2017 C
Chapter
Chapter 11
Was this really how he chose to get revenge on me??
It was almost unbelievable.
I remembered the way Ewing looked at me the moment I walked through the door–a glimmer of schadenfreude in his eyes.%
So that was it.&
I steadied myself, suddenly feeling unburdened. Facing this self–destructive idiot, I asked him again when he planned to move out of the house we’d shared as a married couple.
But he turned it right back on me. “You saw, didn’t you? So desperate to kick me out now?“}]
He smirked. “Magnolia’s a hell of a lot better in bed than you ever were.“}
The smugness in his voice was something I’d never heard before, and it sent a deep chill through me.
Still, I refused to let him see even a flicker of emotion.
Clenching my teeth, I shot back coldly, “Do you have any dignity left?”
I knew all too well–some people, especially men, when things go wrong in a relationship, they dodge responsibility. They spiral out and blame everything on the woman who finally asked for a breakup.
It’s twisted logic, but so many guys do it.
But no matter what, self–destruction is never an excuse. You have to love yourself before anyone else can love you.”
I remembered the first night Ewing and I became husband and wife. I’d prepared everything in advance, treating it almost like a sacred ritual. Seeing him bare his soul to me, hearing him call me his wife for the first time–it filled me with happiness, with a sense of responsibility and belonging.
I thought, from that moment on, I’d be his, and we’d never part.
Those feelings made us careful, cautious every time, making sure there were no surprises–after all, we were both building our careers.
I was never old–fashioned, but in this, I always put Ewing’s wishes first.
I never imagined he’d stoop so low, that he wouldn’t even bother with protection…
Utterly worthless. Pathetic.
I spoke, my voice flat: “Well, congratulations. You got exactly what you wanted.”
Ewing’s smugness returned, as if all his apologies from the past few months had been nothing but a joke.
The door lock clicked.
Magnolia walked in with her suitcase. The moment she saw me, her face lit up with triumphant satisfaction.
There was a glint in her eye–she was announcing her victory.
Suddenly, an unnamable bitterness welled up inside me. God, how utterly shameless.”
Magnolia hesitated for a second, then flashed a dazzling smile. “Oh, Irene, you’re still here? Planning to stay for dinner with us?”
She slipped her arm around Ewing and planted a kiss on him.
She made sure to emphasize the word “Irene,” as if to underline her claim.”
A moment later, Ewing chimed in, “Her? She doesn’t belong here.“}
I stood there, watching the two of them.
Was this really how it was going to be–like squatters taking over what was never theirs?
Magnolia picked up the key ring and twirled it around her finger. “Babe, when are you going to change the locks? I’m tired of running into people I can’t stand.”
My eyes caught on the shiny new key in her hand, already made for the front door
I felt my sanity slipping, piece by piece.
Ewing arched his eyebrow, grinning like a fool. “Yeah, yeah, I’ll call the locksmith. What’s there to be jealous about?”
The two of them kept talking in the living room, perfectly at ease, dripping with affection.
Every word, every glance between them, was full of syrupy sweetness.
That was when the truth finally hit me.
I was the clown in this story.
All those times I thought Ewing was finally coming to his senses–it was just wishful thinking
This was the real him, mask off at last
All this time, he’d just been taunting me.
My pain over the past few days was nothing but a piece of their little reconciliation game.
At that moment, I felt, with total clanty, that I’d been played for a fool
I had no intention of wasting another second on these two.
Forcing my anger down, I spoke evenly: Funny, I seem to recall this house was a wedding gift from my parents.”
Ewing laughed “Yours? Come on, Irene, what does that make me?‘
“A live in accessory? I’ve got just as much claim on this place as you do “s
Chapter 11
“Unless you’ve got fifty grand for me, don’t expect me to leave anytime soon.”
