Bestie's Tape Was Budget Content

Cecilia's voice blasted through the phone, raw and ragged."Jolene, please! Delete the video!"I lounged back in a chair at the lodge, tracing the rim of my coffee mug."Why would I do that? Honestly, the video's not bad. Good lighting. Good angles. Seems like a waste to delete it. Besides, you sent it to me. I don't keep things that aren't worth something."Silence.Two seconds later, she lost it."Do you even know that's illegal? Jolene Johnston, what the hell is wrong with you? Luther and I are in love, and you still tried to destroy us! I was so stupid to be your best friend for seven years!"I laughed.Best friend?On my third wedding anniversary, she'd climbed into bed with my husband wearing the silk pajamas I'd bought her for her birthday.In my bed.Then she'd recorded it and sent me the video.[Did you enjoy it?]Yeah. Real best-friend behavior.She stabbed me in the back, then somehow turned herself into the victim."Jolene? Did you hear me? Say something!"I

My words hit hard.Luther went pale, then red. He opened his mouth, closed it, opened it again. Still nothing.Then Cecilia suddenly stood and came over.She grabbed my hand, sobbing, putting on her best guilty act."Jolene, I'm sorry. This is all my fault. Don't blame Luther. I seduced him. I couldn't help how I felt. Please don't divorce him, okay? I don't want you two fighting because of me. I don't want to wreck your family. If you and Luther make up, I'll leave the city tonight. I'll disappear from your lives forever."Tears rolled down her face.Anyone else might've bought it.I looked at her fake, teary eyes, pulled my hand free, and smiled."Cool. Then disappear."Cecilia froze.Clearly, she hadn't expected that.I added, "But Luther still pays. It takes two people to end up in bed. You both starred in that video, so you both deal with the fallout."Cecilia, your little games don't work on me."Her face went white.Even her tears stopped.She just stood there, lo

But I didn't have much of a choice.I had to go.Besides, I wanted to see what kind of trap they'd set.After hanging up, I went back to the hotel, packed my things, and clipped a hidden camera to my collar.Then I took a cab to the Boyd estate.When I pushed open the front door, the living room was bright.Still felt cold.Luther sat on the couch, his face dark.Around him were my father, my stepmother, and a bunch of relatives from my side.Every single one looked at me like I was the problem.I had barely stepped inside when one of them snapped, "Jolene, why are you being so difficult? What did Luther even do to you? He made the kind of mistake all men make. Did you really have to blow it up and embarrass the Boyd family?"Another jumped in."Exactly. Luther's career is taking off. After your stunt, his whole future could be ruined. That's vicious. Did you even think about your husband?"Someone else scoffed."You're too sensitive. Too petty. A man as successful as Lut

Luther's face drained of color.For the first time all night, he looked rattled.The relatives immediately lost it."You recorded us? That's unbelievable!""We're trying to help you, and this is how you treat us?""Jolene, have you no shame?"I ignored every word. "Luther, you have two options."Sign the divorce papers. Walk away with nothing. Return what belongs to me."Or we all burn together. If I don't get peace, neither do you."Then I looked past him.At Cecilia.She'd been hiding behind Luther the whole time."And you, Cecilia."She flinched."You really think one pity-post is enough to rewrite the truth? Those edited screenshots of yours won't last five minutes against actual evidence."Cecilia instinctively stepped farther behind Luther.My father was practically shaking."If you go through with this divorce, you'll never get your mother's ashes back!"A cold laugh slipped out."You really think you can stop me?"Mom's ashes belong with me. And if you touch

[We support Jolene! Cheaters and fake little snakes like them deserve to pay!]Public opinion flipped overnight.Cecilia's socials got swarmed by angry netizens. Her comments filled with insults, her follower count tanked, and brands cut ties fast.Everluxe Ventures got hit even harder.Tax authorities and police launched investigations and confirmed Luther's tax evasion and embezzlement.The board called an emergency meeting, kicked him out as chairman, and took legal action.Everluxe Ventures' stock kept dropping until the company was on the edge of bankruptcy.My father and Erica weren't doing great either.I told several older relatives how my father had gambled away money and used the funds meant to save my mother's life. I also told them about Erica's abuse.They were reasonable people. Once they knew the truth, they publicly condemned them both.My father couldn't even show his face around the family anymore, and the relatives started icing him out.As for Erica, her