A Wife’s Revenge

Dressed in a beautiful silk knee length bias gown, and a mask, Natalie arrives at the annual Gallery of Arts bidding function. She walks into the building, following the long carpeted hallway.

Voiceover Monologue; Rebirth. If someone would've told me reincarnation wasn't still possible while life existed, I would have laughed, wondering how a person could be so moderately foolish. I was a victim of true life reincarnation. Yes, my reincarnation occurred while I still had life in me. Maybe my rebirth was as a result of my near death experience or maybe it was born out of my pain, agony, despair and thirst for vengeance. They say reincarnation happens for the good of mankind. It's a good thing. But my reincarnation would be a curse on certain people, people who wronged me. My reincarnation was not a blessing. It stripped me of my innocence and I have one man to blame for it all. One man turned me into something so despicable, dark and venomous.

The doors open. Natalie enters. All eyes are on the dark haired beauty who had just walked into the room. Her eyes were illuminating through the mask she wore, and her sharp red lipstick took the breath of majority of the men present there.

*

"Welcome, Ms. Devaux. Please," The attendant welcomes me. I give a small smile, as I scan the room. I knew everyone in attendance, from A-Z. I was just focused on finding him, because I knew he would be attending.

I make conversation with a few guests whom I'd gotten acquainted with in the past year. I needed to build a network of contacts, get them as close as I possibly could, find their weaknesses and make them owe me a favour or two. After all, favors did lend a helping hand in most situations.

"Ladies and gentlemen, the board would like to give a small toast. In honor of all of you, our esteemed guests in attendance. Please raise your glasses for this toast" Daphnia, a member of the Gallery of Arts review committee speaks. She continues, "To you!"

The crowd responds, "To us!", followed by the clinking of glasses. I take a sip of my rosé. He still hadn't arrived or could it be that I just couldn't see him?

Daphnia continues, "Before the bidding starts, we would have a small dance. The floor is yours, ladies and gentlemen."

"May I?" A masked man asks me, and the familiar feeling of anger and irritation visits me. The cameras were rolling, so I couldn't afford turning him down or causing a scene. He takes my hand and we begin to dance.

"What are you doing here?"

"Last time I checked, I could be anywhere I wanted to be, Ms. Devaux, or should I call you Natty?" Rocket asks.

"You left for Italy. I told you I never wanted to hear or see you ever again. I have no relationship with you anymore. I cut all ties with you that day." I say, feigning a smile.

"No matter how much you deny it, I can always see it. I can tell. Don't you think so? There's a connection, Natalie, and you know it. Stop denying it."

"You're more delusional than ever." I say as I chuckle. Rocket was dead wrong, if he thought I was the same woman from a year ago. "I wonder when you'll begin to see things clearly.”

"I'm delusional? I don't think so, well, not as delusional as the man who's responsible for the destruction of your family. No, I'm much better. Much more saner than he is.” He says and I go pale. I pause, dead in my tracks. My heartbeat intensifies as I make eye contact with him. The very man I despised with every fiber in my body. He looks at me too, confusion written all over his face. I take off my mask, and that's when I see realization set in on his face. With my black hair, I looked completely different, but this man slept and woke up beside me every morning so definitely, it wouldn't take him forever to realize who was standing before him.

Just as I expected, but hoped wouldn't happen, Laurel walks in beside him, entangling her arm in his. The perfect definition of 'you can buy the dress, but you can't buy class'. I could smell her cheap perfume from across the room. I hold onto Rocky, as tight as I possibly can and I squirm with happiness internally as I see a big frown play across Luke's face.

"Luke's here. A few feet away from us. Don't turn.” I say to Rocky, and as if on queue, he grabs my waist, tighter. I watch Luke give his hand out to Laurel, asking her to dance. How miserable. Laurel hadn't seen me yet. I wanted to look her in the eyes so bad, and let her see how much hatred I felt towards her. I wanted her to fall at my knees in fear and desperation, knowing I was coming for her sooner or later.

Daphnia clinks her wine flute, hoping to get everyone's attention. "The bidding starts now. Going straight to the business of the day, our first piece of Art is the late Duchess Massey Cooper's single furniture. The furniture contains a few writings from the Duchess herself, signatures from the Queen, and other members of the Royal family. Bidding price starts from £700,000."

"£1,000,000" someone says.

"£1,500,000" a woman bids.

"£1,900,000"

"£2,000,000" another bids.

They keep at it, while I collect a glass of white wine from the waiter.

"£7,700,000"

"I offer £10,000,000.” I say, as I sip my wine. All eyes fall on me, yet again.

Rocky bids, "£11,000,000.” a smirk on his face.

"£15,000,000 million.” I hear a familiar voice say. Luke. I knew him all too well. He reacted just as I expected. He would do anything to beat Rocky.

"£15,500,000 million." I bid.

Daphnia chimes in, "15,500,000! Okay! Going. . .?”

