The Accidental Wife (Emily and Julian)

Chapter

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Today is my fashion show. I'm scared and excited at the same time. There are a lot of people in the hall, waiting to see the dresses I have spent a year designing. I'm petrified that I would bring shame to Mum's fashion house. I know that she would never reprimand me if I fail. She would actually try to make me see the positivity in such a terrible situation and do everything in her power to get me not to give up on designing. However, I don't want to do that to her fashion house. Her brand has been a successful one for decades and I don't want to ruin the name she made for herself because I'm not good enough.

"The dress looks so good on you," Mum says, looking at me with admiration. Although I designed sixteen dresses for this fashion show, I asked Mum to design the one I'm going to wear. I love wearing the dresses she specially makes for me. Over the years, I have worn many dresses of her design that were specially made for me and all of them didn't have replicas. Those dresses were one of a kind, just like the one I'm currently wearing.

It's a sleeveless black dress with gold pharaonic drawings on the front. It has a high neck, and the drawings go up to the neck. It perfectly hugs my body and complements my body type, making me feel confident and beautiful.

"You designed it. Of course, it's going to look good on me." I smile at her.

The show is about to start in fifteen minutes and thankfully, everything is set and we're all ready to go. The models have the dresses on and their make-up is done. Everything seems fine and I have already received enough compliments about the design from my close friends and family.

Everybody has said something nice to me, except for one person. My husband. He is nowhere to be seen, and I hate to say this, but part of me expected that. I reminded him yesterday that my fashion show was today, and he promised that he was going to show up. I should have known that it was another empty promise that would break my

heart.

"You look so beautiful!" I hear Naomi's voice, and I smile as I turn to look at her. "I'm so proud of you!" She pulls me into a deep hug, and I hug her back. "Thank you!" I murmur as I hold onto her for a couple of seconds before pulling away.

"Where's Silas? Is he sitting outside?" Naomi asks, expecting her son to be a supportive husband. He used to be a great husband, but the situation has changed a lot. He is no longer like that. I bet he has already forgotten about the fashion show even though he knows how important this day is for me.

"He's not here... yet." I only add 'yet' because I'm giving Silas the benefit of the doubt. I'm still hoping that he will show up, even if he shows up late.

"Come on. We need to go to our seats," Mum tells Naomi and I mentally thank her for taking her away because Silas is the last person I want to talk about now. The thing is, I haven't told my parents a thing about Silas, but I bet they can sense what's been going on. Maybe they're staying silent because they're giving me the choice to either talk or stay silent. Maybe they're waiting for the right moment to talk to me, but the question is, when is the right moment?

The show starts with an opening act and while I enjoy the artist's music, my mind is elsewhere. I'm thinking about Silas and hoping with everything in me that he walks through the backstage door, apologizing for being late. I won't even care about his being late. I just want him to show up. I want him to be there for me. Am I asking for too much?

After the singer finishes singing, the models start walking on the runway, one after the other. For a few minutes, I manage to stop myself from thinking about Silas and the disappointment that is eating me alive. I watch the audience's faces as they look at the dresses I designed. I can tell that they like the dresses and pride penetrates my heart.

The last model returns backstage, then the models form two lines and walk back on the runway with me in the middle. Everybody stands up and claps for me, making my eyes glisten with tears. I didn't fail. They liked my designs.

I look at the front seats and find my family applauding me with so much pride that my chest threatens to explode with happiness. Kendall is also here with her boyfriend, even Sabrina s here. I can't believe that she has made it despite how busy she is.

Everybody has come. Everybody except for Silas. The one I have been waiting for the most.

I make my way backstage where my team starts congratulating me. I feign happiness and act like nobody is as happy as I am even though my heart is broken. I told him what not showing up meant and he chose not to show up. It's like he's telling me to do whatever the hell I want. "Congratulations, bestie!" Sabrina hollers as she tackles me in a huge hug, making me laugh. "I want to wear them all!" She grins as she pulls back.

"Pick whatever you want and it's yours," I reply. I scan the faces of everyone around me to make sure that he's not here and indeed, I fail to spot his face. "He's not here yet, right?" I ask Kendall. It's a question I know its answer; however, I hope that she has something else to say. I want her to tell me that I'm wrong and he's waiting for me somewhere.

"Maybe he's stuck in traffic," my best friend tries to find an excuse for my husband's behaviour. But I know that he's not stuck in traffic. He's probably drunk and isn't even aware that my fashion show is today even though I told him about it more than once. He told me he would be there, but he lied. He's not here for me.

"I'm calling him, but he's not picking up," Tristan tells me, but I shake my head.

"Yeah, I tried to call him too, but he didn't pick up," Naomi adds.

I covered for him a lot. I didn't want to worry them, but maybe I was wrong. I wasn't strong enough to handle this issue on my own and now I'm paying the price.

It's too late to save our marriage and I know what I have to do. I made this decision the day I talked to him and it seems like I need to show commitment to the decision I made. But before doing so, I need to fill them in. They have to be in the know. How should they deal with him if they're oblivious? "He's not going to pick up. Don't bother." I take a deep breath. "He is either drunk at home or at a bar."

Tristan gives me a look of confusion and I give him a sad smile.

"There's a lot we need to talk about," I say, looking at my family. I'm about to drop a bomb that was supposed to be dropped a long time ago.