The next morning.
The entire Advani estate was getting decorated with flowers and new lighting.
Workers moved with a heavy flower vase and put it near the grand entrance.
Some were standing on the ladder, hanging small crystal chandeliers in the air with thin wires.
Reiha glanced from her window; Arthav was standing in the garden talking with two strangers wearing a white shirt with his sleeves folded, sipping whiskey.
“God, he’s drinking in broad daylight.” Reiha scoffed.
“What is all this with this decoration? Are they having a party tonight? Yeah, it seems like they are.” She mumbled to herself.
Arthav lifted his gaze to look at her for a brief second, then turned his gaze again to the strangers again and continued his conversation with them.
“I thought he would do something last night, but thank God he didn’t. At least he kept one of his promises.”
“Knock! Knock!”
Reiha turned
A girl servant entered the room; behind her, another girl came wheeling the golden garment rack filled with designer gowns.
“Master Arthav has asked you to choose a dress to wear tonight and some matching jewelry.”
“What is happening tonight?” Reiha asked.
“Master Arthav is throwing a party to introduce you to the society as his wife.”
Reiha sighed, “I’ll choose one. You both can leave now.”
Reiha turned to the window again and glanced outside.
Arthav was standing there alone.
She lightly touched her chin and whispered to herself, “I know why you are throwing this party. Just to show the world what you won.”
In the evening Reiha got out from her room and stood on the mezzanine.
She took a pause and took a look at the hall downstairs.
Then she slowly walked down to the stairs.
She wasn’t wearing any of the elegant dresses Arthav had sent her.
Instead, she wore a wine red dress with a deep neckline and backless design.
A daring slit ran along the side of the dress, exposing most of her thigh as she walked.
Arthav stood in the middle of the hall, holding a glass of champagne in his hand.
Light from the chandelier glowed on his tailor-made black suit.
It was sharpening the features of his face.
His expression remained calm, but he had an authority in the way he carried himself.
Beside him, two men were standing, both looking equally wealthy and influential.
The man standing on his left with a well-trimmed beard and hair combed back, dressed in a navy blue suit standing tall.
There was a gold watch around his wrist, and he was very confident in the way he spoke.
He was not as loud as the first man was; he was sipping his whiskey and watching the crowd, silently judging everyone around him.
The three of them stood in a loose triangle in the hall talking about God knows what.
Business, politics, or maybe another deal worth millions.
A hall filled with mafia leaders, businessmen, and powerful politicians, she chose the most scandalous dress possible to wear that night.
As soon as she descended the stairs, the chatter around the hall slowly faded.
All eyes were fixed on her.
The controversial gown had a perfect fit on her body and accentuated her curved waist.
The bold expose of her thigh with every step that she took.
She strode with ease and confidence, oblivious to the eyes that were staring at her with a mix of shock and curiosity.
Arthav slowly raised his gaze, his eyes darkening in the second he saw her in that dress.
He sipped his champagne as she walked across the hall, stealing all of his attention in the process.
There was a slight smirk on his face.
He took another sip, then walked towards her with calm and unhurried steps.
He leaned closer to her and whispered slowly into her ear, “You’re looking hot.”
His hand moved over her waist, pulling her closer to him.
A slightly dangerous smile spread on his face.
He scanned her gown from up to down with his eyes.
“You’ve got quite a taste.”
Rhea looked at him in disbelief.
She wore that dress to clearly piss him off, but instead of getting angry, he got impressed by her choice.
She rolled her eyes in dissatisfaction.
Arthav licked his lower lips and smirked at her reaction.
Tightening his grip around her waist, he pulled her closer until there was no distance left between them.
“Come on,” he murmured, in a low and teasing tone.
“Let’s go meet our guests, wife.”
Reiha brushed his arm away from her waist.
“Don’t touch me. As if I’m interested in meeting your guests,” she said with an annoyed glare.
She turned away and walked to the counter; her heel echoed on the marble floor.
“A glass of wine,” Reiha said, looking at the bartender.
The bartender poured her a glass of wine and put it on the counter.
Arthav smiled sideways and watched her quietly with amusement in his eyes.
“Your wife has quite the attitude, Mr. Advani.” The man in the navy suit said.
Arthav lazily swirled the champagne in his glass before he responded, “It suits her.”
Reiha sipped her wine, totally irritated by this party and the guest.
Though Reiha couldn’t hear what she was actually talking about, she could feel her stares.
Ignoring her mother-in-law, she continued enjoying her drink and finished it in one gulp.
She looked at the bartender and asked, “One shot of tequila, please.”
“You’ll get drunk,” Arthav said, standing beside her.
Reiha scoffed, “Why do you care?”
He smirked slowly and leaned closer to her face.
“Well,” he murmured, “I have to sleep in the same bed with you tonight.” His gaze slowly traveled over her cleavage.
“What if you lose control? And jump over to my side.”
She turned towards him.
“How could you be so delusional? Losing control over you, huh…?”
“You seem popular tonight,” he murmured in her ear.
Reiha eyed him.
“Maybe because your guests have nothing better to do than stare.”
“Tell me,” he said, scratching his temple a little, “you wore this dress for my attention.
“Didn’t you?
“You wanted my eyes to be on you. Are you enjoying my attention, Wife?”
Reiha frowned.
She couldn’t believe what he just said.
Rolling her eyes, she said.
“Trust me, the last thing I enjoy is standing beside you pretending to be the perfect wife.”
Arhav smiled at her irritated expression, but the moment his eyes turned to the grand entrance, his smile faded and replaced by something colder.
Reiha looked at his eyes, which had turned to ice; she followed his gaze and turned.
A man was walking towards them in his expensive grey tux, the same age as Arthav, with two bodyguards following behind him.
His neck was covered in tattoos, and his lips were pierced from the corner; there was a dangerous smile that rested lazily on his lips as his eyes landed directly on Reiha.
The pianist stopped playing suddenly.
The soft music died instantly, people started to whisper over their drinks about him, and somehow, within a minute, the stranger made himself the center of attraction just by entering the hall.
“Arthav, I heard you got married, boy,” the stranger said, sliding his left hand into his pocket.
The smile on his face widened.
Funny.” His eyes flickered briefly toward Reiha.
“You always said you wouldn’t marry before taking your revenge.”
The atmosphere around them instantly shifted from warm to cold.
Several businessmen nearby fell silent.
Even Arthav’s expression hardened just to seeing that man.