The only answer was a pleased moan.
Hilda stood in the shadows, watching it all. Her face betrayed nothing.
Her eyes burned and throbbed. She drew one long breath, then dialed his number.
On the terrace, the two of them were tangled together, mouths locked, when the shrill ring cut through the air.
Neither looked pleased. When Jasper saw the caller ID, a flicker of panic crossed his face.
He glanced at Vivienne, then answered.
Hilda's voice came through low and even, stripped of any readable emotion. "Jasper, I forgive you. When are you coming home? I miss you."
Jasper froze. Instinctively, his eyes darted to Vivienne.
Vivienne pressed herself tighter against him on purpose. He let out a stifled groan and tightened his arm around her waist.
"Hilda, I'm busy right now. Let me call you back later and we'll talk properly, okay?"
"Are you with Vivienne?"
"Hilda." His voice dropped, firm and warning. "Stop overthinking. I'll be home tomorrow."
He hung up before she could respond, then scrambled to soothe Vivienne, who was already losing patience.
Hilda watched the scene from the dark and laughed—a short, hollow sound aimed at herself. She turned and walked away.
When she really thought about it, she didn't even have the standing to call this catching him in the act. Vivienne was Jasper's lawful wife.
Seven years she'd given him. And she was nothing.
Her head felt heavy, her steps aimless. Without realizing it, she'd climbed to the rooftop. Cold wind cut across her face as she tipped her head back and stared into the pitch-black sky for a long, long time.
It wasn't until the gala ended and the noise of departing guests drifted up that she snapped out of it. She turned around and found Vivienne standing behind her. She had no idea how long the woman had been there.
"Hello, Hilda." Vivienne strolled toward her, unhurried. "You know who I am, right? I'm Jasper's wife."
"This is the first time we've met face to face. I'm hoping it's also the last."
"What do you want?" Hilda's voice was ice.
Vivienne folded her arms and let out a light laugh. "Is it really that hard to figure out? I want you gone from Jasper's life. Completely. Stop clinging to him."
"You've got it backwards," Hilda said. "You'd be better off warning Jasper. He's the one who's married. Tell him to stop clinging to me."
Vivienne's eyes went wide, her voice turning shrill. "That's a lie!"