He Saved the Side Chick

Steven raised his voice. "You want a divorce just 'cause I didn't save you first?""I told you, I didn't see you. Tammy was seriously hurt too. If I hadn't rushed her to the hospital, she could've ended up with a scar on her forehead."A scar. That mattered more than my life.I should've seen it coming. The second he shoved Tammy into the company—zero experience, just some old college connection—I should've known.I looked away. "The lawyer will send the papers."The door slammed open. Tammy charged in, face full of fake guilt."Bree, this isn't Steven's fault. It's mine. I shouldn't have gotten hurt where he could see. I shouldn't have asked you to drive 'cause of my stomachache. If I knew this would happen, I'd have just called in sick. I messed everything up for him."Steven threw her a worried glance and stepped in front of her. "This is between me and Bree. Don't blame yourself."I locked eyes with Tammy, who was suddenly real quiet behind him."You faked a stomachache to

"You two, tie her up."I'd barely stepped through the door when Steven barked the order. Before I could react, his goons grabbed me.Tied to a chair, I glared at his smug face. "What the hell is this?""This?" He scoffed. "If I didn't, would you have come back? We've lost major contracts thanks to you. From now on, you're staying here and designing for me. No good designs, no food."I yanked at the ropes, wrists burning. "This is illegal."Steven's eyes burned with mockery. "We're still married. Worst case, this is just a domestic issue."And forget the divorce. Tammy and I agreed—if we split, you get half my stuff. Nah, better to bleed you dry while I can."Oh, and that illness? I talked to a doctor. Your liver's toast. Even with treatment, clock's ticking. So if I make things harder on you..."He flashed a cruel smile.My hand trembled around the recording pen. My chest throbbed.Steven had always been cocky, but this? This was a new low. He liked to act tough, but when thi

"I already told you—nothing's going on between me and Bree. How many times do I have to say it? You begged me to bring her back, and now I'm the bad guy? Seriously, Tammy, you're such a hypocrite.""Oh, I'm the hypocrite? You've been holed up with her every day. You don't even look at me the same anymore. This is on me—I should've never come to you. I wrecked your marriage. If it weren't for me, you and Bree would be growing old together instead of... this."Ever since I made Steven stay with me while I worked, they'd been going at it nonstop. Tammy was petty and paranoid—exactly why I set this up. I wanted him to see who she really was.I thought it'd take time.It didn't. Two weeks in and the cracks were showing."Who are you trying to guilt now?" Steven snapped. "You think I don't know where you've been sneaking off to?"People are talking—about you and Daniel. Ever since you became GM, you've been real fast picking up how to flirt."Bree wasn't perfect, but she gave everythi

By day seven of Steven's so-called caregiving, his mask finally cracked.I nudged the apple slices toward him. "These are huge. And raw. I can't eat this."He stared at the plate like it had insulted him, then got up and stormed out. Right as he hit the door, his phone buzzed.He shot me a look, then slammed the door shut. But the walls weren't exactly soundproof."It's been seven days and you still don't have the equity transfer papers? How long am I supposed to babysit Bree? This week's been hell. She keeps throwing up blood—if she's gonna die, she should just get it over with. And now the doc says there's a six percent chance she might bounce back? Six percent? Please. Just die and save me the hassle."I let out a deep sigh. My nose burned. I felt hollow—just completely wiped.I already knew Steven didn't love me. Knew he'd sell his soul for Tammy.But even strangers show cancer patients a shred of decency. After everything we'd been through—years of sleeping next to each oth

A week later, I started chemo.Curled up on the hospital bed, barely breathing through the pain, I heard the doctor let out a tired sigh. "Ms. Artego, your body's not holding up. The liver and gallbladder haven't healed, and chemo's brutal. If you keep pushing..."I coughed hard—blood splattered the sheet. "Can I make it one more month?"He hesitated. "If—""I have to."Because in one month, Steven and Tammy would be sentenced.And if I missed that? I'd die with regret.A month later, Jack showed up with a bouquet, hands shaking a little, voice rough. "I've got good news. Steven got twenty years. The company's gone—everything was seized. Total bankruptcy."I nodded, barely.He set the flowers down. "Tammy got nailed with attempted murder. Thirty years, but I pulled some strings. She's in for life now."My eyes dropped. Lids felt like concrete. "That's enough. More than I ever expected. I can go in peace now."Jack held my hand, let out a shaky breath. "Why'd it have to end l