**No Husband, No Success**
The whispers followed her as she stepped into the reunion hall.
“Look, Beltons here. Alone, as usual.”
The words struck Katherine like a blade between the ribs. She didnt need to turn aroundshe already knew who had spoken. Veronica Ashford.
The queen bee of their school days, her venom only sharper with time.
The restaurant hummed, a restless hive of false laughter and clinking glasses. Ten years had passed, but the air still smelled of cheap perfume and desperate validation. Katherine took a slow sip of mineral water, her fingers steady. The dress she wore was custom-made, designed by her own hand. But they wouldnt understand that. To them, worth was measured by brand names and price tags.
She scanned the roomthe same faces, just older. Thinning hair, crows feet, extra weight. But the hunger in their expressions hadnt changed. They still fed on others shortcomings.
Veronica couldnt resist breaking the silence. She sauntered over, glittering with sequins and self-satisfaction, her entourage trailing behind.
“Katie! I thought you might not show. Too scared?”
Her smile was flawlessveneers and venom.
“Good evening, Veronica,” Katherine replied evenly.
“So, what have you been up to? Still buried in dusty archives? Sorting through papers no one cares about?”
Katherine almost smiled. They wanted her to confessto confirm their belief that she was still the quiet girl theyd mocked, still beneath them.
“I changed jobs.”
Veronicas eyebrows shot up, feigning interest. “Oh? Senior archivist now, with a hazard pay bonus?”
The crowd around them stilled, eager for the spectacle.
Katherine let them wait. Then, softly: “Something like that.”
Veronica smirked, turning to her followers as if to say, *See? Nothings changed.*
Then the doors swung open.
A man walked intall, impeccably dressed in a suit worth more than their cars combined. The murmurs died as heads turned. Who was he? A politician? A tycoon?
His gaze swept the roomand landed on Katherine.
His expression softened into a smile meant only for her.
Ignoring the stunned silence, he crossed the room, stopping beside her.
“Sorry Im late,” he murmured, his fingers brushing her shoulder. “Negotiations ran long.”
Katherine looked up, her smile genuine. “Its alright, Sebastian. I knew youd come.”
He leaned down, pressing a light kiss to her lipsa gesture of quiet intimacy that silenced the room.
Veronicas face twisted in disbelief. Then, recovering, she forced a laugh.
“Katie, arent you going to introduce us?”
“Veronica, this is Sebastian. Sebastian Cole.”
A fork clattered to the floor.
“WaitSebastian Cole? *The* Sebastian Cole?”
The realization spread like wildfire. The rock star whose albums topped charts, whose tours sold out in minutes.
Veronicas lips thinned. “How unexpected.” Her voice dripped with saccharine malice. “We were just saying how poor Katie had *no husband, no success*. But I see you took the easy way out.”
Katherine exhaled. Enough.
“You asked what I do,” she said, standing. “You were almost right. It started in the archives. I found a demoan unknown artist with an extraordinary voice. I spent a year tracking him down, four more building the company that made him a star.”
She met Veronicas eyes. “Every platinum record, every tourthats my work. I didnt *find* him. I built an empire.”
The room held its breath.
Veronicas husband paled. “Our media agency”
“was reviewed by my legal team last week,” Katherine finished. “Too much debt. Too unstable.” She picked up her clutch. “Sebastian, lets go.”
She didnt wait for a response.
The next day, her phone stayed silent. None of them dared to reach out. But the group chats explodedscreenshots, gossip, the legend of that night.
Two days later, Veronicas husband called, stammering apologies, begging for a meeting.
Katherine listened, then cut him off.
“I dont invest in doomed projects.”
She hung up.
Sebastian, sitting across from her with his guitar, raised a brow. “Harsh.”
“Fair,” she corrected.
It wasnt revenge. It was justice.
A year later, Katherine sat in her office, skimming headlines. *Former media mogul Veronica Ashford now working as a hostess.* A blurry photo accompanied ita tired woman with a forced smile.
Katherine felt nothing.
Sebastian walked in, glancing at her screen. “Another broken bird?”
She smiled. “Another future star. She just needs someone to believe in her wings.”
He kissed her temple. “Thats why youre here. You dont just make music. You give voice to those they tried to silence.”
She laced her fingers with his. Success wasnt designer dresses or envy.
It was the quiet certainty of her own strength.
And the past would never haunt her again.
—
*What do you think of this story? I’d love to hear your thoughts!*
