Chapter 4

Here's the edited version in past tense with the typos and errors removed:

Isla's POV

Nothing hurt more than realizing that you meant nothing to someone who meant everything to you.

"I want you in my bed after the party." Those words sent tremors down my spine. His voice was so seductive that I wanted him right there. The contract said we would make love only when Landon wanted to. I smiled to myself bitterly, knowing that at least I would get to spend some time with him tonight, even though the feelings between us would be so different.

"Were you adopted from a hospital or what..." Hearing his deep voice, my eyes shot open. I realized that I had been leaning against the car's door, resting my head on the window as I got lost in my thoughts.

"Hmm?" I looked at him in confusion.

"I said, were you adopted from a mental institution or something?" he repeated, and this time I heard him, but I wasn't sure I was hearing right. Why would I be adopted from a mental hospital? I kept staring at him for a moment and then took out a small mirror from my bag to check if everything was okay with my face. To my surprise, there was nothing wrong—no drool, no smudged makeup, and my hair laid perfectly down my back. So what was he talking about?

"You were smiling to yourself like a fool." I cast my gaze upon him instantly. Was he watching me? Was he watching me all this time? I didn't know whether to cringe or jump in excitement.

"Can you stop staring at me like that now? It's irritating and you're making me uncomfortable," he continued, and I immediately tore my gaze away from him.

"I'm sorry." I looked down and lowered my voice. Looking out the window, I couldn't help but smile. Even though it was very stupid, I felt happy that for the first time, he spoke to me without raising his voice.

As soon as we got out of the limo, paparazzi immediately caught sight of us and rushed over, taking several shots of us, leaving me confused and disoriented. I felt a hand slip around my waist, the intoxicating scent of his cologne already overpowering me. I threw a glance at him, not knowing how he always succeeded in giving me butterflies in my tummy. He looked so damn good in his black tux, one hand in his pocket and the other on my waist.

I could watch him all night long. He bent forward towards me, and I could feel his breath on my cheek. He was so close—extremely nervous. I shut my eyes in anticipation of the kiss I knew was coming.

"Sweetheart, I don't know what you were expecting, but do not get the wrong idea. I am only doing all of this to prove to my father that I have changed and I'm capable of handling the CEO position of the company. I have no interest whatsoever in you, and neither will I in the future, so do not let all this get into your head." He stood back up with a smile and patted me on the cheek. I felt a pang in my chest; his level of brutality never ceased to astonish me. I was really an idiot for thinking it was even possible for him to like me.

"Mr. and Mrs. Aldridge, a smile for the camera, please," one of the photographers in the crowd shouted.

I took a deep breath, plastered a fake smile on my face, took reins of my emotions, and looked at the cameras. They kept clicking our photos until the next VIP guest took their attention. We headed toward the grand hall for the event.

I held my breath for a moment. The hall was magnificent. The décor was absolutely breathtaking; the interior designers definitely outdid themselves.

"Landon?" A breathy voice called, and he dropped my hand in a flash and turned toward the voice.

"Hailey," he breathed her name in such an enthusiastic way. I had never heard him sound so sweet.

Hailey? His Hailey? The love of his life, the one who completely had his heart? I slowly turned to see her, and standing before me was a striking and fierce-looking beauty in a long black dress, her face made up to perfection. She could literally be a top model, and her confidence and poise exuded in her dress and posture. I was seriously nothing in front of her. Of course, Landon would choose her over and over again. I was the complete opposite of her.

"Landon," she pouted like a kid and kissed his cheek before hugging him tightly. Landon did the same, but instead of her cheek, he kissed her forehead, and it tugged at my heart. It was obvious, even to the blind, how much affection he had for her.

I turned back around. Why did they have to do all of that in front of me?

"Do whatever you want, Isla. Mingle with the people around and don't come to me for anything. Besides, you've always wanted all these luxurious and fancy things," he said harshly, waving his hand around. I gazed at him as he wrapped his arm around Hailey's waist, and she stared at me in disgust.

He walked off with Hailey in his arms, leaving me all alone in a room filled with people I knew nothing about. I tried to distract myself from the sting by walking around, admiring the beauty of the place. I think it's time to come to accept my fate: unrequited love.

One thing was clear tonight: I could never match Hailey. She was beyond perfect—a perfect face, perfect body, hell, even her voice was perfect. I knew it was wrong to admit, but I was envious of her, because of her beauty, she had Landon. I let out an exasperated sigh and played with the glass of wine in my hand. At least I had the title of a wife, whereas she was just the mistress.

"All alone, gorgeous lady?" someone asked behind me, and my mouth fell open as my eyes widened in recognition of the voice.

"Ivan!" I gaped at him as I turned around and saw him.

"Hello, beautiful." He tugged my cheek playfully, and in a flash, I was in his arms. We clung to each other, and my heart exploded with joy. I couldn't believe I found him finally. I had longed to see him—the only childhood friend with whom I could share everything back then.

"Are you trying to strangle me, young lady? I can't breathe," he exaggerated, gasping for air as if he were really dying.

"Shut up." I slapped him playfully on the arm as I giggled with joy. "How are you here? I thought you were in France managing your own business?"

"I should be really mad at you. You left without even telling me you were leaving and never bothered to keep in touch. That was really mean," I confronted, remembering how hurt I was when he left.

"Yeah, I came back to handle some meetings and appointments, and I'm terribly sorry about the way I left, but I can't explain why I had to leave that way now. I'll explain it to you later."

"Okay, but how come you're at this party?"

"For your kind information, Miss Isla-Mae, I was specially invited to this party. The organizer of the party is my dad's friend, and he was unable to attend, so I'm here on his behalf. Do you understand, shortie?"

I laughed as I remembered the nickname he had for me when we were kids and I was a little bit shorter than my age mates. It used to annoy the crap out of me, but I later grew into it and found it endearing.

"Okay, Frodo," I teased back, and we both burst out laughing. I still couldn't believe I was seeing him after five years. He looked even more mature and handsome, his bright eyes shining as he looked at me happily.

"So how about you, why are you here?" he asked, still smiling at me.

I should tell him. Tell him about everything I'd been going through with Landon. It killed me that I had no one to talk to about what I'd been going through. Ivan used to be that friend to me—the one I went to with all of my issues and burdens. But now, if I told him, Landon would become the villain in his point of view. He didn't even know that I was married, and I couldn't possibly tell him that right now. What if he saw through me and found out the kind of marital relationship I had with Landon? If he came to find out that Landon saw me as only a gold-digger who ruined his life, it wouldn't end well.

"Uhm…"

"Never mind, you've taken more than thirty seconds to answer. Let's dance instead?"

"Uhm." I scratched my neck and looked around. I saw Landon and Hailey in each other's arms, laughing out loud, and I felt a pang of jealousy.

"Yes," I said, looking back at Ivan.

He led me onto the dance floor, putting one hand on my waist and holding my hand with the other. I mirrored his actions. I held his hand with my right hand and put my left one on his shoulder. Meanwhile, he continued to crack jokes, making me laugh out loud.

"You're so beautiful, Isla-Mae." He tucked a stray hair that had fallen into my face behind my ear with his index finger.

"You know the reason I went to France was because…"

"May I cut in?"