Daemon’s gallery is teeming with clients who are keen on looking at the precious items on the glass cages that night. An ambassador from Asia is present and is busy discussing with Daemon over a glass of rum on the other side.
Devon is on the far side just observing the place. Her husband talked her over in the dinner saying that she needs to be seen by his side in the events that he is invited. He will slowly reveal their marriage which means her family will know really soon about her being married to an enemy.
“I don’t think you should be spying on your own husband, Devon.”
She almost jumped to her feet when a voice suddenly spoke from her back.
“You scared me,” she said when she saw Henry hovering around her.
“Daemon does not like being watched. If he caught you snooping around him, he might suspect something.”
She returned her eyes on the man who is now talking to his phone, his furrowed brows and annoyed lips made him more fearsome and handsome in her eyes.
“Suspect me? For what? I’m not doing anything wrong. I am behaving myself just like what he said.”
“But he told you to not come here. There’s a reason why.”
She tilted her head towards Henry. The man is rough-looking but the pale glow in his eyes casts a pitiful aura on his face.
“And what is that?”
“He’s preventing you from seeing that.”
Her nose crinkled in confusion. “I’ll see what?”
He placed his hands on her shoulders and turned her toward the entrance. “That.”
She wished he did not let her see that though. She wished she did not saw how Daemon easily transformed in front of the woman he has always loved.
Maddy Johnson walked inside the exhibit with her arm clipped on the man beside her. The woman is a sight to behold. A breathtaking one in her red body-hugging cocktail dress.
She quickly looked at Daemon and wondered how is it possible that his expressions could be as soft as this. His guards were all down, his eyes downcast, and the unmistakable longing in his gaze materialized. All of a sudden, the Daemon she knew for a brief time they have been together is not him anymore.
The way he looks at Maddy is different from the way he looks at her or anyone in the room when she is with him. Before she could even think, she took a step forward but Henry is quick to stop her.
“What are you doing?”
“I… I need to be with my husband,” she answered without even looking at him.
In a split of a second, she is already there beside Daemon, holding his arms, and standing face to face with the woman her husband loves.
“I’ve been looking for you.” She lifted her head to the man who is obviously shock to see her.
“You do?” he quickly picked up.
“Yes, where have you been?” She looked at Maddy who is staring at her and innocently smiled at her then back to Daemon.
He wrapped his arms on her waist while not taking off his eyes with Maddy.
“Hello, Maddy.” He looked at Devon lovingly. “Dev, meet Maddy. She’s a friend.”
“A friend,” she repeated and tasted a bitter taste in her mouth. She offered her hand to the woman who is giving her a curious look.
“Hello Maddy. I am Devon… Devon Druft, Daemon’s wife.” Daemon smirked proudly and sipped on his glass. “It’s nice meeting you.”
The light on Maddy’s eyes switched off and a menacing smile appeared on her lips before she shook her cold hands.
“She’s cold,” Maddy commented and grinned at Daemon. “Maybe because she’s with a man as cold as you or maybe because you are taking her hostage here.” Maddy looked back at Devon. “The whole district is in chaos because the Farrows princess is suddenly missing but you are just here hiding yourself. You don’t know how surprised I am to hear this news. A Druft married a Farrows? That’s definitely a new thing.”
“I know,” she answered and entwined her fingers with Daemon’s. “I can’t even believe it that an honorable man like Daemon would take me for his wife.”
Maddy burst out laughing. “Really? Honorable? Daemon? I’m afraid you can never use both words in a sentence, darling. Daemon is just a monster, a very attractive monster.”
She winked at them and prodded the man beside her to walk to a stall where the ambassador has been. Daemon sipped from his glass and looked at her.
“So you think I am honorable?”
“No, I just ran out of words.” She removed her hand from his hand to face him.
“That’s Maddy for you. What were you thinking coming here all the way? I remember I told you to stay in the house.”
She crossed her arms and eyed him intently. “Why? Are you angry? Should I leave now?”
“No.” He took her hand in him and tightened his grip and caressed her palm. “Stay here beside me.”
Sure, Daemon is with her throughout the night but his eyes never left Maddy’s not even for once. They’re playing a dangerous chasing game between cats and she is nothing but a bait for the first predator to bite.
It’s like he only kept her on his side to see how he adored the woman so much. When Maddy went downstairs, Daemon left her to follow her. She has never felt like a shit like now, being discarded easily by her own husband.
Devon tried to act alright even talking briefly to the guests as if she is really a part of the Druft group but from time to time, she is glancing at the door where the two disappeared wishing that her husband would come out and look for her.
Daemon went back to her as if nothing happened but her night is already ruined. She can’t stop herself from gazing at the lipstick stain on his neck.