"£17,000,000!” Rocky bids, this time, staring at Luke, eye to eye.

"£19,000,000.” I bid again, and then, Laurel and I have a moment. She recognizes me. I can see the horrific look on her face. She looks at my stomach, and looks back up at me. She did not expect to see me here.

"£19,000,000 going, going. . .anyone?"

"£20,000,000 million!" Luke yells, in a calm tone. His eyes, red.

"£20,000,000 million sealed! Congratulations, Mr. Carrington.” Daphnia says and I can't help but laugh. I wasn't planning on winning. That was my plan all along. I had more than enough money from my alimony, even though I didn't get the entire 60 percent I had asked for. Excluding my family's stolen wealth, I was just as rich as Luke was. I felt no remorse, though. I only took back what was rightfully mine— my family's money and assets, also, my share of Luke's wealth. After all, I was his wife at some point. Whatever was his, was mine too. He said so.

I wanted Luke to lose a whole lot of money by forcing him to think I wanted to bid, alongside Rocky. Rocky played along with my plan, and I didn't even need to tell him anything. Maybe he was useful after all.

Still smiling, my eyes fall on Luke, and I realize he already had his eyes on me. I smile, giving him an even bigger grin. He nods his head in realization, as a frown plays across his face. He had just realized what I'd done. I played him, and this was just child's play, not even a warm up move. From this moment, I would ensure he had nothing but sleepless nights.

I doze off, rays of sunlight falling on my body. Memories come flooding back, but I don't struggle to push them out, even if they were the most horrific and terrifying moments of my life. I needed to relive them everyday, so they could serve as a constant reminder about why I needed to punish Luke.

Flashback

I could hear the sirens wailing as I struggled to open my eyes. I was moving, probably in an ambulance. I couldn't move my body though. I try lifting up my fingers, but I can't, I'm too weak. There's an oxygen mask on my face and a man standing above me, uttering words I found hard to make out.

The vehicle comes to a stop and I can feel hands around me, carrying me out. I remember. I was involved in an accident. I'm being moved into the hospital when I suddenly come to realization. The baby.

"Emergency! She's lost a lot of blood, no family available, prepare the OT now!"

I struggle to move my hand and I take off the mask. "The ba- the. . .” I struggle, as I feel a piercing pain in my stomach.

"Don't speak, ma'am. The baby?"

I nod, "B-baby. . .” I stutter, as tears fall from my eyes. "Sa-s-save him.” I beg, as tears begin to fall from my eyes.

The woman nods, holding my hand. "If we have to choose, we choose him, right?" She asks, and I nod. Aunt Ruth would do a great job raising my child. I would never entrust my child with mother. I would never let my child go through what I'd gone through, not even in death.

"Louis!" I hear Ashley call out, and I wake up instantly. I take off my beach hat, as I rush towards the water.

"How did you let him go this far?!" I yell, as I rush towards my son. "My love," I say, as I pick him off the floor and hug him. I spread kisses all over his face as I dust the sand off his body.

"Don't go close to the water baby, you scared mommy.” I say as I wipe of the water off my sons head. My Louis. The best thing in my life. He was the only thing capable of putting a smile on my face. He looked exactly like Luke. He had my eyes, Luke's nose and dirty blond hair.

"Pack his things, Ashley. Let's go home.” I say to Ashley, Louie's 20 year old nanny. Ashley was an orphan, no family to call hers. I had found her in the grocery store, trying to steal something to eat. I had just had Louis prematurely and couldn't do a lot of things properly because I was still recuperating from the surgery.

**

Holding Louis who's taking a nap in my arms, I enter my home. A penthouse located in Hyde Park. My son, Ashley and a few other workers lived alone in the house. I wanted no connection with Shoreditch or Croydon, except necessary. My mother had no clue as to where I was living or how I was coping with everything. She just enjoyed getting her monthly checks from me. The only person who cared enough to visit me twice or thrice every week was Aunt Ruth. She loved Louis so dearly, and even called him her grandson, which was perfectly within her rights.

"I'm famished, Delores, make me something heavy, please.” I say as I enter my home. Delores was mute, so she just nods.

"Ashley, please warm up some milk for LouLou, and bring it to my room, will you?” I ask, as I head for my bedroom. I wanted to give my son a bath and also have a bath too.

I drop Louis on the bed and undress. I had a scar on my stomach because I was unable to give birth normally. Louie was delivered through caesarean section.

Every morning I'd wake up, hoping to see a Luke walk through the door, at least to see his son, even if he didn't want to see me. He never showed up. What was I even expecting? After all, he rejected my baby right from when he was still in my womb. An innocent baby, who had done nothing wrong except be formed by our numerous sexual activities.

Sometimes, it scared me to think about Louis growing up, and asking about his father. What would I tell him?

I place Louie's bath cushion in the sink and place him in it. He giggles and I smile back at him.

