Reaching for the Stars Without You

Dorothy watched Katherine cry out. Instantly, Jason pulled back his arm, scooped her up, and carried her away.

Dorothy herself kept convulsing, foaming at the mouth, until she finally lost consciousness.

She didn’t know how long she was out. Eventually, she opened her eyes.

The sound of Jason’s typing stopped. He sighed.

“Was that really necessary? All I asked was for you to admit you were wrong.”

“Consider it a small lesson. If there’s a next time, you know how far I’ll go.”

Dorothy couldn’t bear to look at him. Grabbing the nearest thing she could see, she threw it at him.

“Enough!”

Jason seemed to have lost all patience. “You’re being utterly unreasonable,” he said finally, and turned to leave.

Utterly unreasonable?

Dorothy let out a low, bitter laugh.

So this was where they had ended up—unable to stand the sight of each other.

After a few days in the hospital, Dorothy finally regained a bit of strength.

But the peace didn’t last. An uninvited guest arrived: Jason.

His face had regained its usual calm, though a hint of guilt lingered at the edges.

“Dorothy, what happened to us? You seem so different now…”

She found it bitterly ironic. What woman wants to share her husband? And no fire burns forever in the same hearth.

Jason took a deep breath. “Dorothy, I’m sorry. Let’s go to the auction. I heard there’s a lead on that antique Chinese lute you’ve always wanted.”

A flicker of interest stirred in her. They could fight all they wanted—but that instrument, she was determined to have.

It was the final lot. Noticing Dorothy’s distraction, Jason tried to make conversation.

“Dorothy, this painting of two phoenixes soaring together—it’s clearly by your favorite artist. Do you want it?”

But the vibrant, flamboyant style was unmistakably Katherine’s taste.

When she didn’t respond, Jason mistook her silence for consent and eagerly prepared to bid. Just then, Katherine glided over.

“Jason, however did you know this is my favorite painter?”

Jason froze, his eyes darting guiltily toward Dorothy.

She couldn’t stand to watch them and turned to leave.

But Katherine tossed out a light remark: “Decided to join us, Dorothy?”

Seeing Katherine’s confident, triumphant expression, a fire ignited in Dorothy’s chest. A cold smile touched her lips as she sat back down.

“Since you want to play, I’ll keep you company.”

Every time Katherine placed a bid, Dorothy raised it by another ten thousand, publicly undermining her at every turn.

Katherine’s face grew increasingly strained. She pouted, blaming Jason with a coquettish whine.

His own pride wounded, Jason leaned in and warned Dorothy under his breath, “Let her have this one. Katherine rarely comes to auctions. You’re a regular. Don’t embarrass her.”

Dorothy didn’t even look back, raising her paddle again. “I have the means, and I’ll use them.”

Whispers began to ripple through the surrounding crowd of wealthy heirs.

“Isn’t that Mr. Jason? Which one is the real wife?”

“The one with class is obviously the wife. The other one’s all act—the classic other woman.”

Tears welled in Katherine’s eyes. “If Mrs. Jason dislikes me, there’s no need to humiliate me over and over…”

With that, she turned and fled in tears.

Jason’s face darkened terrifyingly. He twisted the beads on his wrist, his gaze fixed on Dorothy—inscrutable, heavy.

…

The next day was the class reunion. Despite multiple refusals, Dorothy ended up going.

At eighteen, he was all bright eyes and perfect smile; that first kiss behind the library sealed everything.

By twenty-two, he was the rising star downtown, and she had blossomed into a stunning, sophisticated woman.

At twenty-four, he launched his own company, and she became Jason’s most formidable partner.

But now…

Before she could sink further into memory, crude, lewd chatter reached her from the banquet hall entrance.

“…those legs, so pale… and the most tantalizing part is that red mole in the small of her back… utterly seductive…”

“Absolutely genuine, no edits. This was from a private auction Mr. Jason hosted last night. They were auctioning off Dorothy’s private photos.”

Dorothy stood frozen at the door, her face deathly pale. A tidal wave of nausea crashed through her, leaving her speechless.

She could never have imagined—Jason would auction her private photos for Katherine.

She found him looking utterly relaxed. “Do you have any idea what your so-called friends are looking at right now?”

But Jason’s expression remained calm, laced with sarcasm. “You love auctions so much? I decided to give you a personal one.”