Cheating Season

I met Gigi Digg for the first time on my twenty-sixth birthday.

I was all smiles, chatting with guests, keeping up appearances.

"Scott's running late—work emergency. But he already sent his gift ahead—"

Didn't even get to finish.

Scott Fletcher strolled in right then, and he wasn't alone.

Gigi Digg, in a red dress, was clinging to his arm like she belonged there. She looked around, eyes wide with excitement, voice chirpy. "So this is the fun place you were talking about?"

Her gaze landed on me for two whole seconds before flitting away.

"Ooh, that cake looks amazing! I want some!"

Scott watched her, amused, while she turned my birthday into her playground.

The whispers started.

"She's bold, huh? Flaunting herself right in front of Leila Lloyd."

"Not surprising. Scott spoils her. And yeah, he's married to Leila—but Leila practically threw herself at him."

"God, how humiliating. Getting disrespected on her own birthday and just taking it? If that were me, I'd rather die."

Draped in my designer gown, I ignored their sneers.

I found Scott and kept my voice low. "We agreed—you wouldn't shove your mistress in my face. Basic decency—"

He cut me off.

A few drinks with Gigi had left his gaze a little glazed, but the contempt in his eyes? Crystal clear.

He chuckled. "Leila, I must've spoiled you too much before." His smile sharpened. "You really think you get to lecture me on decency?"

I went still.

The chandelier's glow poured down on me, too bright, too harsh.

Under his mocking stare, the armor I'd spent years building cracked, melting like snow in the sun.

Marrying Scott, a Fletcher, when I was just a Lloyd by name? Everyone thought I'd hit the jackpot. Truth was, I never belonged to the Lloyd family at all.

"How pathetic. But then again, a woman from that kind of background was never—"

Someone's voice behind me carried a little too far.

Scott heard it too.

He didn't react, just handed me a check. "That project you wanted? Fund it yourself. And Leila, don't act like I've treated you that badly."

He raised an eyebrow. "Learn to please me better, and maybe you'll be worth a little more."

***

The train wreck of a party finally ended.

Scott left, Gigi draped over him, wasted.

They didn't even wait till they were out of sight—just started making out under the garden lights.

I stood by the rain-speckled glass and watched.