Chapter 1: The Devil and I met eye-to-eye

SEVEN MONTHS AGO.

Invitations, lists of people to send said invitations to, and what dress to wear on Keith’s upcoming thirty-fifth birthday have been occupying my mind for the last few days aside from the garden party my husband has decided to have for his friends he made along the way to stay on top of the business world for next week. Time for myself and simply relaxing was taken up by the tasks I was assigned. However, I could not complain or even give it to anyone else. It was my duty as his wife to make sure everything was perfect down to the measly details of what tablecloth to use for the party. Rubbing my temple, I fought back the urge to sigh as the back of my eyes felt like it was burning from staring at the screen of my phone.

Perhaps a small break won’t hurt?

One would think the wife of Keith Cartiera would be sipping champagne in another ridiculously large bathtub in an extravagant bathroom in the enormous family home his parents bought for us since our engagement. Perhaps even play classical music as she has one of her maids massage her sore shoulders carrying gold necklaces dripping with diamonds every day. The same diamonds décor her ears and fingers to the chandeliers in the dining hall. It was absolutely possible due to the massive Cartiera fortune. Not to mention, the properties and treasures the family has in their possession.

But, oh, how wrong is everyone to think that way…

The Cartieras didn’t want a doll to adorn Keith’s home nor a woman who was too hands-on in her own home. No, they wanted someone molded into their own image of perfection—someone fit to be one of them. A woman who will be the best at all and birth a dominant alpha to continue Keith’s precious bloodline. A jack-of-all-trades, master of none.

A wife who doesn’t spend her husband’s money to lavish herself, but at the same time doesn’t let her appearance go. A wife who would obey all the rules set out for her before the marriage even began. A wife who will not hinder or outshine her husband in any way.

“Mrs. Cartiera, would you prefer satin or silk?”

Eyeing the evening dresses presented, I fought the urge to roll my eyes at how tiresome it has been trying to find the perfect dress for the party. This has been the fifth time I’ve been asked to find something else to wear. Why? Because the dresses I picked out did not suit my mother-in-law’s tastes. How could one find a dress that was elegant and beautiful, but not enough to outshine the man of the evening? Might as well wear a potato sack and call it a day. But of course, that will anger the family I married into. Keith will not forgive me if I do that either.

“Satin will be fine,” I responded monotonously, fingers threading through the pages filled with images of sample invitation cards to pick from. Pain was starting to blossom in my lower back. I fought back the urge to groan aloud. “Just please make sure it will fit with the party’s theme. Probably with some fur? A coat to match it as well? Or is that too much?”

The ladies and the party planner merely stared at one another at my question, clearly taken aback at my uncertainty. After exchanging glances, one stepped forward.

“M-Ma’am?”

Eyes widening slightly at what I uttered, I bit my lower lip before forcing a tight-lipped smile.

How could I forget the ninth rule in a list of other twenty-five stupid rules? A Cartiera should have no room for doubt. And I clearly just broke that rule in front of all these women

Sensing the awkwardness in the air, I immediately cleared my throat and waved a dismissive hand. The image of Keith’s wife must remain pristine.

“Nevermind. Please proceed to find one that’s white. After that, find me a coat as well. And some shoes that will go well with it all.”

“Yes, Mrs. Cartiera.”

Watching the ladies disappear into the walk-in closet, I turned my attention back to the party planner with a quirk of a brow. She put on her best smile, eager to please. I couldn’t help but feel sorry for both of us.

“Shall we continue?”

Marrying into the Cartiera family was both a curse and a blessing. The only favorable outcome was to be able to wake up next to Keith and bask in his dashing smile every morning despite how many days had passed of me waking up next to an empty side of the bed due to his hectic schedule. Our marriage may have been far from a fairytale one from the beginning, but he and I have come to terms with one another. After all, his parents didn’t want him to marry anyone else and he didn’t have another woman before the arranged marriage was brought to the table. I guess it is attributed to the fact that his parents are picky with whom he associates.

