The underestimated heir

The Crystal Ballroom of the Grand Plaza Hotel glowed like a palace from a fairy tale. Hundreds of candles flickered on tables draped in silk the color of cream. A massive chandelier hung from the ceiling, its crystals catching the light and throwing rainbows across the marble floor. A string quartet played soft music in the corner while waiters in crisp white uniforms moved between the guests like ghosts, offering champagne and tiny foods that cost more than most people's weekly groceries.

Gabriel stood near the wall, trying to make himself invisible. His suit was borrowed from his wife's cousin, and it didn't fit right. The sleeves were too short, showing too much of his wrists. The pants were too tight. Every time he moved, he felt like the seams might split open. He tugged at his collar for the hundredth time, feeling the sweat gathering at the back of his neck.

This was his wife Seraphina's twenty-eighth birthday party, but he felt like an uninvited guest at his own wife's birthday. 

Seraphina moved through the crowd like a queen. Her red dress hugged her body perfectly, falling to the floor in elegant waves. Her black hair was styled in loose curls that cascaded over her bare shoulders. Diamond earrings sparkled at her ears. Every man in the room watched her as she passed. Every woman whispered about her beauty and grace.

Gabriel watched too, but with a different feeling in his chest. That was his wife. The woman he'd been married to for three years. Yet she hadn't looked at him once since the party started two hours ago.

"Is that the son-in-law?" a woman whispered nearby, not bothering to lower her voice much. "The one who does the cleaning?"

"Poor Seraphina," her companion responded with fake sympathy. "Stuck with a man like that. No money, no connections, no future."

"I heard he doesn't even have a real job. Just lives off the Morrison family's charity."

Gabriel's hands tightened into fists at his sides, but he kept his face blank. He'd learned to ignore the whispers over the past three years. They never stopped, so there was no point in letting them hurt anymore.

A commotion near the entrance made everyone turn. The crowd parted like water as a tall man in an expensive black suit walked in. His shoes were so shiny they reflected the candlelight. His watch probably cost more than a car. Two bodyguards followed him, wearing sunglasses even though they were indoors.

"That's Lucas Reeves," someone gasped. "The real estate king!"

"He owns half the buildings in the city!"

"I heard he's worth five billion dollars!"

Gabriel felt his stomach drop. He knew that name. Everyone in the city knew Lucas Reeves. The man was forty-five years old, twice divorced, and famous for getting whatever he wanted. And right now, his eyes were locked on Seraphina.

Reeves walked straight to Seraphina, ignoring everyone else. He pulled out a black velvet box from his jacket pocket and opened it with a flourish. Even from across the room, Gabriel could see the diamonds catching the light. The necklace inside looked like it was made of stars.

"Happy birthday, Seraphina," Reeves said loudly, making sure everyone could hear. "Five hundred thousand dollars' worth of diamonds for the most beautiful woman in the city."

The room erupted in gasps and excited chatter. Women crowded closer to see. Men nodded with approval at such a display of wealth.

Before Gabriel could process this information, Reeves reached out and took Seraphina's hand. His thumb stroked across her knuckles slowly, intimately. "You're wasting your youth, Seraphina," Reeves said, his voice dropping lower but still audible. "A woman like you deserves a man who can give her the world. Not some pathetic house husband who can't even afford to buy you a birthday card."

Laughter rippled through the crowd. Gabriel felt every eye turn toward him. His face burned hot.

Seraphina's expression remained neutral, but she didn't pull her hand away.

Something inside Gabriel snapped. He'd endured three years of insults. Three years of being treated like a servant in his own marriage. Three years of sleeping on the couch while his wife slept alone in their bedroom. But watching another man touch his wife, watching her let it happen, was too much.

Gabriel pushed through the crowd. People moved aside quickly, surprised to see him approaching. He walked straight up to Reeves and Seraphina.

"Take your hand off my wife," Gabriel said. His voice was quiet but steady.

The room went completely silent. Even the string quartet stopped playing.

Reeves turned slowly, his eyes widening in mock surprise. "Excuse me? Did the help just speak to me?"

"I said take your hand off my wife," Gabriel repeated. He reached out and firmly pushed Reeves' hand away from Seraphina.

For a moment, nobody moved. Nobody breathed.

Then Reeves' face twisted with rage. His hand shot out faster than Gabriel expected. The slap connected with Gabriel's cheek with a crack that echoed through the silent ballroom. Gabriel's head snapped to the side. His lip split open. Blood dripped onto his borrowed white shirt.

"You dare touch me?" Reeves snarled. "Do you have any idea who I am?"

Gabriel straightened slowly, wiping the blood from his mouth with the back of his hand. His cheek throbbed, but he kept his eyes on Reeves. "I know exactly who you are. A man who thinks money gives him the right to disrespect other people's marriages."

The crowd gasped. Someone in the back actually applauded before quickly stopping.

Reeves raised his hand again, but before he could strike, another slap came from Gabriel's other side. This one was even harder. Gabriel stumbled, his vision blurring for a moment.

When he looked up, his father-in-law Dominic Morrison stood before him, his face purple with fury.

"How dare you embarrass this family!" Dominic shouted. "How dare you insult Mr. Reeves!"

Gabriel's mother-in-law Margaret rushed over, her face twisted in horror. "Dominic, do something! He's ruining everything!"

"Apologize!" Dominic commanded, grabbing Gabriel's shoulder. "Apologize to Mr. Reeves right now!"

Gabriel looked at Seraphina. Surely she would say something. Surely his wife would defend him.

But Seraphina stood silent, her face carefully blank, the diamond necklace still in her hands.

"Apologize!" Dominic shook him. "You worthless piece of trash! Apologize or get out!"

The two security guards moved forward, their hands reaching for Gabriel.

Gabriel felt something crack inside his chest. Not his ribs. Something deeper. Something that had been barely holding together for three years.

He looked around the ballroom. Two hundred faces stared at him. Some looked disgusted. Some looked amused. Most looked at him like he was nothing. Less than nothing.

His split lip throbbed. His cheek was already swelling. Blood dripped onto his collar.

Slowly, Gabriel lowered his head. "I apologize, Mr. Reeves," he said quietly. "I was out of line."

The words tasted like poison in his mouth.

Reeves smiled, cruel and satisfied. He stepped closer, so close that only Gabriel could hear his next words. "Good boy. Now watch while I take your wife. She'll be in my bed within a month, and there's nothing you can do about it."

Gabriel's hands shook, but he kept them at his sides.

The party resumed. The quartet started playing again. People went back to their champagne and conversations. Within minutes, it was as if nothing had happened.

Gabriel walked back to his corner by the wall. Nobody looked at him. He was invisible again.

He stood there for another hour, watching Seraphina laugh and smile with Reeves and the other guests. Watching his wife live in a world where he didn't exist.

Finally, as the party was winding down, Gabriel's phone buzzed in his pocket. He pulled it out. Unknown number. The message was short:

"The truth about your marriage will be revealed soon. Meet me at Grandmother Abigail's house tomorrow morning at 9 AM. Come alone. Your life is about to change."