"Do-do-do baby, it's your favorite time right? Bath time? You like the water don't you?" I bath him, carefully massaging his head and washing it. Everything I used for Louis was unscented, except his soap, which was strawberry and lemon scented.

I rinse my son, and wrap him in his scooby doo towel. I get him dried up and wear him his onesie.

"Ashley!" I call out and she rushes in in a few seconds. "Please watch him, I’d like to take a quick shower. Could you feed him too, please?"

I enter the shower, my hair flowing. I feel ecstatic as the water pours over my body, my mind flashing back to yesterday's events. I scoff, remembering Laurel and Luke together. I scrub my body, remembering how she pressed her body on his, how he allowed her do it.

I step out of the bathroom, and I clean the steam off the mirror. "I won't back down until I'm satisfied seeing you ruined. I won't.”

Wearing my robe, I walk into my bedroom. I had a few things to arrange, and a few calls to make. I go to the study, and I switch on the lights. I walk to my photo board, scanning Luke's pictures scattered everywhere. I had a personal PI, Lee-Martins, who got me all the information I could possibly need about Luke, the company, his friends, business associates, restaurants he went to, parties he attended and even down to where he shopped. I had his calendar for the month, so I knew about every move he made. Tonight, he was going to attend a seminar alongside his secretary, afterwards, he had a dinner date with Laurel and a few of his friends, the Senator, alongside Lydia.

"You never took me on dates, Luke. How partial can you be?" I scoff, as I open my laptop. As my laptop's loading, I get on with my phone.

"Hello, am I speaking to Katherine? Ah, well, this is Natalie. Natalie Devaux. Richardson, formerly Carrington. I believe, you would do anything for your VIP customer?" She responds. I answer, "I know I'm not a VIP customer, yet, but I can become one. Right now. I would like to rent out your store for the rest of the day, private shopping. I want you to clear out the store for me" I say, and she gasps on the other end. "Yes, I know you make millions in an hour. How much do you make in half a day? I'll pay you double. Thank you, I will be there." I say, as I drop the call. I knew Laurel and Luke planned on going there to shop today, but I wouldn't give them the chance to make a mockery of me.

My laptop is ready, so I log into booble mail to check my e-mails.

New Mail

To: Nataliedevaux@booble.com

From: @pileemartins.com.uk

Subject: These may be of interest to you.

The contents of the mail shock me to my very core. Luke really did have a lot of skeletons in his closet. How did I ever fall for such a man? I send the photos attached to the mail to my printer and print them out. I take them and paste on the picture board.

"Who are you really, Luke?" I ponder, as I stare at his pictures.

I'm about entering the store when I realize Laurel's arrived already, but alone. She gives me her usual dirty look, and proceeds to continue her conversation with the security, who's refusing to let her in.

"Do you know who I am? I'm Luke Carrington's fiancée!" She yells, and I smile. Her words hurt me, but I would die before I showed it.

"Natalie Devaux. I believe you’re expecting me?" I say to the security.

"Yes, ma'am." He says. He turns to Laurel. "The store is closed for the day, ma'am. Please, do come back tomorrow." He says and I'm fighting back my urge to smirk.

"What?!" She yells. "How dare you do this? I have money, so why aren't you letting me in?!" She yells. The security guard ignores her, and shows me the way in. She grabs me. "You did this! I know you're behind it, aren't you?!"

I jerk my hand off. "I beg you. Never, ever, in your life, touch me with those filthy hands of yours. If you do, you'll see the worst of me. I didn't say a word to you, so how dare you touch me?" I ask.

I can see the shock on her face. This was not the Natalie she knew a few months ago.

I continue, "If you can't shop here, it's because it's not a place suitable for you. Find your place. Get going, to the flea market, where you belong." I say, and I walk off. I had so much more to say to her. I wanted to rip her into pieces. I hated her with every drop of blood in me, not because she was with Luke now, but because her call triggered my father's condition and ultimately, led to his death.

I'm on the second floor of the store and I'm ushered to a couch that had been prepared for me.

An employee comes, "Welcome to The Lux, ma'am. Would you like a drink? Alcohol or Coffee?"

"Do you have whiskey?"

"No ma'am. We have red, white and rosé. Which do you prefer?"

"Sweet red wine, please."

The employee arrives with a bottle of red wine and a flute. "May I?" She asks, and I give an approving nod.

As a sip the wine, my mind flashes back to what the PI had sent me; pictures of Luke and a woman. She looked a tad bit older, and from what I concluded from those photos, Luke was infact married to her. If he was married to her, it meant our marriage was in fact null and void— illegal.

"What would you like to see, ma'am?" The employee asks.

I sip some more wine, "Just pack me 5 colors of bags and a few dinner dresses. Latest and limited edition, please.”

I grab my burner phone from my bag and I call.

"Find out who that woman is, where she is, and what her relationship with Luke was. I need to know everything.” I say and disconnect the call.