Vanessa's POV
The hostess had just finished attending to me, her hands slowly and finally leaving my shoulders after the most heavenly massage I had in weeks. I leaned back into the cushioned spa chair, letting out a soft, contented sigh. It was just what I needed.
God, this place was perfect.
The scent of warm oils filled the air, the soft sound of relaxation music played in the background, and the lighting was just dim enough to make everything feel expensive and luxurious.
I couldn't lie, not even to myself. I was enjoying every bit of it.
The service.
The luxury.
The pampering.
But most of all?
Ace.
Who was sitting right there beside me, relaxed and quiet, his eyes closed as the hostess worked her hands over his arms. She was visibly flustered by him, fumbling slightly, she was clearly tranced by the man she was lucky enough to touch.
And yet he was mine.
I smiled.
Everything felt right.
Like this was exactly how it was always supposed to be.
No interruptions. No suspicions. No questions, no hidden questions.
Just calm, controlled by me, and a smooth progress.
My plan was going exactly the way I wanted.
No resistance.
No setbacks, Ace didn't suspect a thing.
I had done this before, many times before. But this?
This was going smoother than I had ever imagined.
We both stood up from the chair, Ace and I, clearly feeling refreshed and clearly satisfied with everything the spa had offered to us. My body even felt lighter, my skin smoother and my smile perfectly bright.
He reached for my arm, and I allowed it, moving closer, getting in just enough to make it look sweet. I bent my head slightly and gave him a soft, practiced blush. The kind that said you're making me shy, even if I wasn't.
We walked out together, walked together like a perfect little couple straight out of a movie.
But just as we stepped out of the spa, something in me twisted..
There she was.
Leah.
Sitting in the front seat of Ace's car like it belonged to her. Like he belonged to her.
Her earbuds were plugged in, her eyes were closed, the seat reclined just enough to look like her personal throne. She was relaxed there so comfortably, her legs crossed and her lips parted in some gaze, like she owned the moment.
Like she owned Ace.
My face twitched.
I clenched my jaw.
That calm and elegant look on her face, that confidence, it made something ugly rise in me.
She looked too at home, too at ease.
And I hated it.
Furiously, I stopped walking and yanked my arm from his like I didn't need anything other than for her to leave right away..
I turned to Ace, my irritation already taking over my voice.
"Why the hell does she have to sit in the car like she owns it?"
He blinked, clearly caught off guard. "Huh?"
I gestured almost immediately towards Leah, my voice raisng. "I said, why the hell does she sit in the car like she's the owner? Just look at her! She even reclined the seat like it's her damn throne!"
Ace followed my hand to the car, then looked back at me, unfazed.
"She's your sister," he said simply, his tone calm but firm. "As long as she's not claiming the car as hers, I don't see the problem."
I opened my mouth, but he added quickly, "Besides….we're not married yet. So technically, it's still just my car."
That shut me up for a second.
I was taken aback from his words.
His words stung more than I expected.
We're not married yet.
It's still just my car.
But I didn't let it show. Not even for a second.
I forced the anger down, swallowing the feeling and the anger that threatened to show.
Getting jealous right now? Throwing a scene?
It would only get in the way of what I was trying to build.
So I smiled instead. My Soft, sweet and practiced.
"Of course," I said gently, pushing my hair backwards. "You're right."
I reached for his hand again, this time more gently and after a few seconds he took it.
Reluctantly.
We walked back to the car together, side by side, my fingers around his.
Back at the car, Leah sat up slowly as we approached, removing one of her earbuds with a sweet smile that made me clench my jaw..
"So," she asked, her voice light. "how was the spa? Did you both enjoy it?"
She sounded so genuine.
So charming.
So… …Leah.
I opened my mouth, ready to answer with something polite enough with everything she couldn't enjoy. The luxury. The attention. The closeness I had with Ace.
But before a single word came out from my lips, Ace's phone rang.
He looked at the screen, then at us. "Excuse me," he said calmly, stepping out of the car and answering the call.
And just like that we were alone.
I watched Ace from the rearview mirror, my gaze focused on him barely blinking.
He stood a distance not too far away for us, hid back turned, phone pressed to his ear, his body standing still and unreadable.
My fingers curled tighter in my lap.
What was so important that it had to interrupt me?
Who the hell was on the other end of that call?
Why now, right when I was about to put her back in her place?
I couldn't hear his voice, but I saw him shift again.
Slightly.
Then…. Again.
His shoulders dropped a little.
His head lowered.
And when he returned to the car, a moment later, his expression was different, solemn. He was Quiet. Not angry, not annoyed, just...Solemn.
He opened the door and moved into his seat without a word.
Something was wrong and I could feel it..
I watched him carefully, I was waiting for him to speak, waiting for some explanation, to know why he left.
But then his eyes turned to Leah.
"I have an urgent meeting," he said to her, his voice low but firm. "I need to head there now. I'll have to drive myself."
I blinked.
Leah?
He was explaining to her?
I opened my mouth, trying to catch his attention, to try and pull him back, but he didn't even glance at me. He completely ignored me, like I wasn't even in the car.
He reached for his phone and tapped something quickly, then turned to me as if he was reading from a paper.
"I've booked a ride for both of you," he said. "It'll take you home. No need to worry about it."
Just like that. We were dismissed.
The irritation boiled inside me but I didn't show it, I smiled….barely.
I wasn't going to make a scene.
Leah nodded softly, slipping out of the seat quietly, "Okay," as she opened the door and stepped out of the car.
I followed her, reluctantly, my movements the same but slower.
Ace didn't say another word.
He simply came out from the back and walked around, and slid into the driver's seat. With no glance in my direction and no goodbye.
Nothing.
Just a nod toward Leah and then he drove off.
I stood beside her in silence, my arms folded, watching as the car disappeared into the evening. The back lights faded.
Then, slowly, a cab pulled up beside us.
Without speaking to each other, we got in.
On the surface, I remained calm. I even managed a light sigh, like I wasn't bothered.
But inside?
I was boiling.
A storm was brewing.