Chapter 8 Chapter 8 "That was your whole plan, wasn't it? You wanted Derek to defend you in front of me. You were literally banking on me causing a massive scene!" The video kept rolling on my phone screen. My coworker confessed to everything-how Jade had approached her, exactly what she'd been paid, every single instruction she'd been given to manipulate me. I watched Jade's face go completely rigid with panic. Derek just stared at her in total disbelief, and that's when she absolutely lost it. Tears started streaming down her face as she grabbed onto his arm, fingers digging in desperately. "She's lying, Derek!" You know I love you! You know how much I love you!" 'Don't listen to her!" Please, baby, please!" But that heartbroken, protective look Derek had on his face just seconds ago? Completely gone. knew every single one of his expressions by heart-we'd been together way too long for me not to catch the shift. That coldness creeping into his eyes, the subtle tightening around his mouth. Pure disgust. de peeled her hands off his arm like she was something contagious. When he finally spoke, his voice came out flat and harsh. You promised me something." We had an agreement. You said you'd stay out of sight until I figured things out. That you wouldn't push." You swore to me," Derek's tone dropped even lower, deadly quiet now, "so what the hell happened to keeping your word?" There it was-that obsessive control freak side of him. 'd seen it before, knew exactly what it meant. Derek was running through his options right now. And predictably. Even as Jade kept sobbing and pleading-"I only did this because I'm so in love with you, what's wrong with that?"-Derek's expression had already gone completely flat. Emotionless. Then he turned away from her and walked toward me instead, reaching out like he could just take my hand and smooth this all over, like we could rewind the clock and pretend tonight never happened. 16:20 Chapter 6 I stepped back before he could make contact. Looked him dead in the eye, my voice calm and controlled. "Derek." You've got one option here. Sign the papers." held his gaze steadily. Because if you don't, I'm done. No more visits to your grandmother. No more playing the dutiful granddaughter-in-law." Derek's grandmother had been the only one to raise him growing up. Now she had Alzheimer's and lived in a nursing home, and for the past few years, I'd been the one visiting her every single month. lis grandmother was Derek's only weak spot. pressed harder. "She's been diagnosed with stage four cancer. You really want things getting ugly right now?" Derek's head jerked up, eyes locking onto mine. He forced the words out through clenched teeth. Riley!" Have you actually thought this through?" Absolutely." I picked up the divorce papers from the floor and held out my pen. "Sign." berek stared at the document in my hand, then at my face-searching for any hesitation. Finding none, he finally bit out: "Fine." Don't come crying to me later!" le didn't even look at the asset division-just scrawled his name across the signature line and threw the pen on the ground. His eyes vere bloodshot as he glared at me. Riley, you're un fucking believable!" Vith that, Derek stormed off without even glancing at Jade, who was still standing there in shock. he whole venue had gone cold and empty. ade stared at the signed papers in my hand, then suddenly straightened up with this smug look on her face, like she'd won omething Listen here, Riley. You and Derek are done now." And from now on, I better not catch you anywhere near him!" Watching her stand there all triumphant, Maddie's hand flew up. ade immediately screamed: "Violence! That's all you people know!" 8706 16:20 Dear Hubby. Your Hagest Mistake? Thinking I'd Bog Instead of Burn Chapter