Sarge and Madelline graciously descend the stairs. Everything in the ballroom stops. All eyes locked on them.

  Sarge stops at the bottom of the stairs eyeing his guests. Madelline puts down her arm, flawlessly tugging it from her husband. Sarge raises his hand, resuming the ball flow. The guests go back to dancing, chatting and gossiping in more sophisticated manner, as it suits the noble guests of the Magister.

  Madeline glances at Sarge with a passing smile and heads into the crowd, which quickly dissipates, making room for her. With polite smile on, Madelline quickly navigates through the guests till she reaches the drink table, noticing the lady in a lavender glossy dress nearby.

  “Maria, is it you?”

  The woman lowers the champagne glass, turning to Madelline her deeply unhappy face with plastered fake smile on it, “Madelline.”

  Women exchange kisses,

  “You look better, dear. I hope it’s the sign that everything is getting along with Francesco.”

  Corners of Maria’s lips shudder for a second, before getting back into same fake smile.

  “Yeah, we’re trying our best. Clean slate. Everything’s forgotten.”

  Madelline sips her champagne, observing Maria through her squinted friendly smiling eyes. She was lying. There was no doubt to it. She’s been trying so hard to hide it that it was becoming more and more evident.

  “You’re an amazing woman, Maria,” Madelline gently pats her shoulder, giving all her support and affection. “I don’t know whether I’d found that strength in my heart to forgive what you did… I’d probably wouldn’t.”

  Maria rolls her eyes, giving out her real smile for the first time.

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  “Oh, stop it, dear. The Magister would never dare. You’re his goddess. One and only. He doesn’t see any woman beyond you.”

  Madelline can’t help her lips bending into a delighted smile as she glances at her husband. Powerful. Decisive. Icy. Brutally handsome. Feeling her eyes on him, Sarge gives Madelline one of his glances – quick but full of meaning and inner depth, only they can grasp. Madelline lowers her eyes. Later.

  Maria downs her drink and grab another one. “And even if the Magister exercised his right of freedom, you’d swallow it. You’d do what I did, because that’s what expected of us after all, isn’t it?”

  Madelline’s frowns immediately smoothen. A devious smirk appear on her lips as she reaches for Maria’s hand, gently patting her.

  “Oh, dear. I’m so sorry about it. The last thing I want is to see you struggle. You deserve happiness and I really hope you can get it with Francesco.”

  Maria squeezes Madeline’s hand , grabbing another champagne glass.

  “Where is he by the way? I’d love to greet him.”

  Maria stretches her neck, squinting her eyes at the crowd of dressed up men until her gaze stops at the chubby middle-aged man with gorgeous moustache. Maria’s face gets pale, her grin on the champagne glass tightens.

  Madelline follows Maria’s glance and finds Francesco. Smiling, flirting and endlessly peeping in the cleavage of a young lady, whom she tries to charm and bed, devouring her flesh with his eyes in the meantime.

  Poor idiot. So predictable. Madellineshakes her head. He did it all himself. Madelline glances at Maria, observing how fury takes over her face. She didn’t even need to do anything.

  “Dear, I’m sure he’s just mingling. That what balls are for after all.”

  “Mingling? Mingling, Madelline?! He’s eating her out with his fishy eyeballs!” Maria’s glass shutters in her hands.

  All eyes swirl to Maria. The music dies in the second. Blood drips from her palm, but she doesn’t notice it, her eyes are locked at Francesco, trying to rush to her.

  “Darling, you’ve cut yourself. Let me-”

  “Don’t touch me!” Maria springs back from Francesco’s hands as they are poisonous.

  Francesco frowns, anxiously checking the guests’ reaction. Scandal was the last thing he needed right now.

  “I don’t want you to get hurt, dear, let-”

  “I’m already hurt, Francesco!” Maria’s eyes well with tears, shocking everyone, especially Francesco. He tries to hide his eyes but Maria doesn’t let him.

  “You’ve been humiliating me and our marriage over and over again. I’ve kept my eyes shut. I’ve kept my mouth shut. I’ve forgiven you, but I had enough. That’s enough, Francesco. I can’t do it anymore. I want a divorce.”

  A few gasps among the guests die in the tense silence. Maria’s eyes, glistening with tears,emptily stare into scared Francesco’s eyes.

  “That’s enough.” Sarge’s icy voice pierces the silence. “Mrs Bittoni needs a doctor.”

  “My fellow members of the Circle, please, follow me upstairs. We have an urgent matter to discuss.”

  Deadly pale, Francesco puts on his black hood and slowly gets back to his feet, drilling Maria with his sight.

  Seven other men emerge from the crowd, putting their black hoods on and follow the Magister upstairs. He glances at his lovely wife, gently nodding her in appreciation.

  “Please, enjoy the rest of your evening. Don’t let this tiny incident cloud your mood.”

  As soon as the door to the Circle hall closes with the ominous thud, the evening activities in the ballroom resume like nothing happened. After all, they needed to muffle the screams upstairs…