she thought she would. Smiled for the right people. Nodded at shallow compliments. Let the whispers roll off her like it didn’t matter. And really, it didn’t. Not after experiencing Roman. What she had with Dan had been surface–level bullshit. Shallow. Certainly not love. Because let’s be honest if she had truly loved Dan deeply, she never would’ve slept with Roman.
A fake laugh from Laura sliced under her skin like a splinter. Five more minutes, she told herself. Five more minutes and they’d make their excuses and leave. She could already see Keira barely holding it together.
They stood near one of the floral displays, Blair nursing her drink like it was a lifeline. Roman was at her side, his hand resting lightly on the small of her back, thumb moving in slow, grounding circles. She didn’t even need to look at him to know he was ready to get her out the second she gave the word.
–
She was so damn glad he was here.
“Here comes trouble,” Keira muttered, her tone deceptively cheerful.
Blair turned just in time to see Laura strutting toward them, that painfully pleasant smile plastered across her face. Dan followed close behind, like a trophy she hadn’t carned but loved to flaunt, anyway.
Keira was right–Roman was an upgraded. But Blair could see it now, with fresh eyes. Dan’s weak jaw. His sloped shoulders. Age wasn’t going to look good on him.
“Blair! I’m so glad you came,” Laura said sweetly, clutching Dan’s arm like she’d invented romance. “It really means a lot.”
Liar. This was about saving face. Blair didn’t say it aloud she didn’t have to. Their little group already knew. And so did Laura. But she had to say the right things to sell the illusion, to make it sound good to the crowd that was absolutely listening waiting for fireworks.
–
Blair smiled tightly. “Would’ve hated to miss such a touching celebration of integrity and commitment between two truly deserving people. So perfectly suited to each other.”
Roman hid a smirk behind his glass.
Laura either didn’t catch the venom- or chose to ignore it. “And you look amazing. I always wondered what you’d wear to something like this. I was afraid you’d show up in something… bitter.”
1/3
16.10
Chapter 59
Keira actually choked on her drink.
Sutton took a step closer.
Roman didn’t say a word — only because Blair placed a hand on his chest, silently telling him she had this.
Blair kept her expression smooth. “Thank you, Laura. And I see you went with bridal white. Bold choice.”
(28)
11
Laura laughed lightly, brushing her hand across Dan’s chest like she was claiming territory. “Well, Dan always said he saw me as the one in white, didn’t you, babe?”
Dan grinned. That cocky, smug grin Blair used to hate seeing on his face. They stood there like they’d done nothing wrong. Like this was all perfectly normal.
“Like I said — bold,” Blair replied, her tone syrupy. “Considering your history. It’s like believing in unicorns.”
Laura gasped.
Dan, in typical form, turned to Roman, clearly looking for one last dig. “Hope you’re enjoying the… leftovers.”
Fucking asshole.
Roman didn’t move, but Blair felt the shift in his body. The way his muscles bunched. It would only take a look
and Roman would handle it.
But Blair didn’t need him to. Not for this. She’d put up with enough.
Screw Aunt Viv and Uncle Peter and their obsession with appearances. They could choke on their reputation.
–
–
one word
Blair stepped forward, her glass still in hand, her voice calm – almost too calm. “You know, Dan, I always wondered how you managed to walk upright with balls that small. But now I realize…” she tilted her head, eyes glittering, “you’ve just got Laura to carry them for you.”
Laura’s smile shattered.
The silence was instant. A few guests nearby turned openly to stare.
Keira laughed, loud enough to carry. “About damn time.”
But Blair wasn’t done.
“See,” she continued, “I spent years thinking something was wrong with me. That I wasn’t enough. That I needed to try harder, be sweeter, be less… me. All while you were screwing my cousin and lying to my face. And I believed it was my fault. But it wasn’t. It was you. You, and your complete inability to keep a woman satisfied.”
Dan’s face flushed beet red. His mouth opened – then closed again. No comeback.
Blair turned to Laura next, her tone going arctic. “And you. You knew. You knew exactly what you were doing and what it would cost. But you didn’t care, because this was never about love. It was about what you could take. And let me be clear – you didn’t win anything. You settled. You got a man who cheats. And trust me, if he did it with me, he’ll do it to you.”
Then she looked back to Dan, a tight smile sizing him up and finding him wanting. “Oh, and you get to live with that little dick and those sad little balls. Enjoy.”
“Blair-” Laura tried to cut in, voice rising.
“No,” Blair snapped, her voice sharp. “You pushed. And now I’m pushing back.”
Roman still didn’t interrupt. Keira looked smug as hell. Sutton crossed her arms, unmoved.
2/3
16176 Wed 18 Jun
Chapter 39
93%
Blair took one final step toward Dan, voice low and lethal. “I don’t want you. I never want you back. And for the record? Our sex life sucked – and that was all you. I didn’t know men like Roman even existed. Men who don’t need to lie or manipulate just to feel powerful.”
She turned, her glass still full. She hadn’t taken a single sip.
“Enjoy your party”
And with that, she walked away, Roman falling into step beside her without hesitation. His hand slid into hers, like it belonged there.
The whispering exploded behind them.
And for once, Blair didn’t give a single damn.
