Chapter 4

4: 4

Joachim trailed after us, smiling as he took Vera's hand and looped it through his arm, his eyes all challenge.

“Sorry about this, Clyde. Today, Vera's here as my fiancée.”

“If your heart can't take it, feel free to leave now. I won't hold it against you.”

The two of them stayed close, drifting through the gallery arm in arm, laughing with every guest, the picture of a devoted couple.

The lights suddenly dimmed, and Joachim pulled Vera to the center of the room.

“Everyone, if I could have a moment. Today is my fiancée's and my dating anniversary.”

“I wanted to give her a big gift——tonight's final showpiece.”

The lights seemed to swing on purpose and land on me.

Joachim looked at me, smiling “Let me introduce him to all of you. This is my fiancée's cousin, and soon he'll be my cousin too. Do me a favor and pull back the cover, be the witness to our most important moment!”

The cord was shoved into my hand, and the staff egged me on, pushing me forward.

The moment the cloth fell, the room erupted.

“So romantic! So thoughtful!”

“Childhood sweethearts, and then they built each other up as they grew. What kind of fairytale love is this!”

It was a hand-painted wedding portrait of Vera and Joachim.

In the painting, on the ring finger of Vera's right hand, sat a diamond ring that stabbed at my eyes.

The lights swung back to Joachim. He shot me a mocking look, reached out and lifted the ring off the canvas, then dropped to one knee.

“Vera, you went through so much hardship with me, never leaving, never looking down on me. Now that I've finally made something of myself, will you marry me?”

“I will!”

Vera was already a wreck, undone by the whole thing.

She ran over and threw herself into his arms.

I was knocked aside, straight into the champagne tower beside me.

Wine soaked my suit, and part of my hair went wet. I groped through the dark trying to get up, and my palm drove into shards of glass, a dense, prickling pain.

And my wife, Vera, stood less than ten feet away, kissing another man hungrily.

After the applause, the lights came up.

Joachim looked at the state I was in and couldn't hold back a snort.

“Sorry, cousin, I forgot you're getting on in years and your eyes aren't good. Now look at you, drenched like a stray!”

“Though the way you look right now just gave me new inspiration. I'll paint a piece just for you, and the money from it can be your gift to Vera and me!”

He grabbed a camera and shoved the lens in my face. A click, and the flash stabbed at my eyes.

Vera, feeling utterly humiliated, waved the staff over.

“My cousin isn't feeling well. Call him a cab and send him home.”

A few people hauled me up by the arms. The instant I was on my feet, I wrenched free of them, walked onto the stage, and stood at the microphone.

I pulled the already soaked divorce papers out of my pocket.

“My wife's big moment. How could I possibly leave?”

“Vera, let's get divorced. I wish you well!”