Chapter 4

That night, the Kurt family hosted a masquerade ball. Both Shane and Gianna wore custom masks that were easily recognizable at a glance. But the moment she stepped inside, Gianna noticed a woman across the room wearing a mask almost identical to hers. A man's bow tie was tied loosely around the woman's wrist. Gianna recognized it immediately. It was the exact tie Shane wore at every major event. There was no doubt that the woman was Stella. When they made their entrance, Shane lifted his arm slightly, silently signaling for Gianna to take it. It was the perfect moment to present themselves as the harmonious Kurt couple, but Gianna stepped away from him instead. Shane paused, his voice softening with frustration. "Are you still upset?" His words landed softly, like they always did, but they still cut straight through her. The dull ache tightened in her chest as she lowered her gaze and repeated, steady and calm, "Shane, I'm not joking. Here's what I've prepared…" Gianna held out the divorce papers. Shane was just about to take them when a shout burst from somewhere in the crowd. "Ms. Kurt! Ms Kurt, are you okay?" His expression changed instantly, and he spun around in panic. Gianna grabbed him. "Sign it first." Shane drew in a sharp breath, took the pen from her, and scribbled his name in a rush before taking off at a run. He pressed so hard in his rush that the pen scraped across her palm, cutting a bright red mark into her skin. It stung a little, but the pain in her chest was far worse. Because from this moment on, her marriage to Shane was officially over. Gianna smoothed out the wrinkled divorce papers, slipped them into her bag, and walked toward the corner of the ballroom. It didn't take long before the main event of the night began—The partner-seeking game. The men had to find their designated partners among the crowd of masked guests, and whoever found theirs first would win an extremely valuable prize. As the lights dimmed, Gianna saw Shane walking toward her. For a moment, those dark and steady eyes of his looked like they were full of something warm. For a split second, she almost believed he might actually like her, even just a little. Until Stella appeared before him, wearing the exact same mask as Gianna. Shane stopped in his tracks. Suddenly, the entire venue went dark. The whole ship fell into chaos and shadow. In the faint, scattered moonlight, Gianna's gaze froze on two overlapping silhouettes. Shane leaned down and kissed Stella. They were kissing so deeply that it was like neither of them wanted to let the other go. People nearby were whispering with envy. "Isn't that Mr. Kurt and his wife? They look so in love. Nothing like the rumors saying she's the one who cares more." "Right? Look at him. He can't take his eyes off her. He's obsessed!" "I swear, if I could marry a man like Mr. Kurt, handsome and rich and actually devoted, I'd be set for life." The words cut straight into Gianna's chest, sharp and merciless. It was only then that she understood. Shane's love for someone was never subtle. It was right there, plain as day. There was no need to fight for it the way she had. Real love never needed to be proved. In the darkness, Gianna's eyes met Stella's across the room. Stella shot Gianna a taunting look as she stepped back, the smudged lipstick on Stella's mouth making the message even clearer. She mouthed the words slowly, one at a time. "You. Are. A. Loser." Gianna let out a cold, quiet laugh. She slipped off her mask with steady hands and walked toward Shane. She tapped his shoulder lightly and asked, "Shane, did you kiss the wrong woman?"