Tangled love

“The Reckoning”

The Reckoning

The next day, the city pulsed with a new energy. The streets hummured with whispered anticipation, the kind that only the wealthy elite could generate when they gathered in one place. It was the day of the Blackwood Charity Gala — the night when Alec Blackwood’s name would be etched deeper into the city’s glittering web of influence.

Selena stood by the grand mirror in the penthouse, her fingers trembling as she adjusted the neckline of the dress Alec had chosen for her. The black silk clung to her form like a second skin, every inch of it meant to make her seem like a jewel beside him. A trophy, a crown.

Her reflection mocked her.

But she didn’t let the fear creep in. Not yet.

The gala was more than just an event. It was Alec’s arena. His kingdom. And she would be the crown, the weapon, the perfect execution of his power. He had made that clear. He wanted her by his side in front of the cameras, the media, the whispers of the elite.

Her phone buzzed on the marble countertop.

It was Alec.

“Ready in fifteen minutes,” the message read. “Don’t keep me waiting.”

She stared at the screen, fury flickering behind her eyes. He thought she was his puppet, his pet. The truth of it stung. The worst part? She hated how much she played along.

⸻

The car ride to the gala was a blur of city lights and the hum of conversation from Alec. His hand never strayed too far from her waist, guiding her like a delicate piece of porcelain. But Selena wasn’t fragile. And she wasn’t going to let him break her, not in front of everyone. Not in front of all these vultures who pretended to be her friends.

“Remember,” Alec said as the black car pulled to a stop, the valet already awaiting their arrival. “Smile. Play your part well.”

Her eyes narrowed as she glanced at him. “You’ve been telling me that a lot lately.”

“Because you’re still learning.” He smirked, amusement in his eyes. “I don’t need you to be perfect. I need you to be mine.”

The words sliced through her like a blade, though they weren’t meant to hurt. They were just a fact of the world they now lived in. Selena was his. She had no choice.

The car doors opened, and Selena stepped out first, her heels clicking on the cobblestone, the crowd at the event already buzzing in anticipation of their entrance. The cameras flashed. The lights blinded. The world seemed to stop as Alec Blackwood and his beautiful wife entered the scene.

The whispers began almost immediately.

“She’s stunning.”

“Who is she? The new Mrs. Blackwood? She’s younger than I thought.”

“Look at her. She’s perfect.”

Selena felt the weight of their words press down on her, but she forced a smile, letting the eyes of the world burn into her. Alec, beside her, stood tall and composed, a picture of control.

“You’re doing great,” Alec murmured under his breath, his voice low enough that only she could hear.

“Don’t flatter me,” Selena shot back, her smile never wavering. She wasn’t going to let him think she was falling for any of this.

The gala was an exhibition of wealth. A showcase of power and greed. Selena could practically taste it in the air — the polished, painted smiles that hid the sharpened knives beneath the surface. The women in gowns that cost more than her yearly salary, the men in tailored suits whose eyes were always calculating. She stood beside Alec, playing her part, letting the cameras catch every angle of her perfection.

“Let’s mingle,” Alec said, taking her hand in his and leading her through the sea of guests.

They approached a group of men, Alec’s closest allies in business and politics, all of them with suits too sharp to be anything but dangerous. Selena stood at his side, silent and poised, waiting for her cue to speak.

She had to smile. She had to look the part of the adoring wife, even if every part of her wanted to scream.

“Selena, darling,” one of Alec’s associates, Henry Foster, greeted her with a kiss to her cheek. “Alec has outdone himself with you.”

“Thank you,” Selena replied, her voice smooth, but her insides were twisting. Henry’s eyes lingered just a little too long on her, and she could feel the heat of his gaze like a burn. But she said nothing. She smiled. She played the part.

Her mind wandered to darker thoughts, her escape plans slipping in and out of her subconscious. This wasn’t how she’d imagined her life turning out. No one had ever told her that living in a gilded cage would feel so suffocating.

Alec turned his gaze to her, catching her lost expression. His eyes narrowed, ever watchful.

“You’re drifting,” he said, his voice a low growl in her ear.

Selena didn’t flinch. She had learned the hard way that to flinch was to show weakness. She didn’t give him the satisfaction. “I’m fine.”

He didn’t buy it, but he didn’t press further. Alec was no fool. He knew exactly what game she was playing.

“I’m going to make a quick speech,” Alec announced to the group, his eyes flicking briefly over to Selena. “But don’t worry. I’m not going to drag it out.”

As he walked away, Selena let out a breath she hadn’t realized she’d been holding. The pressure of his presence was suffocating.

She was alone for a moment, watching Alec’s back as he approached the stage. Her gaze flickered across the crowd. The women dressed in jewels and silk, the men making small talk, all pretending to care about the charity they were here to support. They weren’t here for the cause. They were here for Alec.

She was a piece of his puzzle. The missing link that solidified his perfect image.

“Excuse me, Mrs. Blackwood.”

Selena turned toward the voice. A woman stood before her, tall and elegant, with a look of contempt in her eyes that sent a shiver down Selena’s spine.

“Yes?” Selena asked politely, her voice forced.

“I just wanted to say how beautiful you look tonight,” the woman said with a smile that didn’t quite reach her eyes. “I suppose Alec has very particular tastes.”

Selena raised an eyebrow, sensing the venom in the woman’s words. “I’m sure he does,” she replied, her tone smooth but laced with ice.

The woman’s eyes flickered with irritation before she turned and walked away, leaving Selena with a strange, unsettled feeling gnawing at her.

It wasn’t just jealousy that she’d seen in the woman’s eyes. It was something darker. Something dangerous.

⸻

Later, after Alec’s speech, the evening descended into a blur of champagne, polite conversations, and the ever-present feeling of being watched. Selena could barely stomach another minute of it.

As the clock struck midnight, Alec found her again, his eyes intense as always.

“You’re done here,” he said, his voice colder than usual. “We’re leaving.”

Selena nodded, her heart racing as she followed him toward the exit, wondering what he had planned next. But something in Alec’s demeanor had changed. The mask of the perfect, untouchable billionaire was slipping.

He was angry.

The question was, who was he angry at?

⸻

In the back of the car, as they drove back to the penthouse, Alec didn’t speak. Selena kept her eyes fixed on the window, watching the city blur past. She could feel the tension between them, thick and suffocating.

“Who was that woman?” she asked finally, her voice cutting through the silence.

Alec’s gaze flicked to her, sharp and calculating. “None of your concern.”

But Selena wasn’t fooled. She knew that look. He had something to prove.

“Was she your ex?” she pushed, her tone not hiding the curiosity. She didn’t care if she irritated him anymore. Not tonight. She had learned far too much about his game, and she wasn’t going to sit back in silence any longer.

Alec’s jaw clenched. “You’re treading dangerous ground, Selena,” he warned, his voice low.

She didn’t back down.

“I’ll tread wherever I please.”

And in that moment, she realized she wasn’t afraid anymore.

The man beside her may have taken everything else — her freedom, her choices, her family — but she would not give him her spirit.

Not yet.

And someday, she would make him regret underestimating her.