Pampered By My Brother-In-Law

Chapter 3 : Compensation

“You want a divorce?” Jade’s voice cracked, the words barely making it past the sudden tightness in her throat.

“Yeah,” Justin said flatly. “And I want it right now.” He pulled a manila folder from his briefcase and tossed it across the dining table like it was nothing. “My signature’s already on it. Just sign the damn papers.”

A thin sheen of sweat broke out above Jade’s upper lip. Her fingers trembled as she stared at the documents. “So you’re really doing this… because of my cousin?”

“Hell yes,” Justin answered without hesitation, his eyes lighting up with pure confidence. “Shanell is everything to me. She just helped my company lock down that major contract with Starline Constructions.” His chest puffed out a little. “Isn’t that f*****g amazing?”

Jade’s lips curved into a bitter, knowing smile. *Oh, so this is it.* If only they had the slightest clue who she really was.

“It’s amazing,” she said, her voice soft but laced with quiet mockery. “Truly brilliant.”

She had signed that contract herself—personally reviewed every clause. Yet here was Justin, standing in their dining room, throwing insults at the same CEO who had kept his family’s failing company afloat more times than he would ever know.

“Please don’t waste my time, Jade,” Justin snapped. He reached into his wallet, pulled out a sleek black credit card, and flung it across the table toward her. It spun once before stopping near her hand.

Jade looked down at the card with empty eyes.

“Take it,” he hissed. “It’s more than enough compensation for the three years we wasted together.”

*Compensation?* The word burned like acid in her chest. *Do you have any idea what I’ve done for you and your family in those three years?*

“I don’t need your money,” Jade growled, her voice low and thick with anger.

“You sure about that, darling?” Shanell cut in with a smug little smirk, gently bouncing the crying baby on her hip. “You could use it to start something small for yourself.” She tilted her head, eyes gleaming with fake sweetness. “I mean… I heard it’s pretty tough for people with disabilities to find decent work these days.”

The insult landed hard, but Jade forced a smile through the sting, refusing to let them see her break.

“So you really think Shanell is more important than me?” Jade asked, locking her gaze on Justin.

“That’s not even a question,” he shot back. “By tomorrow, my company will be official partners with Starline Constructions. And I owe that to Shanell—she’s got a senior position there.”

“Oh… interesting,” Jade murmured, her smile never reaching her eyes.

*I gave her that job. I gave her that position.* If Shanell only knew who she was really dealing with.

“Alright, Justin,” Jade said quietly, picking up the pen. “I’ll sign the divorce papers.”

She scribbled her name across the line with a steady hand that surprised even her.

“Finally!” Justin whooped, throwing his hands up in pure, shameless joy. “f**k yes!”

“But I want you to remember something,” Jade added, her voice calm and steady as she slid the folder back toward him. “You’ve just made the biggest mistake of your life. And when you come begging later, I won’t be listening.”

“Begging you?” Justin and Shanell burst out laughing at the same time, the sound loud and ugly in the elegant dining room. “Girl, you must be high on something,” Shanell sneered, still rocking the baby.

Jade didn’t say another word. She kept her face straight, her expression unreadable. She knew exactly what she was saying—and she would make damn sure they felt every bit of it when the time came.

Without wasting another second in that suffocating room, Jade called out for Leah to come help her get outside. She needed air. She needed to breathe.

Behind her, Shanell was already laughing louder, dragging Justin toward what used to be Jade’s bedroom like she owned the whole damn mansion.

****

Jade sat alone in the manicured backyard garden, the evening breeze cool against her tear-streaked face. The sting of betrayal sat heavy in her chest, pressing down until it hurt to breathe. The one person who was supposed to love her had thrown her away for her own cousin.

It hurt like hell.

Three years ago, Justin had walked into her life like a bright, unexpected light. They’d met at one of those stiff family events her parents had forced her to attend. Friendship had turned into something more, and before she knew it, they were married. But even then, she had never truly felt loved by him.

“Now I know he never loved me,” she whispered brokenly, staring down at her wheelchair. “Maybe I’m just not good enough…”

“You are more than enough,” a deep, steady voice said from behind her.

Jade startled and turned. Timothy stood at the garden entrance, tall and composed, his sharp blue eyes filled with something soft—something real. Compassion.

“Timothy,” she breathed.

“Justin’s a jerk,” he said simply as he walked toward her, his steps slow and deliberate across the stone path.

“Are you just saying that to make me feel better?” Jade asked, smiling through the fresh tears that slipped down her cheeks.

Timothy shook his head. He stopped right in front of her and crouched down so they were eye level. “I’d be a damn fool to say something like that out of pity.”

Jade swallowed hard. The warmth of his face so close to hers stirred that same electric pull she had felt earlier in the living room.

“So what is it then?” Her voice came out smaller than she wanted, almost a whisper.

Timothy reached up and gently tucked a stray strand of her golden-brown hair behind her ear, his fingers lingering against her skin. “I like you, Jade. I really like you.”

Her eyes widened in surprise. Before she could even process what he’d just said, Timothy leaned in and pressed his lips to hers.

The kiss was deep, hungry, and unapologetic. He claimed her mouth with a passion that made her head spin. Jade sat frozen for a heartbeat, then melted into it. Her hands rose to cup his face, holding him there as if the kiss was the only thing keeping her from falling apart.

It felt so damn good—better than any kiss Justin had ever given her in their entire marriage. Raw. Real. Like she was finally being seen.

Soft, breathless moans slipped from her throat as Timothy’s fingers tangled gently in her long hair, pulling her closer.

Meanwhile, Elise had been searching for Timothy ever since she finished dinner. She’d checked everywhere in the mansion, growing more impatient by the minute. Then she heard the faint sounds—soft, intimate moans drifting from the garden.

“So much drama in this damn mansion,” she muttered under her breath as she headed toward the entrance.

The moment she stepped into view, her entire body went rigid.

Timothy and Jade were locked together in a heated kiss. His hand was buried in her hair, her fingers gripping his face like she never wanted to let go. Their eyes were closed, completely lost in each other. They didn’t even notice her standing there.

Elise’s hands clenched into tight fists at her sides. Her jaw tightened until it ached, and her lips trembled with barely contained rage. Her eyes narrowed into something dark, dangerous, and unmistakably jealous.