Chapter 8
604words
"I came back to make peace. Are you really going to keep freezing me out?"
I didn't bother hiding my contempt:
"Peace? You think that's even possible now?"
"Let me guess—you're here because Charlotte's precious reputation is in tatters?"
After my livestream revelation, Charlotte's reputation had nosedived.
Spencer was collateral damage—several celebrity clients had already canceled their procedures.
Spencer slammed his fist into the wall, leaving a dent in the drywall.
"So you'll destroy both our lives just because you're upset?"
"You're my wife! You should be on my side!"
I laughed, the sound hollow and bitter:
"Did you remember I was your wife while you were screwing Charlotte?"
"Did you think about your wife when you drove my sister to suicide?"
"Now you remember I'm your wife because you need me to clean up your mess."
"You make me sick."
Spencer lunged forward, his hands closing around my throat:
"You still want to find your sister? How's a pathetic housewife like you going to manage that without me?"
I managed a defiant laugh despite his grip.
I'd been a housewife for ten years, but I hadn't spent that time baking cookies and watching soap operas.
I'd been learning, growing, building skills while he was at work.
Initially to keep pace with Spencer, then because it filled my life with purpose.
For ten years I'd persisted, never imagining I was preparing for my own salvation.
Seeing I wasn't cowering like before, confusion flickered across his face.
Finally, Spencer released my throat and softened his voice:
"Baby, I know I screwed up. Please, can we move past this?"
"You're the only woman I've ever truly loved. I shouldn't have brought your sister into this. Don't worry, we'll find her—everything will work out."
I met his pleading eyes with ice in mine:
"Not interested."
Spencer stormed toward the door, pausing only to spit out:
"You'll regret this, Tina. Mark my words."
After he left, I grabbed my suitcase and walked out too.
He was the one who'd live with regrets, not me.
My phone rang almost immediately. Spencer.
"What the hell is this? Your lawyer just served me divorce papers!"
"You're actually going through with this? Are you trying to push me away for good?"
Charlotte's voice drifted through the speaker, dripping with contempt:
"Spencer, honey, I know how women think. She's just playing hard to get, waiting for you to chase her!"
"Chase her? I gave her a chance. Unless she gets on her knees and begs, I'm done with her!"
I cut through their nauseating exchange:
"Just sign the papers. I don't beg."
Spencer exploded with profanity:
"Fine! I'll sign your fucking papers! Don't come crawling back later!"
I heard his pen scratch across paper, and just like that, our decade together ended.
But we still had unfinished business, and I wasn't about to let him walk away clean.
While searching for my sister, I commissioned a series of animated videos.
They detailed Spencer and Charlotte's affair with shocking accuracy. Using their real names ensured the videos went viral instantly.
Charlotte had paid to bury the previous scandal, but this time the videos kept coming, one after another.
Each time the buzz died down, a new episode dropped, sending Charlotte's career into free fall.
Spencer was fired after clients flooded the hospital with complaints.
The scandal made him toxic—no reputable clinic would touch him.
He called relentlessly. I never answered.
I ignored his texts and blocked him everywhere.
I kept my number only because of one faint hope.
That someday, my sister might call.
