From Hidden Wife to His Worst Nightmare

Alina’s POV

When I walked into the dining room for breakfast the next morning, Nerissa was feeding Jason bread, the two of them looking like a couple who had just fallen in love.

I suppose now that I’d seen the truth, they didn’t even bother to hide it anymore.

“There’s a family gathering with my family and yours. You’re coming,” Jason said, barely sparing me a glance before turning back to Nerissa and kissing her.

My eyes burned.

“I’m not in the mood,” I said, forcing the words out.

His hand, resting on Nerissa’s cheek, stilled for a second.

“Your father asked for you specifically,” he replied coolly. “I assume you don’t want to upset him.”

My fingers curled into a fist. “…Alright.”

“Good.”

He stood. Nerissa followed. As they walked out, Jason paused at the door. “Wear something decent. Have you looked at yourself lately?”

Nerissa giggled softly. “Where would sis even get a dress or jewelry now? Her mother’s casino is gone.”

The words landed like a slap.

The casino had been handed to Jason when we married. And now that he’d sold it, there was nothing left for me.

Jason’s tone shifted, light again. “Who cares. Speaking of dresses, want to go shopping today? That boutique on Fifth Avenue?”

I felt my nails dig into my palm, sharp and grounding—but not enough to dull the sting of his words.

“Ow, stop spoiling me,” Nerissa pouted, rising onto her toes to kiss him again.

I sat down after they left, just staring at the bread in front of me without touching it.

I had prepared for this. I had already decided to leave.

But it still hurt. God, it still hurt.

In all the years I’d known Jason, he had never looked at me the way he did now—like I was someone beneath him, something that disgusted him.

“Mrs. Vale, would you like a glass of milk?” a maid asked gently.

Her voice pulled me back.

I forced a small smile and shook my head.

…

I spent half the day clearing out my wardrobe.

I couldn’t make it obvious for Jason to notice anything, so I left most of it untouched. I only packed a few simple things I had bought myself.

By the time I finished, it was almost six.

Voices drifted up from downstairs. When I stepped out, I saw Nerissa twirling in a beautiful dress, the fabric flaring around her as she spun in front of Jason. He watched her with a smile—one I used to think only belonged to me.

“You love it that much?” he murmured, pulling her into his arms. “More than me?”

Nerissa laughed softly, looping her arms around his neck. “Why don’t you take me to bed and I’ll show you how much I love you?”

Jason glanced up—and our eyes met.

Then he smiled, like it meant nothing, and scooped her into his arms. “Not so fast, babe. We have a dinner party first. After that… I’m all yours.”

A moment later, the car roared to life outside and sped off.

Which meant I had to go to that dinner alone.

I changed into something simple. I hesitated, then left my hair down and kept my makeup light before heading out.

I hadn’t driven myself in a long time. Jason always had a driver assigned to me.

But today, there was no car. No driver. No one.

I paused for only a second before walking out to the main road and flagging down a taxi.

…

My father had always valued punctuality.

So when the taxi got stuck, I told the driver to stop and decided to walk.

I thought, how hard could it be? But I’d forgotten how far it was.

By the time the gates of the Dacosta mansion came into view, it was already seven.

I pushed the door open.

The chatter inside stopped instantly.

In the living room, my father stood with a glass in his hand. Jason was beside him, his hand resting on Nerissa’s waist.

No one found anything strange about how close Jason and Nerissa were— not even my own father.

“Alina,” my father said, his brows pulling together, “even for a family dinner, you should know how to prepare and arrive on time. Jason and Nerissa have been here for a while.”

I barely had time to open my mouth.

“Maybe because Alina doesn’t go out much these days,” Nerissa said lightly. “She probably forgot how long it takes to come home.”

I hadn’t expected Jason and Nerissa to be so boldly intimate—just like they were when they humiliated me in my own home, and now they were doing it again in front of my father and the rest of the family.

The nausea rose so fast I had to press my lips together. “Excuse me.”

I turned and walked straight to the guest bathroom.

By the time the wave passed, my hands were cold against the sink.

I opened the door quietly.

Two maids were standing just around the corner, whispering.

“Is that him? The Don of Vale?”

“Yes! He’s so handsome, right?”

“And Miss Nerissa is his Donna? They look so good together.”

“Shh!” one of them hissed. “You’re new. Mr. Vale’s Donna is Miss Alina. Not Miss Nerissa.”

“But…” the other lowered her voice, “why does Miss Nerissa look more like it? And they come here together all the time. I’ve never seen Miss Alina come home with him.”

My steps faltered. No wonder no one in that room looked surprised.

“I heard,” the first maid continued in a whisper, “that Mr. Vale takes Miss Nerissa everywhere because… Miss Alina shamed him once. She cheated on him—with his own brother. The night before their wedding.”

A sharp ringing filled my ears.

“Oh… then why did he still marry her?” the other maid asked softly. “Shouldn’t he have called it off?”

“I think because Mr. Vale valued promise? He’s a good man.” She lowered her voice. “Still… I think Miss Nerissa suits him better, don’t you? She’s loyal, beautiful, smart. Miss Alina…She’s always so quiet. Cold. I’ve never even dared to speak to her.”

Their voices faded as they walked away.

I stood there, frozen.

So this was the story everyone believed. That I had cheated. That I deserved everything happening to me now.

Jason—the man who humiliated me—had somehow become the generous one, the man who married the woman who betrayed him.

And Nerissa…The one who saved him.

I bit down hard, the taste of blood sharp on my tongue.

My back hit the wall, and slowly, my body slid down until I was sitting on the cold floor.

I didn’t know how to name what I was feeling. Only that I needed to leave. As soon as possible.

But the man I had called yesterday said I had to wait three days.

Three. Just three, Alina. You can endure this. After that, you can walk away. You can leave all of this behind.

I whispered the words to myself like a promise.

After a few minutes, I pushed myself to my feet and headed toward the dining room.