The life of a dominant alpha with expectations is difficult.

When it concerned family matters and how they were conscious of what society had to say, we were evenly matched in how similar we were.

Except for the Cartieras who are viewed as gods in Imperatum City, my family’s reputation was tainted by my gold digger of a mother. The Licht family indeed owe Keith and the Cartieras after such a fiasco, trying to repair the damage done. And I, being the only daughter of the influential Licht family, was sacrificed to the lions to pay off a debt too great to be paid with money.

I should resent them for tossing me here. But I couldn’t, not when Keith is so good to me that I can tuck away those memories. After all, it was for the better. If my husband is such a sweet angel, I can overlook the way the other Cartieras treat me.

I can’t blame them for seeing me differently, though. Because even if I am on par with them when it comes to everything else, my being a dominant omega is nothing compared to the alphas in Keith’s family. In short, I was a sheep in a den full of wolves, being tolerated.

How long will it take for those wolves to go hungry?

“Mrs. Cartiera, perhaps white roses will go well with your husband’s birthday rather than the garden party.”

“I’ll ask him about it.” I sighed, leaning back against the leather chair as I glared at the invitation samples. Nothing seemed good enough. My head was starting to ache at the thought of more tasks to attend to. “As for the invitations, perhaps ivory and gold are the best way to go. For the garden party, flowers and whatever can be associated with nature will do. Do add some vibrant color to it.”

“Understood.”

A knock on the door interrupted our conversation, causing me to straighten my back in fear of my mother-in-law about to enter the bedroom. The party planner instantly stood up, ready to greet whoever was at the door to score some points. Anyone who earns a compliment from the Cartieras is considered lucky. However, I beg to differ, especially if that very person is behind that door. If there was one person who was more terrifying than the head of the family, it was his wife, Estrellia Cartiera.

Fortunately, it wasn’t the terror of a mother-in-law who entered but my best friend whom I had known since childhood, Jasmine Kara, bearing a basket filled with chocolates and wine as she beamed at me from the doorway. Relieved, I smiled. Instantly, I stood from my seat to greet her with a warm hug as she kissed me on my cheek, gushing at the action.

“How are you, Vivi?” She giggled, holding me at arm’s length to admire my dress. “Oh my, looks like I shouldn’t ask with how beautiful your outfit is today.” Her eyes then acknowledged the party planner, face turning red. “D-did I interrupt something important? I hope I’m not bothering you guys…”

“No, it’s all right. She and I were about done.” I excused myself, sending a smile at the woman whom Keith hired. “I’ll review the plans and finalize some tomorrow. You may go now.”

Taking that as her cue to leave, the party planner bid farewell and exited the bedroom. Jasmine visibly relaxed, humming to herself as she glanced at the evening dresses sprawled out on top of the bed. “It’s like a storm passed by here!” She commented with a laugh, poking one of the garments. A whiff of her pheromones told me she was in a pleasant mood today. “Is it okay for me to be here? I feel like I’m intruding or something.”

“Yeah, it’s a bit of a mess, isn’t it?” I chuckled, taking a seat once more. The glass table in the center of the room is filled with portfolios of samples and designs for Keith’s birthday. Seeing how messy it was, I couldn’t imagine what the living room downstairs would be like once the florist and catering for the garden party were decided. Just the mental image of it was making my head ache already. “But yeah, why not? You’re always welcome here in our abode, Jas.”

“Well, I am your only friend after all.” Jasmine breathlessly laughed, taking the seat where the party planner used to be, and placing the basket of goods next to her. “By the way, are you going somewhere? I came here to drop some gifts for you and your hubby.” To make an emphasis, she patted her gift with a pleased grin. “I know how you love your chocolates and wine—I do apologize if isn’t the kind that may fit your husband’s expensive tastes.”

