Chapter 7 Chapter 7 Why the hell would I keep a man who's already contaminated?" I said, watching Derek's face freeze in total shock. "If you actually love her, then give her what she wants. Sign the damn papers. Do that and maybe I could respect you for once." My voice came out flat and cold as ice. Derek just stood there blinking at me like I'd suddenly started speaking another language-but I didn't miss it. That flash of pure joy that lit up Jade's face for a split second. The desperate hope in her eyes when she whipped around to look at him, practically vibrating with anticipation. And then Derek snatched the divorce agreement off the ground and hurled it across the stage. "Jesus Christ, how much longer are you planning to drag this out?" By this point, everyone in that ballroom had figured out who the real homewrecker was. Even Jade's faculty advisor had completely turned on her, his face dark red with a mixture of rage and bitter disappointment as he pointed an accusing finger right at her. Jade Collins, you have utterly disgraced yourself tonight. And by extension, you've disgraced me." His voice echoed through the silent room. "I will not claim you as my student anymore!" Effective immediately, you're dead to me professionally. Don't you dare list my name as a reference ever again!" He spun on his heel to leave, and Jade scrambled after him on shaky legs, her voice cracking with panic. Professor Martinez, please-just wait! Let me explain!" But he shoved her away so hard she went sprawling across the polished floor. Then, one by one, her classmates and friends started filing toward the exits too. Some couldn't resist getting their shots in on the way out. "Wow, Jade You always acted like you were so above everyone. Like you were too classy for all the petty drama. But turns out you're just another basic homewrecker, huh? Honestly, that's fucking sad." Each person leaving took their turn tearing into her-some more vicious than others, but all brutal in their own way. Jade stayed crumpled on the ground, screaming after them: "I didn't! I swear to God I didn't! You don't understand what really happened!" But nobody stopped. Nobody even looked back. And when the last guest finally disappeared through those double doors, Jade spun around and unleashed all that fury directly at me. Her eyes were bloodshot and wild, mascara running down her face in thick black streaks. 16:20 Dear Hubby. Your Biggest Mistake? Thinking I'd Dog Instead of Burn GOL Chapter 7 "Riley! I never fucking touched you!" "So why are you destroying my entire life like this?!" Fat tears rolled down her cheeks then, one after another. She looked genuinely pathetic. Almost tragic, really. If she hadn't been the other woman who destroyed everything I had, if it weren't for her, I never would've realized that my supposedly unshakeable marriage was really just a gorgeous shell with nothing but decay inside. I watched Jade lunge at me like a wild animal-but Derek was faster. He caught her mid-charge and pulled her back hard against his chest. When he finally looked at me, all that tenderness I used to see in his eyes had vanished completely. Nothing left but ice-cold contempt. "Riley, what's the point of destroying her like this?" "She's barely out of school, for fuck's sake." 'Did you really need to ruin her entire future?" Even now, after everything. Derek genuinely didn't think he'd done a single thing wrong. in his twisted version of reality, I was still the bad guy here. stood there watching him smooth Jade's hair back, murmuring soft reassurances while she kept screaming at me from the safety of is arms. There's nothing wrong with Derek and me loving each other!" Yeah, we had to keep it secret-but I never tried to rub it in your face! All I wanted was to be with the person I'm in love with! How s that a crime?" So you met him first. Big deal! Time doesn't equal love! What we have is real-it's not about some arbitrary timeline!" Riley!" I love him way more than you do!" I actually fucking love him!" Something shifted in Derek's expression then-this look of deep emotion washing over his face. His arms locked tighter around her, pulling her even closer And me? I just felt numb watching the whole pathetic display. Then suddenly, without warning, I started laughing. "You never tried to hurt me? That's seriously what you're claiming right now?" I pulled out my phone, found the file Maddie had sent over, and shoved the screen right in both their faces. 16:20 Dear Hubby, Your Biggest Mistake? Thinking I'd Beg Instead of Burn 4.8% 16:20 J Chapter 7 "Then how do you explain this? Someone randomly suggested I ditch our reserved spot and go to that overcrowded corner instead. And wow, what a crazy coincidence-that's exactly where you two were sucking face." "Stop acting like you didn't research me and plan the whole damn thing." That night in Charleston. Maddie and I originally had reservations at this gorgeous rooftop venue-great view, no crowds, actually classy. But then out of nowhere, one of my coworkers got super insistent that we all head downtown to "feel the real festival energy." And she specifically herded us to that exact spot where Derek and Jade were having their romantic little moment. Maddie's the one who connected the dots. Turns out that coworker eventually had a breakdown and sent me this sobbing video confession. Said Jade had approached her weeks earlier and offered her five grand to make sure I'd be in that specific location at that exact time. "Five hundred dollars. That's what you paid my colleague to orchestrate me catching my husband with his mistress." "Jade," I cocked my head, a cold smile spreading across my face, "you were banking on me losing my shit right there in public, weren't you? Wanted me to blow up Derek's whole cover?"