Her Deviant Husband

Chapter 4

Athira's pov

I had attended a gala event last night, well more precisely made an appearance as the Roy's had funded the event as curtesy. Since I was the executive director and Amara Mami had a board meeting.

One of the guys in my friend group was also there.
And well, his lover decided to make a scene, spilling white wine all over me.

What a classy move.

She was insecure, and that was not my problem. I'd smiled it off at the gala, pretending it didn't sting as much as it did.

But the moment I stepped into my shower, I could feel the warmth of the water washing away the remnants of embarrassment and pain I had felt. I tried to scrub away the memory of that smug look on her face, as if she were somehow proving a point.

What was the reason for her insecurity? I had never made a move on her boyfriend. I was too busy for that. Heck, I only met him at gala events, and he was just a distant friend. His name almost slipped out of my mind every now and then.

The point was, he was not even important in my life. Yet I had to face public humiliation because of him.

As the water cascaded down my back, I couldn't shake the feeling of frustration.

I was, reduced to a target for someone else's jealousy.
It was exhausting, this constant need to prove that I wasn't a threat.

When could I just be myself to people outside my family?
When could I step out of the confines of being a Roy, always viewed as a stepping stone for others to climb higher?

It felt suffocating, the realization that beneath the façade of wealth and privilege, I was merely a pawn in everyone else's game.

Where I was nothing but a joke. No one took me seriously because of how I smiled too easily. Never uttered a word against anyone. And they considered that to be my naivety.

I took a deep sigh.

I looked at myself in the mirror, the haze of steam lifting, I couldn't shake the frown that settled on my lips. My reflection stared back, not quite as confident as I wanted it to be.

I felt a twinge of vulnerability, like a shadow lingering behind me.

It was unsettling, almost as if I were being watched.

It's ok Athira Roy. Your family is all you need. No one else matters. Not the fake group of friends you have and not the world who considers you to be too stupid for this world.

That's how I had fallen asleep.

These thoughts... It always goes away with a good night's sleep. Nothing a nice beauty sleep can't cure.

I smell the waft of parathas and freshly brewed coffee dance in the air.

Fuck yes! Food.

.

.

.

I was late to breakfast again—not a shock to anyone, really. Why be early when you can be- fashionably late.

In reality... Why hurry when I know the day will be a circus of board meetings and corporate bullshit?

I smoothed down the white long dress I'd chosen, the corset belt hugging my waist perfectly, and my heeled platform boots giving me that extra edge of confidence.

Gold  hoops and a dainty golden necklace that went well with the uneven collar- neck line of the dress.

I ran a hand through my hair, adjusting the soft waves. Even if I had to deal with stuffy board members today, I would at least look good doing it.