Claudine's POV
I don't want to get mad because my head was aching again, but I have to. Elijah and Samantha were testing my patience and generosity.
That bitch rolled her eyes and ignored my warning. I have no choice but to hold the leash on my husband's neck.
"Don't you dare, Elijah. Don't make me mad, or else I'll ruin Samantha's name. These people will know how seductive and evil she is," I assert madly.
His eyes dilated when he heard what I said. I knew it. His weakness was his mistress. I guess there won't be a day when he trembles as he tries to protect me.
He'll never flinch and be afraid that one day, something bad will happen to me. Damn! My head isn't the only one that was aching.
My heart too! I grab a glass of champagne and am about to drink when he grabs the glass and drinks it himself.
"What are you doing?" I frowned while asking. "Just drink juice," he simply remarked.
I sighed and stood up. I needed to go in the bathroom and roared at the pain in my head. "Excuse me," I mumbled.
I walked away and bit my lower lip while trying to control my reaction. I walked as fast as I could.
I turned and reached the bathroom after walking for three minutes. I close the door and check the four cubicles. No one was there. I get inside and start growling in pain.
"Aagghh!" I roared, slamming my palm on the door.
The pain was unbearable. I stayed like this for five minutes until the pain slowly faded as if it never happened. I walked out of the cubicle.
I washed my face with cold water and breathed heavily. I opened my purse and grabbed the face tissue and wiped my face.
My eyes dilated when I saw someone in the mirror. I turned around. "Elijah? What are you doing here? This is a women's bathroom!" I roared. I became nervous. What if he heard my voice? I thought I locked the door?!
"Why? You seemed to be worried that I'm here," he replied.
I looked away and acted like I didn't know what he was talking about. "Leave. There might be other ladies that will use the bathroom," I remarked.
Deep inside of me, I was hoping that he didn't hear my voice groaning in one of the cubicles. I don't want him to know that I'm ill.
"Don't worry. I locked it and placed a notice card on the knob. No one will hear us," he says. That made me scoff.
I grab my lipstick and don't bother to apply some powder.
"Then let me apply some lipstick. At least I should be pretty even after you killed me," I mocked. I thought that would provoke him, but it didn't.
"What do you want from me, huh? Are you going to threaten me after I did it first? Don't be silly, Elijah. I won't be scared by you. Not anymore," I assert, turning my head on my left side.
He turned his head and faced me instead of reading my reaction in the mirror.
"You really had changed, Claudine. You no longer listen to me. Have you forgotten what I said two years ago? I can still destroy your family. Let's see if they can even live without privileges that their status can give," Elijah stated.
I take a step and grab his collar. "I don't fucking care how many times you curse me, Elijah. Listen to me, you jerk!"
I look at him intently, teary-eyed. I was torn between my feelings as a woman and a daughter. I thought I could handle this, but I guess I was wrong.
I only have to bear with it for two months, right? I'll be fine. I'll be a lioness and selfish at the same time. I don't have time to live anyway.
"Don't try to use my family to threaten me again. Didn't I warn you already? Don't mess with me. I'll never forgive you if you touch them. If you love her, then listen to me!"
I screamed the hell out of me. I don't care if someone was listening outside. My head was aching again as if the veins inside my head had popped out.
"I also have people that I loved the most. I'll protect them with all my strength. Don't make things uglier, Elijah. If you touched them, consider Samantha as dead," I assert, leaning my face closer and whispering my last threat.
He laughs and grabs my wrist. He leans his face closer, which made me walk backwards.
"What are you doing?" I ask.
I tried to act tough even if the pain in my head was unbearable again. The doctor told me not to be stressed, get mad, or be emotional if I want to live much longer than two months, but it's already impossible.
"Are you sure you can even handle me, huh? I don't think so. It's not because you're the head of this family that it would give you superpowers, Claudine. Don't be stupid," he says.
I turn my head when my body leans on the wall. What the heck! Deep inside, I'm trembling. I just master showing a poker face because I need that while carrying out my plans.
"You didn't know me yet. What you see are things that I stupidly do. Don't be anxious, my dear wife," he says, halting.
He caressed the side of my face while keeping his gaze on my eyes. "The game hasn't started yet," Elijah whispered, brushing his thumb on my lower lip.
He steps back and gives me that teasing smile. "If you could only see your face right now, Claudine. It's priceless," he added.
He walks back and opens the door, then leaves. I take a deep breath and turn my head, checking my reaction in the mirror. I laugh after.
"He's right. I look awful," I whispered.
After calming myself for five minutes, I walked out of the restroom and headed back to the party. I grab a glass of champagne from a waiter that is roaming around.
A group of seven had approached me first. "Greetings, Mrs. Riego. You look much better than what we imagine. The late Mrs. Riego isn't lying. She said her one and only daughter-in-law she will have had an exquisite beauty," Mrs. Fryar says.
I chuckled. My mother-in-law was a sweet lady, and recalling her kindness at times like this was making me calm and happy.
I know she mustered up the courage to give me the privilege of being head of the Riego family after she died.
"Oh please. My mom-in-law used to exaggerate things when she complimented people. Maybe she just likes me too much, which makes her think I'm too pretty," I replied with a hint of a joke in my voice.
They laugh. We continued to speak with each other until I excused myself five minutes later.
I saw my husband and Samantha leaving the venue in secret. I followed them and made sure no one noticed it.