Jealous Fire

"Who are you?" Aluna finally asked, her voice trembling slightly with nervousness and a mix of emotions. She could no longer contain her curiosity and the suffocating feeling of unease.

The woman turned to her with a look as if only just realizing her presence. "Oh, forgive me. I was too engrossed in reuniting with Rey." She extended a slender hand, her fingers adorned with sparkling diamond rings. "I'm Natasha. Rey's ex-lover." Her smile this time was wider, but it didn't reach her cold, assessing eyes.

Aluna hesitantly shook her hand, feeling the smooth yet cold touch of her skin. "Aluna," she replied briefly.

"Rey's wife... the new one?" Natasha added the word 'new' with clear emphasis, as if doubting Aluna's status or predicting it wouldn't last long.

Rey remained silent, his jaw clenching again. He neither denied Natasha's statement nor introduced Aluna warmly.

"I knew you'd be happy to see me," Natasha replied in a teasing tone, looping her arm back around Rey's and moving slightly closer, her shoulder deliberately brushing against Aluna's, a small gesture that felt intensely provocative.

"What brings you here, Natasha?" Rey asked again, this time with a more assertive tone, as if wanting to take control of the situation.

Natasha turned her gaze from Aluna and back to Rey, her eyes filled with nostalgia. "I'm in town on business, and I couldn't possibly miss the opportunity to see you again, darling. I've always missed you." Her voice softened at the end of the sentence, and she tilted her head slightly, looking up at Rey with hopeful eyes that held a hint of glistening tears.

"You didn't tell me you were coming," Rey said again, this time with a gentler tone, almost like a fond reprimand.

"I like surprises," Natasha replied with a flirtatious smile. She lifted the small velvet box in her hand. "And I brought you something." She opened it fully, revealing an antique silver watch with intricate engravings. "Do you remember this? You gave it to me on my 21st birthday."

Rey looked at the watch, and Aluna saw a subtle change in his face. A hint of tenderness appeared in his eyes, a clear nostalgia. He reached out and took the watch from Natasha's hand, turning it over carefully, as if holding something very precious.

"It's been a long time," Rey murmured softly, his voice almost inaudible.

"Time flies so quickly, darling," Natasha replied, her voice softening again. She raised her hand and gently touched Rey's cheek.

Aluna held her breath, feeling a sharp pang of jealousy. The touch looked so natural and affectionate, a painful contrast to the cold and stiff interactions she always had with Rey.

Rey didn't reject the touch. He even closed his eyes for a moment, as if savoring the warmth and intimacy Natasha offered.

"How have you been, Rey?" Natasha asked in a whisper, her gaze filled with undeniable longing.

Rey opened his eyes and looked at Natasha, and for a split second, Aluna saw a deep warmth in the man's eyes, an emotion she had never witnessed before. "I'm... fine," Rey replied, his voice a little hoarse.

"I'm glad to hear that," Natasha replied, her smile widening again. She moved closer to Rey, their bodies almost touching.

Aluna felt she couldn't bear the sight any longer. She felt like an intruder in their intimate moment, a silent witness to a past love that was rekindling. Without saying a word, she turned and walked towards the balcony door, wanting to escape this suffocating atmosphere.

"Aluna, where are you going?" Rey asked, his voice slightly surprised.

Aluna paused for a moment, her back to them. She didn't want to turn around and see their closeness any further. "I'm tired. I'm going to bed," she replied curtly, trying to hide the tremor in her voice.

"But..." Rey tried to say something, but Aluna had already stepped inside the room, closing the balcony door with a soft yet firm movement. She leaned against the door, feeling tears welling up in her eyes. The pain and jealousy she felt were so intense that it made it difficult to breathe.

She heard Natasha's soft laughter from outside, followed by Rey's low murmur. The sounds felt like knives piercing her heart. She walked towards the bed, feeling cold and empty. This contract marriage, which she had initially considered a mere formality, now felt like a painful trap. The presence of Rey's ex-lover had opened a wound she hadn't realized existed, a wound of feeling unwanted and unloved. She lay down on the bed that felt so vast and empty, her tears finally spilling over uncontrollably. Tonight, she didn't just share a roof with her husband, but also shared his heart with a ghost from the past who now stood in the form of an elegant and captivating woman named Natasha. And Aluna knew, her presence would change everything.

The thin curtains of Aluna's room moved gently, stirred by the night breeze that slipped through a slightly open window. But her thoughts were far from the tranquility of the night. In her mind, the images of Rey and Natasha still danced, their familiarity, Natasha's tender touch on Rey's cheek, the longing glances they shared – everything felt like thorns piercing the depths of her heart. She hugged herself, trying to ward off the sudden chill that crept over her, a cold that didn't come from the room's temperature, but from the gaping emptiness in her chest.

Jealousy. The word felt foreign on her tongue, an emotion she had never felt this intensely before. She knew she shouldn't have the right to feel this way. This marriage was just a contract, a transaction that didn't involve hearts. However, witnessing Rey's warmth with another woman, a warmth that stood in such stark contrast to the cold and distant demeanor he always showed her, had awakened something wild and uncontrollable within her. Something that felt both painful and confusing.

