Chapter 1 The Royal Banquet

There was a line of expensive cars heading up the driveway of The Royal banquet hall where the Elites gala was being held.

Danica Roland smiled at her husband, Gary Finnegan, she had always loved attending this kind of events with him, she felt it gave them the chance to grow closer and make more memories as a couple.

Just as the driver pulled into the driveway, the valet opened the door.

A dark green carpet ran along the lawn to one side of the house leading to the impressive grounds at the rear. Gary had an arm around her, resting his hand on her waist as they followed the green carpet with a steady stream of Critport elites dressed in their finery and wearing all manner of jewelries, the lanterns lighting the way.

Two photographers marshaled guests to pose for pictures against the backdrop of an ivy-strewn arbor.

The events was grander than any of the other ones she had attended with her husband and so Danica tried her best to be sociable, interact with guests and act as elegantly as possible.

Overtime, she noticed Gary was yet to come back and she had been sitting alone for awhile.

He had told her he needed to use the restroom but it had been almost an hour now.

Danica looked around but there was no sign of him in the hall. She tried not to get paranoid, he was a grown man. He probably got caught up in a conversation with a business partner or something.

Still, Danica couldn't shake off this feeling of unease. She stood and walked out of the hall, walking down the hallway, there was still no sign of him. She had tried calling him but he wouldn't pick up.

The hallway was getting quieter by the second as most guests were returning back to the seats as it was time to make a toast to the host.

Signing, she turned and just as she walked a few times, she heard a sound come from a corner.

"Gary."The voice sounded strained, like a moaning sound.

Frowning, Danica headed for that direction, just as she was few feet away, she clearly saw two people there.

Her eyes dilated, recognizing them.

It was her husband, Gary and her closest friend, Jenifer Stevens.

Danica couldn't move, she couldn't even breathe. The scene that greeted her eyes was unbelievable even if she was clearly witnessing it.

Gary had his pants down and had Jenifer up against the wall, with her legs wrapped around him, her dress was hoisted up around her waist and Gary was taking her again and again up against the wall.

They both seemed so engrossed in the moment and didn't notice any presence at all.

Unable to continue looking, Danica turned and hurried back to the hall. As she sat down, she felt so shaken.

Never had she imagined that her husband was cheating on her and worse, with Jenifer?

Jenifer had always been like a good friend to her.

What did she do wrong?

Where did it all go wrong?

How could they do this to her?

She reached for her glass of alcohol and downed it in one gulp. She had tried, she had done everything to be the perfect wife for Gary.

Wasn't that enough?

This felt so insultingly heartbreaking to her. They couldn't even respect the fact that they all were at an event, they still found a way to get together and get all curled up in each other's arms.

If they could ignore the fact that they were at an event, Danica could only imagine the numerous times they had gotten together.

Had he ever brought Jenifer to the house?

Had they done it in their matrimonial bed?

Tears pricked Danica's eyes but she lifted up her head refusing to let the tears fall. She refused to break down and have people surround her, asking what was wrong. So instead, she began to drink.

She poured herself glass after glass, wanting to drink her sorrows away.

Soon, Danica was intoxicated.

Alcohol and heartbreak had never been in a good combo and so, in her alcohol filled state of mind, she felt like confronting them. She wanted answers, she wanted to lash out on Gary and Jenifer.

She just didn't understand how they could do that to her.

As she got back to the corner at the hallway, there was no sign of Jenifer or Gary.

It seemed they were done here.

Danica scoffed. She hadn't seen them at the hall. Had they perhaps gone somewhere else to continue.

These thoughts filled her with rage, pain and despair.

"Are you okay?"

That voice sounded behind her, Danica staggered around and vaguely saw a man.

Before her brain could recognize him, she lost her equilibrium but he quickly caught her.

Though her intoxicated thoughts were all over the place but she was sure this wasn't Gary. His bodily scent was different and for some reason, she wanted this man to keep holding her.

She moved her head upwards, sealing his lips with hers.

If Gary could cheat on her right here, she could do the same!

The man pulled away and quickly made her stand properly.

"Danica, what the hell!" He let out, shaking her slightly as if wanting to get her back to her senses.

That worked a bit.

She gasped when she got a clear view of his face. He was Donovan Buford. He had gone to the same college with Gary.

Sure she had wanted to cheat back at that moment but not with someone who knew she was married.

"I didn't know you were this kind of woman, Danica. Cheating on your husband at such an event?" He admonished, coldly.