Chapter 4

I couldn't hold it in any longer. I bolted from the private room and into the restroom, leaning heavily over the sink and dry-heaving violently. I had nothing in my stomach, leaving just sour bile backing up into my throat.

Suddenly, I heard footsteps approaching from behind.

Wade leaned against the restroom doorframe with his arms folded, no longer looking as friendly as before. "You're Tiana's ex, right?"

I was stunned. "You knew about our relationship?"

Wade walked over and stood beside me, watching me in the mirror's reflection. "I'm not an idiot, alright? You were together with Tiana for 11 years. How could I possibly not notice that?"

He took in my wretched state, a faint smirk tugging at his lips. "Tiana told me you're a pretty good guy, gentle and accommodating, except… you're not exactly someone she can bring to the table. A housekeeper could handle those domestic tasks, after all.

"She needs a partner who can match her standing—someone like me."

He looked up and met my eyes in the mirror. "How does it feel to spend 11 years catering to her every beck and call, only to get kicked to the curb in the end?"

I lost my temper and snapped, "You're the one who got involved with someone else's girlfriend! How can you be so shameless?"

Wade smirked dismissively, his eyes brimming with contempt. "You don't get to decide who's the other man here."

He suddenly slammed his head against the sink after saying that, let out a scream, and fell backward.

I didn't even have time to process what was happening before someone forcefully shoved me away. I slammed heavily against the wall, the shockwave rattling me to my core.

Tina kneeled to check Wade's injury before looking up at me, her eyes brimming with disappointment. "What the hell is wrong with you? How can you hurt someone who can't even defend himself? When did you become so ruthless, Zayne?"

"I-I didn't do it…" I stammered, my back throbbing so hard it had gone numb.

But Tiana was too busy tending to Wade to spare me a glance. Wade rested his head in her lap and glanced sideways at me, flashing a smug, taunting grin.

In that instant, my last bit of restraint snapped, and I could no longer suppress my rage. I lunged at Wade, but just before I could even touch him, I was suddenly struck on the back of the head.

I staggered as I turned around, Calvin's familiar face appearing right before me.

Through my blurred consciousness, I saw Tiana and Calvin shielding Wade, walking away without a single glance back.

…

I woke up to find myself in a hospital bed, with Calvin standing beside me, looking deeply apologetic.

"I'm really sorry… I didn't mean to hurt you. You were so worked up just now. If I hadn't stopped you, Wade would have gotten hurt, Zayne…"

It was always about Wade.

I laughed bitterly and said, "You're supposed to be my best friend, Calvin…"

Calvin sighed and explained, "Wade is genuinely an amazing person. He's genuine, down-to-earth, outgoing, and generous. He's like a burst of sunshine that makes everyone feel at ease. He also graduated with a master's degree from a prestigious university.

"He and Tiana are truly equals, whereas you—"

"What's wrong with me?" I glared at Calvin, my head throbbing with a dull ache. "Do you think I'm not good enough to be your friend or date Tiana just because I'm not highly educated? You'd better not forget I worked myself to the bone to support you and Tiana all these years, Calvin!

"I was the one leaving early and getting home late, busting my ass to make money! How dare you turn around and look down on me now! Where the hell is your conscience, Calvin?"

Calvin was struck dumb. He dropped his gaze, hastily made up an excuse, and hurried out of the hospital ward.

I could hear a few nurses talking in hushed tones out in the hallway since Calvin left the hospital ward door slightly ajar.

"Isn't that the homewrecker?"

"I heard he beat the woman's husband badly enough to land him in the hospital! How outrageous!"

"Ugh! Why are we even helping someone like him at our hospital?"

I was confused, so I picked up the phone beside my hospital bed and unlocked it. I realized that someone had uploaded a video of my confrontation with Wade at the gathering earlier—and it had gone viral.

In the comments, Calvin left a comment apologizing on my behalf as my best friend, saying I hadn't been in a good state of mind. He even tagged my social media account at the end.

I was instantly bombarded with hateful direct messages.

"How desperate do you have to be to become the other man? Is a woman really that essential to your existence? How can you go after a married woman? How shameless!"

"He's gone too far! He actually went to beat up the woman's husband! Go dox this bastard!"

I suddenly felt my phone vibrating.

Calvin had called to explain himself. "I really had no choice, Zayne. Wade is about to land a national project, and Tiana is about to be offered a permanent teaching position at the university. Neither of them can afford a scandal right now. You'll have to bear the consequences for now."

Tiana sent me a message as well. "I've seen the video, Zayne. Those online users are just running their mouths to let off steam, so please bear with it for now and don't say anything else—making a bigger scene will only make things worse for everyone."

How ludicrous. Tiana and Calvin actually want to keep Wade—the actual homewrecker—hidden in the shadows while forcing me—the victim—to take the fall and carry the blame. Every last shred of hope I had for them vanished completely.

I smiled wryly as I took screenshots of all my chat logs with Tiana. I also exported the audio recording of the phone call I just had with Calvin.

Then I gathered all the proof from our years together, put together photos, and matched them against a clear timeline.

Once I did that, I turned on my camera and looked straight into it.

"Hello, I'm Zayne Lupton, the one everyone's been attacking online and calling a homewrecker. There are some things I need to set straight about the whole situation."