His Perfect Scapegoat

Chapter 2: Revealed Betrayal

Betty’s POV

I sat on the edge of the bed with the divorce papers clenched in my hands as the morning light came through the curtains. Reliving what had happened the night before made my stomach turn. Hours had been spent persuading myself that there must have been an error and that the man for whom I had given everything would never betray me in such a ruthless manner.

But there was no denying the contract, my name, his signature.

Justin's sharp suit and uninterested face when he walked in the door fueled my escalating rage. I said in a shaky voice, "We need to talk."

He lifted an eyebrow, his tone clipped. “If it’s about breakfast, Clara’s making arrangements for something later.”

“No, Justin. This.” I held up the papers. “Explain this!"

Justin hardly gave them a look. "Betty, it's just business. Don’t inflate things out of proportion.”

“Business? These are divorce papers with a contract incriminating me in some financial swindle! How is this merely business? My voice broke.

He let out a sigh as though I were a child having a fit. “Betty, it’s complicated. You wouldn’t understand.”

The nonchalance in his tone sliced through me. “You mean I’m too stupid to understand, right? Justin, after all I've done for you? This is my reward for sacrificing my career and putting up with the taunts from your family?"

He squeezed his nose bridge. "You're exaggerating. As of now, the documents have little significance. Simply let it drop.

"Drop it? Our marriage is on the line, Justin! For something I didn't even perform, my name appears on a contract!"

At last, his icy, unforgiving gaze locked with mine. Betty, you'll thank me later. Now, let me handle it.”

Later that afternoon, the doorbell rang, and I was greeted by the sight of Clara. Her neatly styled hair and smug smile instantly put me on edge.

“Betty! As though she owned the space, she walked into the living room and said. "I wanted to stop by and see how Justin was doing. He has been under a lot of stress lately.

I tried to grin. “He’s fine. I’ve been taking care of him.”

Clara tilted her head, her gaze running across me. “That’s sweet. But you know, sometimes men need someone who understands them on a deeper level.”

I didn't want her to see how hurtful her remarks were. "I have things to do if you don't mind."

I heard their quiet voices as I passed the study.

"Not here, Clara," Justin whispered.

“Oh, hurry up, Justin,” murmured Clara. "She won't have any suspicions."

My heart fell. I clenched my fists, trying to preserve my composure. I reasoned that there must be a reason. However, their familiarity and the way they leaned toward one another caused me to start having second thoughts.

That night, Justin's parents showed up without warning. Margaret, his mother, quickly cornered me in the living room.

With a cold tone, she said, "Betty, we need to talk."

"How about? Already exhausted, I asked.

"About Justin's health," she yelled. "You have caused him a great deal of stress."

"Me? I gaped at her incredulously. "How am I to blame for this?"

Margaret and her husband looked at each other, and then Margaret went on. "He is in this situation because of your incapacity to handle things appropriately. You are to blame for the strain and the scandal.

"That is ridiculous! I objected. "I have only offered him support!"

"Help? Margaret's tone was brimming with irony. "You'll sign those documents in private if you truly care about Justin. Save him from the humiliation of a public scandal.

I went cold. My greatest concerns were validated by what they said. In addition to being complicit, Justin's family was planning my demise.

Justin invited me into his study later that evening. He handed me a glass of wine, his face unreadable.

"Betty," he said in a tone that was almost too serene. "There's something you must understand."

With my heart racing, I set the glass down on the table. "Now, Justin, what?"

His eyes were calculating and cold as he sat back in his chair. "The contract you discovered is more than just a commercial deal. It is a means of safeguarding the family.

“Protect the family? By implicating me?"

He grinned. “You were always good at taking the fall. Nothing is personal. Simply business.

"Is it nothing personal? With the weight of his treachery bearing down on me, I muttered.

Justin got up and walked over to the door. "It's finished, Betty. You’ll thank me one day.”

I remained paralyzed, tears flowing down my face as the knowledge hit me: Justin had sold me out to save himself.