While My Husband Cheated, I Married His Powerful Brother

Veyra stood a few feet from the restroom door. Her back was straight. Her hands were at her sides. Her face was calm.

Caspian emerged from the restroom. Xiomara was still pressed against his chest, her shoulders shaking and her sobs muffled against his jacket.

Caspian’s eyes were hard.

"What did you do to her?" he asked.

Veyra’s voice was flat. "I slapped her. Twice. Then I pinned her against the wall. Is there a problem with that?"

Caspian’s jaw tightened. "Why?"

"Because she insulted my husband."

Caspian blinked. His expression flickered. He had not expected that answer.

"Your husband," he repeated. "The bodyguard."

"My husband."

Caspian looked down at Xiomara. Her face was still buried in his chest.

He nudged her. "Xiomara. What happened?"

Xiomara lifted her head. Her eyes were red. Her cheeks were swollen with her lipstick that was smeared across her chin.

She sniffled. "I didn’t do anything. I just said hello to her. I was being nice."

Veyra’s eyebrows rose.

"She attacked me for no reason," Xiomara continued. "She slapped me. Then she grabbed my throat. She said she would kill me if I ever spoke to her again."

Veyra stared at her.

Xiomara’s voice was pitiful. "I don’t know what I did wrong. I just wanted to be friendly."

Veyra laughed. A short, dry sound.

"Friendly," she repeated. "That’s what you call it."

Caspian’s eyes moved between the two women. His face was unreadable.

Xiomara sniffled again. "She’s always been like this. Violent. Unstable. You know how she is."

Caspian’s jaw tightened.

Veyra crossed her arms. "Are you seriously believing her?"

Caspian was silent.

Xiomara pressed closer to him. Her voice was small. "Carl, she hurt me. Look at my face."

Caspian looked at her cheek. The red marks were already fading. But they were still visible.

His eyes moved back to Veyra.

"You attacked her," he said.

"I defended my husband."

"By slapping her? By grabbing her throat?"

"She deserved worse."

Xiomara whimpered.

Caspian shook his head. His voice was lower now. "You’re only doing this because you still love me."

Veyra blinked. "What?"

"You heard me." Caspian stepped closer. "You’re jealous. You can’t stand seeing me with someone else. So you lash out. You try to drive her away so that you can come in."

Veyra stared at him.

His voice was almost gentle. "I understand. It’s hard to let go. But you need to accept that we’re over."

Veyra’s mouth opened and she closed and opened it once again.

He thought she was still in love with him.

He actually thought she was still in love with him.

She laughed out which was not a polite laugh, it was loud, sharp and disbelieving.

"Carl," she said. "You are delusional."

Caspian’s face tightened.

"I don’t love you and I don’t even like you." Her voice was steady. "The only reason I’m standing here is because your girlfriend insulted my husband, that’s it and that’s on period."

Caspian’s jaw was tight.

"Don’t bully Xiomara again," he said. His voice was cold. "If you do, there will be consequences."

He turned. He put his arm around Xiomara. He walked away.

Veyra watched them go.

Xiomara’s sobs faded as they turned the corner.

Veyra stood alone in the hallway.

She shook her head.

"Delusional," she muttered.

She walked back toward the private dining room.

Around the corner, out of Veyra’s sight, Xiomara stopped walking.

She pulled away from Caspian. Her face was dry. Her tears had stopped and she shoved him so hard that his back hit the wall.

"What was that?" she demanded.

Caspian blinked. "What?"

"All that talk about her still loving you. About her being jealous of me being with you." Xiomara’s voice was sharp. "What did you mean by that?"

Caspian’s face was pale. "I was just—"

"You were just what? Making her think you still care? Trying to get a reaction out of her?"

Caspian said nothing.

Xiomara’s eyes narrowed. "You still have feelings for her, don’t you?"

"Xiomara—"

"Don’t lie to me." Her voice was cold. "I saw the way you looked at her. I heard what you said. You were trying to make her jealous."

Caspian’s jaw tightened. "I wasn’t—"

"Then what were you doing?"