CHAPTER 3

My hands trembled as I stared at the photo, my vision blurring with tears. Jason’s arm was wrapped around Rhea’s waist, their lips pressed together in a kiss. The date scribbled in the corner was from just last week.  

She knew.

Rhea knew everything. She knew how Jason treated me, how he hit me, how he blamed me for not giving him a child. and yet, she was with him. Laughing with him, loving him, fucking him

The glass of wine slipped from my fingers, shattering on the floor.  

“Vee?” Rhea’s voice came from behind me. I turned slowly, the photo clutched in my shaking hand. Her eyes darted to it, and for a second—just a second—I saw the guilt. Then it was gone, and in its place, cold indifference.  

“How long?” My voice was barely a whisper.  

She sighed, rolling her eyes like I was some annoying child. “Does it matter?”  

“YES, IT FUCKING MATTERS!” I screamed, throwing the photo at her. “You’re my best friend! You were supposed to—!”  

“Supposed to what?” she cut in, crossing her arms. “Care? Please. You think I don’t know how Jason treats you? How pathetic you are, begging for his love like some desperate dog?”  

Each word was like she stabbed me a knife. I staggered back, my chest burning.  

“You… you knew?”  

She smirked. “Of course I knew. He tells me everything. How he hits the fuck out of you. How you cry, how you still crawl back to him like you deserve it.” She stepped closer, her voice dropping to a cruel whisper. “And guess what? I don’t care. I never did.”  

The room spun. My legs gave out, and I collapsed onto the couch, gasping for air. This wasn’t happening, this couldn’t be real.  

Rhea just watched, her expression bored. “You should leave. Jason’s divorcing you anyway. No point in dragging this out.”  

I looked up at her, tears streaming down my face. “Why?”  

She shrugged. “Because he wants a real woman. One who can give him what he wants and let’s be honest, Vee… that was never you, he even said you were so stiff and boring in bed like a sex doll.”  

That was it, no more.  

I lunged at her, nails raking across her face. She shrieked, stumbling back, but I didn’t stop. I grabbed her hair, yanking hard. “YOU BITCH! YOU FUCKING TRAITOR!”  

She slapped me—hard—and I reeled back, my bruised face throbbing.  

“Get out of my house,” she hissed, wiping blood from her cheek. “Before I call the cops.”  

I wanted to hit her again. I wanted to scream, to break everything. But what was the point?  

She had already won. No use dragging this out like she said earlier, this was all for nothing

I turned and ran, slamming the door behind me. My hands shook as I fumbled for my phone, dialing Roberts.  

“Pick me up. Now.” I said immediately his line rang, and thank Goodness he didn’t ask any questions

---  

Jason’s office building loomed ahead, huge and imposing—meant to show the world it's worth. All sleek and cold……..just like him. I stormed past the receptionist, ignoring her protests.  

“Mrs. Calloway, you can’t just—!” She started and I whirled around, giving her my most deadliest stare and she backed up

“Watch me.” I shoved open Jason’s office door. He looked up from his desk, annoyance flashing across his face. He didn’t even have the decency to even hide the fact he hated me so much.

 “Veronica. What the hell are you doing here?” He said and I choked down a sob

“Rhea.” My voice cracked. “She’s the one you’re cheating with, isn’t she?” I shook my head about to cry, “Rhea, Jason. She’s my fucking best friend you knave!”

For a second, he hesitated. Then he leaned back, smirking. “Yeah. So?”  

The casualness of it broke me. “SO?! SHE WAS MY BEST FRIEND! AND YOU—YOU’RE MY HUSBAND! HOW COULD YOU BOTH DO THIS TO ME?!”  

Jason sighed, rubbing his temples like I was the one causing him pain. He gave me a warning glare and he looked like he was going to walk right over and punch me.

“Veronica, stop being dramatic. You knew this marriage was over. You can’t even give me a child. What did you expect?” He said brutality and I stared at him, my heart scattering into tiny pieces

“I expected loyalty! Love! Not—not *this*!” I yelled and he rolled his eyes and pressed a button on his desk. 

“Alright” he cocked his head to side “Security.” He said to the comm and two men appeared instantly, grabbing my arms.  

“No! Jason, PLEASE! We can fix this—!” I cried but his eyes were dead cold, devoid of even one atom of emotion.

“Throw her out,” he said calmly, turning back to his computer.  

They dragged me, kicking and screaming, through the office. Employees stared, some whispered and I heard others laughing.

I was nothing to them, nothing to him.  

The last thing I saw before the doors closed was Jason’s back, already moving on. Roberts found me curled up in the backseat of the car, sobbing. I tried to hold it back, honestly. I tried telling myself that it wasn’t worth it but I couldn’t hold it back anymore

“Ma’am…?”  

I didn’t answer.  

What was left to say? My husband hated me. My best friend betrayed me, even going as far to be in his bed behind my back. I had no one left, no one to turn to, no shoulder to cry on. My parents would kill me if they found out that my marriage was in shambles.

As if it was my fault

My mom would berate me for being a goody two shoes and not able to please him in bed, Dad would have called me a disgrace, saying something like I wasn’t worthy to be his daughter if I can’t keep a marriage with Jason Calloway. Soon the media would be hot on my ass. I sighed and cleaned my eyes.

I tapped Roberts on the shoulder.

“Take me to Frisk Bar and Lounge, Roberts”