Chapter 5 - The Perfect Dress
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Saturday arrived with a gray, overcast sky that perfectly matched my mood. Julian left the house at three in the afternoon, claiming he needed to attend pre-gala networking drinks. He kissed my cheek, told me to enjoy my spa day, and drove off in his sleek Lexus, driving straight into his own demise.
The moment his taillights disappeared around the corner, I sprang into action.
I didn't go to a spa. I went to the most exclusive boutique on the Magnificent Mile. For eleven years, I had dressed conservatively, playing the role of the supportive corporate wife who blended seamlessly into the background. Julian preferred me quiet, elegant, and invisible.
Not tonight.
I purchased a floor-length, deep crimson silk gown that hugged every curve of my body and featured a plunging neckline and a slit that ran high up my thigh. It was a dress designed to turn heads, stop conversations, and command absolute authority. It was a dress meant for a woman who was taking her life back.
I spent two hours at a high-end salon having my hair styled into sleek, dramatic waves and my makeup done with a sharp, bold red lip. When I looked in the mirror, I barely recognized the woman staring back at me. The exhausted, betrayed housewife was gone. In her place stood a warrior.
I returned home to find Leo waiting in the living room, wearing a sharp navy blue blazer and a crisp white shirt. He looked so grown up, his jaw set with fierce determination.
"You look beautiful, Mom," Leo said, his eyes widening slightly.
"Thank you, sweetie," I smiled, grabbing a sleek black clutch from the entryway table. "Are you ready for this? You don't have to come if it's too much."
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"I want to be there," Leo said firmly, pulling his smartphone from his pocket. "He needs to know that he didn't just fool you. He fooled me, too."
I nodded, sliding the heavy manila envelope containing Eleanor's legal documents into my purse. "Then let's go introduce your father to reality."
