Chapter 21 His palm slammed across my cheek so hard I stumbled , hit the floor , my face burning . Judas rushed forward . " Fresca- " " Don't touch me ! " I shoved him back , screaming . He froze , jaw tight , like a dog with no bite . I looked up at Beckley , my chest heaving . " You hit me ? You hit me for her ? For that ghost ?! " His voice cracked , raw and ugly . " I cheated on her with you too ! Don't you get it ? It was fair . I just realized it now . That's why she cheated in that video you shoved in my face . Because she already knew about us ! " The air punched out of me . My lips trembled , but my rage carried me forward . " You're blaming me now ? After everything I gave up ? After I carried your son , your bastard shame , your filth ? You think she's some saint ? She faked her own death ! She fooled everyone ! She's a bitch in disguise ! " He stepped closer , eyes red , shaking . " Don't you dare . You don't get to call her that . You played her . You promised her marrow . You dangled her hope in front of her like a piece of meat . You made her beg . You broke her . So of course she ran . Of course she staged her death . She was running from ' me ' ... and from you ." I stared at him , dizzy, the ground slipping under my feet . My voice came out sharp , broken , desperate . " Fine . Then I'll kill her again . I'll kill her back if that's what it takes to keep you from crawling to her ! " He snarled , eyes cutting through me . " Judas . Take her back to New York . I'll deal with her next week . " " No ! " My scream tore through my throat . " I'm your wife ! You can't push me away like trash ! After all I did for you , all I ruined for you - you owe me , Beckley ! " He didn't even look at me . His right hand leaned close , whispered something in his ear . Beckley's eyes flicked to me , cold , like I was nothing , then he walked out . " Beckley ! " My voice cracked , my lungs ripped open as I screamed his name until my throat burned . " Beckley ! " The door slammed shut . And I stood there , shaking , broken , but already planning how to tear her apart . +++ CLAIRE'S POV I stepped into that ballroom on Helena's arm , her brothers June and March right Chapter 20. 3/3 71 4 % 9:12 Thu , Oct 16 96 behind us like shadows . Lights burst against the crystals , music swelling , and the whole place seemed to tilt toward us . To them, I was still Kendall Scott , the new star everyone wanted a piece of . Nobody knew the truth . Nobody knew I was Helena's daughter . I could feel it , the way the whispers spread like fire . Dresses rustling , people leaning into each other . My name on their lips . My gown caught every flash . My smile was calm , but sharp enough to cut . Then the doors opened . Kendrick walked in . He didn't even have to try - he owned the room just by breathing . All that tall frame , that quiet danger wrapped in elegance . The crowd gasped , some even squealed . " Oh my God , it's Kendrick . He's even more handsome in person." " They say he and Kendall have been engaged for years . " " Are you serious ? That's perfect . Look at them ." " No wonder he invests in her . She's not just a star . She's his diamond . " He came straight to me , like the rest of the room didn't exist . Offered his arm , and I slipped my hand through it . Cameras went off like fireworks . For a second , it felt like we were the only two people alive . And then she arrived . Fresca . The air snapped cold the moment she stepped in , draped in red that looked more poison than silk . Her smile too sharp , her eyes too desperate . She wanted to , burn the room down with that dress . The whispers turned , sharper this time . " Is that Fresca Huntman ? " " The billionaire's wife ? " " Didn't Beckley Huntman ex - wife die two years ago ? People said she looked exactly like Kendall ... " " Oh . That explains everything . He's chasing her because she's the ghost of his dead wife . " Her eyes found mine across the ballroom . And mine stayed steady , calm . I didn't blink . Kendrick's grip on my arm tightened , protective , warning . Helena , June , and March closed in like silent guards . The gala swept forward . Music rose , glasses clinked , laughter carried . I let myself forget her . I let myself breathe in Kendrick , his warmth , his presence , the way he looked at me like I was more than gold and glass . But then he stepped away , phone pressed to his ear , his grandfather's name flashing Chapter 21 2/3 73.8 % 9:13 Thu , Oct 16 on the screen . Just a minute , he mouthed . I nodded . And that's when she came . Fresca . 96 Two glasses of wine in her hands , eyes glittering like broken glass . She smiled too wide , too fake , and slid up to me . " Drink with me , " she said , pressing one glass toward me . I tilted my head , my voice soft but edged . " Why would I drink with you ? " Her laugh cracked , brittle . " Because you stole everything from me . Because every time I see you , I see her . That dead bitch . And I hate you for wearing her face . " I didn't move . Didn't blink . " You're shaking , Fresca . Maybe you should drink both . Might calm you down . " Her hand trembled , wine rippling in the glass . " He still looks at you like she never died . He hit me for you . Do you know that ? He hit me . " Her voice rose , breaking . " I'm his wife . His wife ! " I let her spit it out , her venom staining the air . Then I leaned in just enough for her to hear me over the music . My words were quiet , sharp as a blade . " No. You're just the stand - in he used to forget her . And deep down , you know it ." Her eyes went wide , her face cracked open in rage . My chest went still . I already knew the kind of show she wanted to put on Her hand lifted , ready to fling one glass straight at me . I didn't flinch . I caught both glasses right out of her hands like I'd done it all my life . Then I spun , calm , and splashed the red wine straight back into her face . SPLASH ! Chapter 21