~ The wrong man will leave you broken.
The right man will give you wings and be the wind that makes you fly. ~
They say you can feel the loneliest in a room full of people.
Tonight, Anna Roberts understood exactly what that meant.
She sat quietly at a round table, surrounded by a handful of familiar faces, yet she had never felt more alone.
Golden chandeliers spilled soft light over the sea of well-dressed guests: elites, entrepreneurs, millionaires—figures whose names commanded attention and respect.
The decorations were perfect. The air buzzed with expensive perfume and quiet laughter. But none of it mattered to Anna.
Her brown eyes stayed fixed on one person: Andy Roberts, her husband.
Andy stood proudly at the front of the hall, holding the microphone, bathed in light. Behind him, a huge projector displayed the logo of Power Group—the multimillion-dollar company he had inherited from his father, Albert Roberts.
"Thank you all for gracing this occasion," Andy said, flashing a wide smile that showed his perfect white teeth.
The crowd hushed, leaning in to listen.
"It brings me immense joy to see this day," Andy continued, voice steady and full of pride. "It's been a long journey for Power Group—a ride full of highs and lows. But today..."
He paused, letting the moment sink in.
"We celebrate fifty years of success."
A wave of applause filled the hall. Glasses clinked. People cheered.
Andy smiled even brighter, soaking in the admiration like a man finally standing on top of the world.
When the applause died down, he went on, his voice rich with emotion.
"I'm proud of how far I've come, carrying my family's legacy with everything I have. First, I want to thank myself for being strong, for being resilient."
A soft chuckle ran through the audience. Andy chuckled along—confident, charming.
Anna smiled too. She was proud of her husband.
He'll thank me next, she thought, straightening her soft pink fur coat. Her heart fluttered in anticipation. She adjusted her little fascinator, ready to flash a grateful smile when Andy spoke her name.
After all, hadn't she been there through it all?
Hadn't she been the silent support—the steady hand behind his success—even if the world didn't know it?
Andy continued, sweeping his eyes across the VIP tables in front of him.
"A special thanks to my amazing family—my mother, Margaret, and my sisters, Sophie and Adeline. You've been my rock."
From the front, Margaret Roberts, a woman dressed head to toe in glittering diamonds, blew a kiss toward her son, her rings catching the light.
Anna clapped softly, her heart still full of hope.
Maybe next. He'll mention me next.
Andy moved on to thank his business partners, investors, employees, and leadership team—everyone who had touched his journey.
Everyone but her.
Anna shifted in her seat, a small frown tugging at her lips.
Her brow creased in worry.
Had he forgotten?
Then she saw Andy's eyes scanning the crowd, searching anxiously for someone. His gaze darted left and right, restless.
And just like that, his face changed.
A sudden, boyish grin—the kind that crinkled the corners of his eyes—broke across his face.
Anna turned, curious.
Behind her, walking through the wide doors like she owned the very ground she stepped on, was a woman dressed in a deep red silk gown.
Her dark curls bounced perfectly with each step.
Her long, slender legs carried her with a sway that drew every eye in the room.
A necklace that could pay off mortgages glistened at her throat.
Her very presence screamed luxury, power, and effortless charm.
Wow, Anna thought, a flicker of admiration flashing through her. She's beautiful.
But Anna wasn't the only one staring.
It was as if the whole hall paused, breathing her in.
"Penelope Kings," someone at Anna's table whispered, awestruck.
"The queen of the business world," another murmured.
"Managing Director of Kings Business Empire," someone else gasped. "What's she doing here?"
Anna blinked, quietly rolling her eyes.
She didn't keep up with business gossip. She wasn't a boardroom wife. She knew recipes, not power players. Her world was simple—home, family, Andy, and their little boy, Aiden.
As Penelope glided toward the VIP section, Anna forced herself to look back at Andy.
He was still staring.
Still smiling that wide, almost foolish smile.
Anna's stomach knotted.
Maybe now, she thought desperately. Maybe now he'll refocus. Maybe now he'll finally acknowledge me.
But what Andy did next tore that hope apart.
With the microphone still in his hand, Andy stepped down from the stage and made his way directly to Penelope.
"I want to say a big thank you to Penelope Kings," he said warmly, his voice cutting through the stunned murmurs of the crowd. "An outstanding woman who has made all of our projects successful."
Before Anna could even catch her breath, Andy leaned in—
and planted a kiss on Penelope's cheek.
Anna sat frozen.
Her heart slammed painfully against her ribs.
Am I dreaming?
Did my husband just kiss another woman in front of everyone?
She tried to steady herself.
It's just a friendly peck. Just business. Nothing more... right?
But then Andy spoke again, voice dripping with admiration—a tenderness Anna hadn't heard directed at her in months.
"I wouldn't have come this far without you," he said, looking into Penelope's eyes as if the rest of the world had disappeared.
Anna gripped the edge of the table, her knuckles white.
This can't be happening.
Confusion clawed at her mind.
Maybe it's just business.
Maybe there's nothing between them.
Maybe I'm overthinking...
But no matter how she tried to lie to herself, her instincts—that deep, gut-twisting pull—whispered otherwise.
The celebration went on.
Laughter. Toasts. Clinking glasses.
Andy returned to his VIP table, where his mother, sisters, Penelope, and some of his friends sat. They laughed. They whispered. They clinked glasses and leaned in close.
Anna sat at her lonely table, her heart sinking lower and lower.
She stared at Penelope's perfect figure, her flawless skin, her effortless glamour—
then looked down at herself.
Chubby. Thick. A soft belly that told the story of motherhood. Full cheeks and tired eyes.
Anna had never been ashamed of her body.
She had believed, no matter what, that Andy loved her—all her flaws and imperfections.
But tonight… doubt sliced through her like a blade.
Unable to sit another second, Anna stood and marched toward the VIP table.
Her steps were quiet, but her heart thundered with rage, heartbreak, and betrayal.
"Andy, can I talk to you for a minute?" she asked politely, her voice trembling just slightly.
Andy barely spared her a glance.
Instead, he turned back to Penelope, smiling warmly.
"This gown looks incredible on you," he said to Penelope, as if Anna hadn't spoken at all.
Anna stared, wide-eyed.
Did he just ignore me?
Frustration boiled inside her.
She stomped her foot softly, jaw tightening.
"Anderson," she said, voice sharp—using the full name she only ever used when serious.
Andy turned slowly, his eyes cold, full of silent warning: Leave.
But Anna held her ground.
Penelope, watching the scene unfold, tilted her head and asked sweetly, "Who is she?"
Her voice dripped with fake innocence as her sharp eyes raked over Anna, sizing her up and finding her lacking.
Andy didn't even hesitate.
"She's nobody," he said coolly.
Anna blinked, feeling the words stab her straight in the chest.
Nobody.
In that moment—surrounded by lights, laughter, and hundreds of people—
Anna realized she wasn't just lonely anymore.
She was invisible.