Chapter 2
562 Words
"Once I get the shares, she can keep the title of Mrs. Scott for a little while. I'll keep her happy until everything's settled."
Brian's voice drifted through the c***k in the door, thick with alcohol.
"Damn, Brian, that's genius," one of his friends laughed. "You get the money, the girl, and everyone still thinks you're some loyal good guy."
Brian let out a low chuckle and flicked ash from his cigarette. "If the Grandpa hadn't forced me to marry her, saying it was the only way to honor what her parents left behind, you think I would've put up with this for so long?"
The fat guy beside him snickered. "So does your fiancée know?"
Brian exhaled a slow stream of smoke. Under the dim lights, his expression looked colder than I'd ever seen before.
"She better never find out. And even if she does, she'll swallow it and stay quiet. She's a woman. All she has to do is look pretty at home and not embarrass me in public. As for the rest, she doesn't need to think about it."
I stood frozen outside the room, my hands icy cold.
Only then did I understand. All the years I had devoted to him, all the love and sacrifice she once took pride in…
In his eyes, I had merely been someone acceptable enough to keep around.
Then Tracy's voice cut through the room.
"Oh come on, enough with the depressing stuff. Brian, you promised tonight was for me."
His tone instantly softened with affection.
"Once the wedding's over and the shares are transferred, I'll spend every day with you. You can live in whichever house you want. Anything you want, I'll buy it for you."
"Really?" Tracy's voice turned syrupy sweet. "Then I want you to stay with me right now."
"Done," Brian answered without hesitation.
A moment later, the sound of rustling fabric filled the room.
Whistles and drunken cheering erupted instantly.
"That's our boy!"
"Damn, we getting a live show tonight?"
Something inside my head snapped.
I slammed the door open with all my strength.
Bang!
The entire private room fell silent.
Brian still had his arm wrapped around Tracy.
Tracy was practically sitting in his lap, her dress pushed high up her thigh, lipstick smeared across her lips.
The second he saw me, the amusement vanished from his face.
"Cheryl?" Brian immediately let go of Tracy and stood up. "How did you even find this place?"
I ignored the question.
"You were probably praying I never would."
Brian's expression darkened. Glancing at his friends' awkward faces, he forced down his anger and stepped toward me.
"Cheryl, stop making a scene. Whatever this is, we'll talk at home."
I jerked my arm away before he could touch me.
"Which home? The one you're planning to use to keep your mistress hidden away? Or the one you're planning to toss me into after you're done using me?"
His eyes sharpened instantly. "What the hell are you talking about?"
"What am I talking about?"
Tears spilled down my face before I could stop them.
"Brian, do you want me to repeat how you've been sleeping with my best friend?"
The room went dead silent. Not even breathing could be heard.
The smug playboys around him suddenly looked painfully uncomfortable.
Tracy's face turned completely pale. She couldn't even look at me.
- Writer