I made a face at her statement, seeing how incredulous it sounded. “There’s no need to apologize and you know that. It’s a gift after all and if Keith doesn’t eat it, then more for me.” I shrugged, taking one bar from the pile and reading the colorful texts printed on its packaging. “And to answer your question, I have to go out and have dinner with my sister-in-law. She invited me last week but we had to postpone it due to Keith’s sudden fever last time. Really strange to be honest…”

“Strange?” Jasmine’s eyebrows furrowed, curious to know. “Why so?”

Why so, indeed…

Recalling the scene that happened last Tuesday when Keith stumbled into the front door with his face flushed red and temperature spiking rapidly, I clicked my tongue at the memory as I dropped the chocolate bar into my purse. “Well, he got sick due to the rain—that’s what he said to me before passing out on the floor. However, he had bodyguards and assistants so I don’t get why he didn’t have an umbrella when it started to pour…” Tucking back a stray strand of hair, I stared straight into Jasmine’s brown doe eyes in slight suspicion of what was going on with my husband. “Don’t you think… I don’t know, maybe I’m overreacting a bit.”

“What? That he might be having an affair?” Jasmine then snorted at the thought. “I may have known Keith for only a while, but I don’t see him as a man who might go behind your back. His family has all these rules and reputations to keep up with in public—you’re not a stranger to that already. So, even if he does want to have an affair, wouldn’t it be too taxing on him? Plus, he’s a dominant alpha. He wouldn’t do that to those he deems lesser than him, even if it were a cute omega.”

“I-I guess so…”

What Jasmine said made sense. Keith was not the type to ruin his own image or his family’s. The Cartiera family may have risen to fame years before our marriage, but their reputation is still shaky. One wrong move and their whole tower will topple over. Keith knows this all too well so there was no way he would want to mess up, especially when the public’s eye is always on them.

Other than for that reason, he can’t be having an affair… Not when he says he loves me and only me. And as his wife, I should trust him as much as he trusts me.

Right?

“Vivi, are you… actually suspecting him?”

At my best friend’s innocent query, my lips parted as I began formulating my response when my phone rang. The vibration caused the glass table to slightly shake along with the items nearby it. Quickly, I took the gadget and answered the call with my sister-in-law’s name on the screen.

“Vivien, where are you?”

“Hello, Hailey.” I greeted softly despite the demanding tone she shot at me. “I’m on my way out of the house now actually. I’ll be there in ten minutes.”

“Make it five. It took me forever to reserve a table here and I don’t want you to embarrass me.”

The line was immediately cut, making me sigh at the order before shoving my phone into my purse. Shooting Jasmine an apologetic smile, I hurriedly gathered my things and car keys. “I’m off, Jas! Hailey will cut my head off if I stay longer. Keith wanted me to accompany her so I mustn’t be late.”

“No worries, Vivi. I’ll come by next time, okay?”

“Bye and love you!” I waved at the brunette once more before dashing out of the bedroom, heels clicking against the marble floor. As soon as I was at the stairway, I composed myself upon seeing a few housekeepers cleaning below and slowly descended the stairs. At the sight of me, they immediately halted their actions and greeted me with curt nods.

“Good evening, Mrs. Cartiera.”

“Good evening to you all as well,” I replied, masking my anxiety as I reached the last step. “Please tell the chef that Keith and I won’t be dining here tonight. And do offer Jasmine food if she comes down in a bit. Don’t serve her anything with shrimp, okay? She’s allergic to those. Thank you.”

I briskly walked to the front door and to my parked BMW, I didn’t waste time and started the engine. The gates were now opened and I wasted no time in getting out, ready to step on the gas pedal as soon as I hit the road… Until I found the passenger seat empty of the paper bag that contained shoes I was supposed to give Hailey as a present. Debating on whether to go back or not, I exhaled aloud as I turned the vehicle around. Opting not to go back in, I parked the car a few feet from the house and decided to walk back in.

Oh, how wrong I was to think that it was such a great idea.

The moment I turned my back to shut the car door, a metal object was then pointed blankly at my head, digging into the flesh of my skull as I stood still in shock.

“Keep quiet or I will shoot your fucking brains out.”

H-holy shit!