The drawing room of the Sterling mansion was filled with the scent of expensive hairspray and floral perfume. Nicole sat on a velvet stool, her back aching, while a team of stylists worked on her. They moved with clinical speed, painting her face and pinning her hair until she looked like a high-society bride.
Victoria sat on a nearby sofa, legs crossed, watching Nicole with a sharp, judgmental gaze. She sipped her champagne, her eyes tracking every move the stylists made.
"Make her eyes look wider," Victoria directed. "She has a habit of looking frightened. We need her to look like she's actually in love with Alex, not like she's waiting for a bus."
Nicole's stomach did a nervous flip. The hormone injections from earlier were making her feel sensitive and dizzy. She looked at Victoria through the mirror.
"About that 'secret' you mentioned earlier..." Nicole said, her voice small. "The one about the diamond."
Victoria let out a light, airy laugh. She waved her hand dismissively. "Oh, that? Honestly, Nicole, you're so easy to tease. I was just trying to scare you. You were eavesdropping, and I wanted to give you something to think about. There is no secret. A rock is just a rock, and you broke it. End of story."
Nicole exhaled a breath she didn't know she was holding. She felt a bit foolish for letting Victoria get under her skin.
"Now, stop worrying," Victoria said, standing up and smoothing her dress. "Alex hates a woman who overthinks. Just put on the dress and try to look like you belong at the top of the social ladder."
The dress was a masterpiece of midnight blue silk. It clung to Nicole's curves and trailed behind her on the floor. Mrs. Gable fastened a sapphire necklace around Nicole's neck, the cold metal making her shiver.
"You look breathtaking, dear," Mrs. Gable whispered. "Just stay close to the Master. He'll look after you."
When Nicole walked down the grand staircase, Alex was waiting. He looked incredibly handsome in his tuxedo, his ego practically radiating off him. He looked Nicole up and down, and for a second, his cold gray eyes softened. He didn't say she looked beautiful—that wasn't his style—but he nodded in approval.
"You look like a Sterling," he said, offering his arm. "Remember the rules. You smile. You don't speak unless I prompt you. This night is about showing the world that I have a perfect, happy wife. Do not ruin my image."
The gala was held at a massive gallery in Mayfair. As soon as the car door opened, the flashes of the paparazzi were like lightning. Nicole's heart hammered as Alex pulled her close. His hand was firm on her waist, pulling her into his side.
"Smile," he commanded under his breath.
Nicole forced her lips into a smile. She felt the eyes of London's elite on her. As they moved through the ballroom, she heard the whispers.
"Who is she?"
"I heard she was a commoner."
"She looks so young."
Alex ignored it all, moving with the confidence of a man who owned the room. He introduced her to investors and lords, and Nicole played her part, nodding and smiling until her face felt stiff.
But as the night went on, the heat of the ballroom and the effects of the IVF medication became too much. The floor felt like it was tilting. She gripped Alex's arm tighter.
"Alex," she whispered. "I feel very dizzy. I need to sit down for a moment."
Alex didn't even look at her. He was busy laughing at a joke made by a powerful banker. "Not now, Nicole. We have to finish the rounds."
"Please," she begged, her voice cracking. "I think I might be sick."
Alex turned to her then, his expression hardening. His ego couldn't handle the idea of his "perfect wife" causing a scene. "You are fine. It's just nerves. Stop being dramatic and hold your head up. You have a job to do."
Nicole felt a sting of tears. He didn't care that she was in pain. To him, she was just an accessory, like his watch or his shoes.
Victoria appeared beside them, looking flawless and smug. She noticed Nicole's pale face and leaned in. "Oh dear, Alex. Your little bride looks like she's seen a ghost. Perhaps the 'common' life didn't prepare her for real luxury."
Alex tightened his grip on Nicole's arm. "She's fine, Victoria. She's just overwhelmed by her own luck."
But as he pulled her back toward the crowd, a tall, elegant man stepped in front of them. He wasn't an investor. He was a world-renowned jeweler, a man who had appraised the "Eternal Star" diamond years ago.
"Alex! There you are," the man said, peering closely at the sapphire around Nicole's neck. "Stunning piece. But I must ask... I heard a rumor that the Eternal Star was destroyed. Tell me, is it true? Or is it locked away because it's too dangerous to show?"
Nicole felt Alex's hand tighten on her waist so hard it bruised. The ego-driven CEO didn't flinch, but his eyes turned like flint.
"Rumors are for people with too much time on their hands, George," Alex said coolly.
"Perhaps," the jeweler said, leaning in toward Nicole. "But you know what they say about that stone. It only breaks when the person holding it is hiding a soul darker than the diamond itself. I wonder... which one of you broke it?"
At that moment, the host of the gala stood on the stage to announce a toast. Everyone raised their glasses. Nicole tried to reach for a glass of water, but her hand was shaking too much.
Suddenly, a woman Nicole didn't recognize—a friend of Victoria's—purposely bumped into her.
"Oh! My apologies," the woman said with a fake gasp.
The red wine from the woman's glass splashed directly onto the front of Nicole's midnight blue gown. The dark stain spread quickly, ruining the expensive silk.
The crowd around them gasped. Nicole looked down in horror. She felt the eyes of the entire room on her. She looked at Alex, hoping for help, but his face was a mask of pure fury. He wasn't angry at the woman who spilled the wine—he was angry at Nicole for being a "mess."
"Go to the powder room and fix it," Alex commanded, his ego bruised by the eyes of his peers. "Now. If you can't come back looking perfect, don't come back at all."
Nicole turned and ran toward the hallway, her face burning with shame. She burst into the empty powder room and began scrubbing at the stain, sobbing quietly.
The door opened behind her. when she looked in the mirror, she saw Victoria standing there, holding Nicole's purse—the one she had left at the table.
Victoria reached into the purse and pulled out a small, orange prescription bottle. It was the hormones for the IVF.
"I was wondering why you were so moody tonight," Victoria said, her eyes glinting with a dark, newfound power. "IVF? So, the marriage is a total scam. Alex isn't even touching you, is he?"
Victoria stepped closer, a terrifying smile on her face. "I wonder what the press would pay to know that the great Alex Sterling is so disgusted by his own wife that he has to use a doctor to get an heir."