Estelle stood on the open balcony of the top floor, her arms were crossed on her chest. Her figure outlined against the pale glow of the moon. She looked radiant, cold and beautiful.
The breeze tugged at the hem of her gown, causing it to ripple and her short silver hair danced with the wind.
She sighed and raised her head, her sky blue eyes shone under the moonlight, reflecting the stars above. She looked like a goddess made from moonstone. Her skin, which was pale and luminescent, glowed beneath the silver light. As the cold wind played with her hair again and brushed against her cheek, Estelle didn't flinch. She only closed her eyes for a second and smiled.
She hadn't felt this way in a very long time; relief. It was as if a heavy burden had been lifted off her shoulders. She wouldn't say she didn't feel that ache when she saw her husband and that woman, but it was nothing compared to the joy she was feeling right now.
She had had that feeling, she had seen signs that Blaise was seeing another woman, but she just wasn't ready to see the truth laughing right in front of her.
The tears that had welled up in her eyes rolled down her cheeks and wiped it with her fingers.
—
Inside the dimly lit building, the masked man stood just behind the floor-to-ceiling window, his hand tucked in his trousers pocket as his eyes watched her figure in the distance. Half of his face was exposed. Even without a full view of his face, the intensity in his gaze was unmistakable.
He held a cigarette between his two long fingers.
Tap. Tap.
He drummed his index finger lightly against the filter, ashes falling into a nearby tray. Then, he brought the cigarette back to his mouth, inhaling slowly.
The ember at the top glowed a dull orange and for a second, it lit up the edge of his jaw. When he exhaled, the smoke flowed from his lips like silk. It curled upward, veiling his features briefly before disappearing into the air.
His eyes still didn't leave her figure. He watched as she reached out to run her fingers through her hair.
He heard the faint creak of the door behind him being pushed open, followed by the heavy and slow sound of approaching footsteps. He didn't need to turn his head, he already knew exactly who it was.
"The goods from the coast haven't arrived yet, brother?" The voice of the man that spoke was deep and thick.
"No" the masked man muttered. He lifted the cigarette slowly to his lips. "It will be arriving tomorrow" he took a long drag this time, letting the smoke curl up lazily through his nostrils like fog on a cold street.
The other man stepped closer, falling into silence as he followed the masked man's eyes until it landed on the woman standing under the moonlight. Instantly, his brow furrowed. His eyes, the same piercing shade of gray as the masked man's, squirted. Side by side, it became clear; the uncanny resemblance, the same jawline, the way their shoulders sat back in quiet authority.
"That woman… isn't that Estelle Astor?" He asked, surprised. "What's she doing over there?"
"Estelle? Is that her name?" The masked man asked.
"Yeah. You don't know her?"
The masked man remained silent.
"I heard she has been married to Blaise for three years" he said when he didn't hear the masked man say a word. He glanced sideways, his lips curling into a smile. "And… I heard they haven't had a child since they got married"
The masked man raised a brow.
The man continued. "This is my second time seeing her. She doesn't go out with her husband, doesn't show her face in public. She's kinda… mysterious, yunno?"
—
"Estelle"
That familiar voice called out her name. The coldness from the voice cracked through the air like a whip.
Estelle turned her head. She saw Blaise stormed across the polished marble floor, his jaw clenched.
She stepped down.
Before she could open her mouth to talk, he reached out to grab her arm. "Didn't I tell you to wait for me and not leave?" He was angry. He was furious. She could see it; the fire burning in his eyes.
She didn't flinch.
"You are hurting me. Let go"
"You are becoming something else, Estelle" he didn't let go of her arm. Instead, he grabbed her hair and pulled her closer. "It seems like you have forgotten how I treat you, right?"
Estelle winced, but still didn't cry out. His fingers tangled in her hair, yanking her face close to his.
Her eyes met his, there was no fear in them. "You irritate me, Blaise!" She opened her mouth and said those words slowly.
Blaise's nose flared. "Estelle-"
"You are the one who cheated, yet you are here making a scene. You betrayed me and you are the one getting angry!" she yelled.
Slap!
Blaise's palm came down hard against her cheek before she could react. The sound cracked through the air like a whip. Her head snapped to the side, silver strands flying across her face as she stumbled slightly, stunned.
She stood still, her cheek already reddening.
Blaise reached forward and grabbed her jaw roughly, fingers digging into her skin as he forced her to look at him. His face was twisted in rage.
"You think you're brave now?" he snarled. "Talking back to me like you're something? I'll teach you a lesson you won't forget for the rest of your miserable life."
Her eyes narrowed, then widened as he yanked her closer again. She struggled, clawing at his hand, but he was stronger.
"Let me go!" she gasped. "You're hurting me!"
He slapped her again and this time it was harder this time.
"You want to humiliate me?" His voice was filled with rage. "You want to make a fool out of me? I can push you off this damn cliff."
Estelle froze.
Her lips parted in shock, no words could come out from her mouth.
"Y–You'll kill me?" she whispered, barely able to form the words. Her voice shook, thin as thread. "Blaise… You'll kill me?"