Julian sat near the window, looking like a prince in his linen suit, holding a flute of my vintage Dom Pérignon. Across from him sat his mother, Constance, a woman whose primary occupation was being perpetually disappointed in my lack of “pedigree.” Next to her was his father, a man who had spent forty years as a silent hostage to Constance’s cruelty.
And then there was the fourth person.
Serena. Julian’s ex-girlfriend from college. The woman he constantly compared me to when he wanted to remind me I lacked “traditional, soft femininity.” She was laughing, her hand resting familiarly on Julian’s knee, wearing a designer resort dress that screamed tropical getaway. A getaway I had paid for.
Julian spotted me. He didn’t drop his glass. He didn’t look guilty. He looked profoundly annoyed.
“Listen,” he said, adjusting his $800 sunglasses inside the plane. “Serena has been going through a devastating breakup, and Mom and Dad haven’t had a proper vacation in years. I decided to invite them. It’s a massive plane, Victoria. We have an entire island.”
“You invited your parents and your ex-girlfriend onto my private jet for our anniversary trip?” I whispered. The sheer, naked audacity was so loud it felt like a physical blow to my skull.
“Don’t start with the ‘hysterical CEO’ routine,” he commanded, his voice dropping into that low, condescending register he used to silence me. “It’ll be fine. In fact, it’ll be better. You can handle the cooking and the household logistics at the villa while we enjoy the beach. It’ll be good for you to unplug from your masculine, aggressive career and do some actual wife duties for once. It might remind you of your place.”
Before I could even find the words to process the insanity of his demand, Constance sashayed forward from her seat, a glass of champagne in her hand. She looked at my simple, tailored travel suit with unvarnished disgust.
“Don’t look so sour, Victoria,” Constance sneered, adjusting her diamond necklace. “It’s the absolute least you can do considering it’s my son’s money you’re spending. He works himself to the bone to keep you in this lifestyle while you play with construction toys all day. A little grace wouldn’t kill you.”
The world went perfectly, absolutely silent.
