Unfaithful: Web Of Betrayal

“Do I look alright? How’s my tie?” Declan asked in the car before stepping out in front of the venue.

“You look fine here …” She fixed his tuxedo collar, and they were set to go.

They walked into the venue with her arms looped around his. Some of the guests were already there. Declan had booked The King’s Table to entertain close to 60 guests for the night. It was an upscale restaurant in the commercial district of Lancaster.

He had arranged for the place to be closed to the public almost two months before. The King’s Table was a challenging place to get into, and only those who are well connected and with excellent credentials can make such a booking.

Declan has an impeccable taste for everything. It was a lifestyle he was accustomed to since he was born in it. His preference for luxury rubbed on her when she started dating him. The dress she was wearing was one of the results.

She was wearing a long sleeve mermaid tail dress with a Sabrina neckline, off-white with dark blue intricate embroidery around the tail and neckline. She had to go through a clean eating diet for two months to look good in it. She really nailed the Marion Cotillard look she aimed for. Her hairdresser did an updo on her hair because she had grown them long, she wore a natural look make-up with soft pink lipstick, she was the star of the night.

“Olivia, happy birthday, darling; you look absolutely amazing,” Regina Chapman walked over to the couple with a glass of champagne and gave them a peck on the cheeks.

The room was lit with hanging lights, chandeliers with a soft golden glow, and candle lights on each table for six. Olivia was the one who truly illuminated the whole floor with her radiant beauty that turned heads.

“Regina, I’m glad you can make it. Where’s Walter?” Declan asked.

She waved her hand over her shoulder and rolled her eyes, “He’s somewhere chatting near the snack table, I would guess,” she laughed, “Oh … look at you …” She held Olivia’s hand, her eyes ran from top to bottom looking at her. “What is your secret young lady? I mean … I did not look like this when I was 40; maybe it’s not too late to do some of your routines before 50,” her laugh exploded and drew attention from around the room.

“Well, maybe you should be married to me; that’s her secret,” Declan leaned into the conversation and kissed Olivia’s temple.

Olivia smiled in amusement.

“Aah, that could be it; you should share that with Walter … tell him what you did so your wife can look this good.”

Before Olivia could respond, Declan’s mom came into the mix.

“Darling, I’ve been here for half an hour. I thought you’d never come,” Mimi kissed her son on the cheeks and then moved to her daughter-in-law. “You look lovely, dear. Happy birthday.”

“Thank you,” Olivia replied with a smile.

“She does, doesn’t she? I was just asking for her secret to keep this figure,” Regina said.

“Oh, you want to know the secret to keep your figure?” Mimi’s expression turned serious, “Don’t have kids,” she laughed.

Mimi always managed to make sour comments and masked it as a joke. She was the number one person who always highlighted that she couldn’t produce an heir for her beloved son. She wasn’t bitter about it; Mimi just thought her son could do better with someone else.

“Okay, time to mingle, Mom,” Declan took his mom by the arm and pulled her away. He knew his mom was not a good mix with his wife even from the first hello.

“Oh, don’t worry about it, Livy; I wouldn’t mind not having kids after the three I had,” she rolled her eyes again. “I’d trade them for a figure like yours,” she chuckled.

Olivia sighed and forced a smile; people always try to make it sound better when all they do is sounding worse. “I hope you enjoy the place; the food is excellent here.”

“Come sit with me … we have much catching up to do, so how’s your business? I heard only good things from Helena; she had her house done with your firm, right?” Regina hooked her arm around Olivia’s and dragged her to the nearest table.

—

Dinner went smoothly. Declan had arranged for Brian Murphy and his new wife, Abigail, to be seated at their table to discuss their business further. Regina and Walter Chapman joined them at the same table because Walter was also one of the leading partners in the project.

Olivia was a good hostess; she always tried to make her guests comfortable. She noticed how Abigail tried to hide her nervousness. She knew she didn’t belong there, being so young and new to the crowd. With Regina constantly raising her brows with every awkward gesture Abbey made, Olivia would swoop in to cut the tension.

She remembered how it was when she was that age and mingled with Declan’s associates at business functions and other formal events. Coming from a different background could be very intimidating because they notice every little thing you do wrong. But for Abbey, it could be twice as hard; her husband could pass as her grandfather; that alone had already given her a reputation that she probably won’t be able to shake off for the rest of her life.

The sound of tapping of glass interrupted her thought. Declan stood up and drew everyone’s attention to him.

“Good evening, everybody … I see that everyone’s finished their dinner; I hope everything is as expected?”

There was a murmur among the guests; they agreed to the restaurant’s quality of food and service.

“I’d like to personally thank Chef Paul Reniere for the exquisite dinner; give a round of applause for the Chef, please,” Declan raised his glass to the Chef.

The Chef bows to the crowd with a proud smile.

“Thank you,, everyone,, for coming; as you all know, today is my beautiful wife’s 40th birthday,” he glanced at Olivia, who was still sitting next to him, “Although she still looks the same to me as the day we met … Today also marked our 15th wedding anniversary.”

The guests applauded that as well.

“So I would like to make a toast for this wonderful lady that has stood by me for 15 years. God knows what a challenge that could sometimes be,” he chuckled, “But with grace and elegance, she never withered in hardships … and I’m forever grateful for this woman whom I owe my marriage, my sanity, and my happiness.”

He took her hand to stand up while the guests applauded again.

“Olivia …” Declan took something out of his pocket, a velvet box that could only contain one thing. “I would like to renew my vow to you, although it’s nothing formal … but I want everyone here to be the witness … and that is an official acknowledgment in itself,” he smiled and looked into her eyes. He opened the box. A blue diamond ring was inside it. He took it out.

She could hear the guests gasping at the size of that ring. She was flabbergasted by the sparkling blue gemstones in front of her too.

“With this ring … I pledge the rest of my life to be the best husband that you deserve … you are the woman I have chosen to spend the rest of my life with 15 years ago, and I have chosen that every day ever since,” he slipped the ring into her finger. “I love you, Olivia Harmon, always have and always will.”

They looked into each other’s eyes. She felt the love that night. Declan was not the romantic type; when he said he had a surprise, it really surprised her. She was touched by the gesture and felt a little mushy inside. She kissed her husband’s lips and showed everyone the ring as she did it.

“I love you,” she said and post for a photograph to the cameraman that approached their table.

People were cheering and congratulating them. Declan’s face beamed after he delivered his speech; his arm was around Olivia’s waist, a wide smile across their faces as the camera flashed to capture the moment.

Then Olivia felt her heart dropped to the floor when he saw the face behind the camera. Clear blue eyes pierced through her. His hair was longer. She wouldn’t recognize him from afar with medium-length hair. She literally stopped breathing and felt as if time had frozen in that room.

He lowered his camera and showed his face. The dimple on his cheek curved when he smiled. He put his hand on Brian Murphy’s shoulder, but his eyes were pinned on her.

“Congratulations,” he paused.

“That was an excellent speech, Mr. Hunt,” he added.

“Roman!” Brian exclaimed. “You’re here! Declan … this is my son, Roman.”Published by Nôv'elD/rama.Org.