The Ex

Aluna's question shattered the thick night silence like an arrow piercing the heart of stillness. "Ex?" she whispered again, this time with a more assertive tone, demanding an answer from the man beside her. The air on the balcony felt frozen, not just by the night's chill, but by the sudden tension that gripped them. Rey, who had previously seemed so distant, lost in contemplation beneath the countless stars, now stiffened. He turned abruptly, and for a fleeting moment, Aluna caught a glimpse of tenderness hidden beneath the usual icy layer of his dark irises. It was an emotion so brief, like a shooting star streaking across the night sky, that she almost doubted what she had just seen. However, before Aluna could decipher that fleeting change, Rey's cold mask returned perfectly, his eyes becoming two expressionless pieces of obsidian once more, as if he had drawn back all the emotions that had dared to peek out, locking them tightly behind the walls of his defenses.

"What do you mean by that foolish question?" Rey hissed, his voice low and cold, each word feeling like a grain of ice pricking her skin. He rebuilt the verbal wall that kept distance between them, a clear warning for Aluna not to try to step any further into his personal territory. Aluna's heart plummeted, a sensation of freefall that left her breathless for a moment. She felt foolish, too bold for disturbing the past of a man who guarded himself so fiercely, a man who preferred to hide behind rigidity rather than show even a hint of warmth or vulnerability.

The cold and awkward silence returned to fill the balcony, hanging between them like a thick fog enveloping mountains. The air felt laden with unspoken suspicion and secrets, a strange magnetic field where attraction and repulsion mingled, creating a subtle yet palpable sexual tension that Aluna could feel prickling her skin. She lowered her head, regretting her impulsiveness that often led her to act without thinking of the consequences. However, before she could withdraw and flee back to her increasingly unfamiliar room, the loud ringing of the mansion's doorbell echoed through the grand house, shattering the deep night silence.

Rey frowned, the expression on his face showing deep displeasure at the interruption. Irritation was evident in every line of his usually impassive face. Shortly after, Maya, the head maid who always maintained a professional and expressionless demeanor, appeared on the balcony with a slightly surprised yet still polite and controlled expression. "Mr. Rey, you have a guest," she reported in a calm but respectful voice.

Moments later, an elegant and confident woman stepped onto the balcony, her presence immediately dominating the open space. Her aura exuded wealth and power, radiating from every fiber of her expensive silk gown that hugged her perfect curves provocatively, from the sparkle of the diamond jewelry adorning her neck, reflecting the moonlight with a dazzling shimmer. Her jet-black hair was styled flawlessly in an elegant high bun, revealing a tempting slender neck, and her sharp, assessing gaze seemed capable of piercing through clothing and judging a person's worth in an instant. Aluna felt a small wave of intimidation wash over her, feeling small under the gaze of a woman who so effortlessly radiated beauty and unwavering confidence.

The woman flashed a wide smile upon seeing Rey, a smile full of familiarity and warmth that starkly contrasted with the coldness the man always showed her. The smile implied a long and intimate history between them, a past that did not include Aluna. "Rey!" she exclaimed, her voice melodious and full of joy with a hint of flirtation, her steps approaching with grace and certainty, as if the balcony were her private stage.

Rey seemed slightly surprised by the woman's arrival, yet he did not reject her greeting. In fact, his lips curved into a subtle smile that Aluna rarely saw, a smile that hinted at a relief and warmth that had been hidden tightly behind his icy facade. The woman then turned her gaze to Aluna, and her previously friendly look turned cold and condescending, as if Aluna were merely dust unworthy of attention, an extra who had no right to be there. There was a blatant assessment from head to toe, a subtle insult that made Aluna feel naked and uncomfortable, like an insect being observed under a microscope. "So, this is your wife?" the woman said with a mocking tone layered with a hint of pity, her smile vanishing, replaced by a disdainful expression that made Aluna feel her self-esteem being trampled upon.

Despite knowing perfectly well that her relationship with Rey was merely a loveless contract marriage, a mere formality on paper that involved no heart, Aluna felt an unpleasant wave of jealousy wash over her like a sudden cold tide crashing onto the shore. Seeing Rey's familiarity with this woman, the warmth and intimacy he never showed her, caused an unexpected ache in her heart, a pain mixed with embarrassment and anger at herself for feeling emotions she shouldn't in this cold and transactional marriage. She felt like a stranger who had no place by Rey's side, feeling increasingly distant from the man she now shared a roof with, shared a bed with but not a soul, not sharing gentle touches or meaningful gazes. She realized with bitterness that despite the absence of love, she had developed a strange possessiveness towards her husband, an irrational desire to own the man whose heart seemed locked shut to her, a heart that now seemed wide open to the woman before her.

Suddenly, the woman deliberately looped her slender arm around Rey's sturdy one, the movement so natural and possessive, as if they were lovers who had been separated for a long time and had finally reunited in a longing embrace. She rested her head on Rey's shoulder, her smooth black hair brushing against his cheek, an intimate touch that made Aluna hold her breath. The woman looked at Aluna with a cold and meaningful smile of victory, as if wanting to clearly show who truly held a place in the man's heart, who shared history and intimacy with him. "It's been so long, darling," the woman said with a tone of feigned longing, her voice seductive and full of promises of long-lost intimacy, a whisper that felt like a dagger piercing Aluna's heart. "I've missed you."

Rey did not reject the embrace. In fact, Aluna saw a fleeting expression of softening on his face as the woman touched him, a tenderness he had never shown her. Aluna could only stare, her heart feeling like it was being squeezed by a piercing pain and jealousy, emotions so strong they made her feel nauseous. Who was this woman? And why did her presence evoke such a strong reaction in both her and Rey? The woman's gaze then shifted to the small velvet box she held in her hand. She opened it slightly, revealing a mysterious gleam of metal inside, the dim moonlight reflecting off its surface. "I brought you a sweet memory..." she whispered with a secretive smile, her eyes returning to Rey with an intensity that made Aluna wonder about the dark and passionate past they might share, a past that now threatened the fragile existence of her contract marriage.