The next morning, the atmosphere in the mansion felt subtly different. Natasha's presence the night before seemed to have left an invisible yet palpable trace in the air. Rey seemed colder than usual, even towards Maya. When the head maid served breakfast, Rey only gave curt orders in a flat tone without any of the usual, albeit fake, politeness he showed in front of Aluna. However, Aluna, now more attuned to the dynamics of this house, could sense a subtle tension between them. There was a fleeting, displeased look in Maya's eyes as she glanced at Natasha, who sat elegantly at the end of the dining table, and there was the way Rey avoided Maya's gaze, as if there was an unspoken conversation only the two of them understood.

Natasha, on the other hand, seemed radiant. She chattered incessantly with Rey, recounting her experiences abroad, occasionally touching his arm or giggling flirtatiously at his every word. Rey responded briefly, but he didn't reject those small touches, and for Aluna, every interaction felt like a painful reminder of her true place – a contract wife who shared no history or intimacy with this man.

After breakfast, as Aluna was about to head to her study, Maya suddenly approached her in the quiet hallway. The head maid usually kept her distance and remained professional, but this time there was a faint hint of triumph in her eyes.

"Mrs. Aluna," Maya greeted her with a polite tone that felt slightly forced. "I hope you enjoyed your breakfast."

"Thank you, Maya," Aluna replied briefly, trying to avoid unnecessary conversation.

However, Maya didn't leave. "Mr. Rey was very happy to see Miss Natasha last night. They share so many wonderful memories together, you know." Maya paused for a moment, looking at Aluna with a subtle, meaningful smile. "They were very well-suited in the past. Miss Natasha always knew how to make Mr. Rey laugh and feel comfortable. They had a very strong bond."

Aluna tried to keep her facial expression neutral, even though each of Maya's words felt like a small stab in her heart. She didn't want to show that the words affected her. "I'm sure," she replied flatly.

Maya didn't give up. She stepped a little closer, her voice lowering as if sharing a secret. "I've worked in this house for a long time, Mrs. Aluna. I know very well how Mr. Rey used to be. He loved Miss Natasha very much. They even planned to get married before... before something happened." There was a dramatic pause in her words, her eyes looking at Aluna with assessment. "I'm not sure Mr. Rey can truly forget someone like Miss Natasha."

Maya's words were like poison slowly spreading in Aluna's mind. She tried to ignore them, telling herself it was just an attempt at provocation, but doubt began to creep into her heart. Could Rey's love for his ex still be so strong? Could she just be a temporary replacement, someone present only to fulfill a contract?

"That's the past," Aluna finally replied, trying to sound confident even though her heart was churning. "I believe Mr. Rey has his own life now."

Maya smiled cynically. "The past often has a way of returning, Mrs. Aluna. Especially if that past was so memorable and passionate." Her gaze then shifted towards Rey's study, where the door was tightly closed. "I'm sure they are reminiscing about their good old days right now."

Aluna felt a wave of heat flush her face. She clenched her fists at her sides, trying to control the emotions that were beginning to boil inside her. Maya's words had successfully stirred her insecurities, awakening fears she had been trying to suppress.

During lunch, the atmosphere at the dining table felt even more tense. Natasha still dominated the conversation, occasionally touching Rey affectionately or looking at him with meaningful glances. Rey, although not very responsive, didn't reject the woman's attention either. Aluna could only remain silent, her head bowed as she listlessly played with her food.

Suddenly, Natasha turned to Aluna with a sweet but insincere smile. "Aluna, isn't it? How is your marriage with Rey?" she asked with a feigned curious tone. "It must be very pleasant living in this luxurious house."

Aluna raised her head, trying to keep her facial expression calm. "Yes, it's quite pleasant," she replied briefly.

"You must be very happy to be married to such a handsome and successful man like Rey," Natasha continued, her gaze shifting to Rey with a flirtatious smile. "Many women used to line up for his attention."

Rey merely snorted softly, not responding to Natasha's words. However, Aluna could feel the tension between them, a complex dynamic she didn't fully understand.

"Rey is indeed a... striking man," Aluna finally replied, trying to avoid Natasha's gaze.

"Striking? Oh, he's more than just striking," Natasha retorted with a small, condescending laugh. "He's passionate and very... intimate. In the past, every moment with him felt like a dream I never wanted to wake up from."

Natasha's words were like a hard slap across Aluna's face. She felt her blood boil with anger and jealousy. She looked at Rey, searching for a reaction on his face, but the man remained silent, his jaw visibly hardening.

"Natasha..." Rey finally warned, his voice low and cautionary.

"Why, darling? I'm just sharing a few of our fond memories," Natasha replied with a feigned innocent tone. She turned back to Aluna with a cold smile of victory. "You must be very lucky to be his wife now. Although... the situation must be different."

Aluna couldn't hold back any longer. The jealous fire she had been suppressing finally erupted. She clenched her fists under the dining table, her knuckles turning white as she fought back the overwhelming anger. She looked at Rey and Natasha, their intimate interactions, the meaningful glances they shared, and without realizing it, her hands clenched even tighter, ready to explode.