Chapter Five

The music pounded like a second pulse under the floor, heavy, messy, loud. Strobe lights flickered across bodies that didn’t care who watched. Glasses clinked. People laughed. Drinks spilled. But all of that disappeared the second I saw him leaning on the bar like he owned the damn building. He looked the same and worse. Arrogant. Surrounded by loud, shallow men who laughed too hard at nothing. His eyes found me in seconds. And then, that smirk. That slow, venom-coated smirk that always came before something vile.

“Oh, look who it is,” he said, his voice loud enough to cut clean through the music, which made heads turn. “The famous slut… now rocking the ring of the city’s biggest whoremaster.”

The air snapped. Like something had broken in it. His voice reached farther than it should have. People paused. Even the guys who harassed me earlier looked up.

I didn’t flinch. Not my face. Not my body. I kept walking like I hadn’t heard a thing. I reached for Ella’s hand without a word.

“Let’s go.”

But he moved. Fast as he blocked my path before I could even take a step.

“Excuse me,” I said, calm and cold. I tried again, stepping to the side, but his hand shot out, his fingers clamping around my wrist like a vice. He yanked me away from Ella.

“You think you’re better than me now?” His breath smelled like liquor and something sour. “Married into money and suddenly you forgot who you are? Newsflash, Samantha—you’re still the same trash. Just in heels that cost more.”

Ella stepped forward in a blink. “Let go of her.”

Vincent didn’t even look at her. “Oh, relax, Ella. I’m just reminding my useless ex, our dear Samantha, where she came from. Right, Samantha? Or did your sugar daddy-husband delete your memory along with your self-respect?”

I pulled my wrist out of his grip. Slow. Controlled. “You’re drunk.”

He leaned in, snarling. “No. I’m not just pretending. Unlike you, who is playing house with a man you’ll never measure up to. At least I see you for what you are.”

Ella shoved herself between us. “Say one more word, Vincent, and I swear—”

“What?” he cut her off, grinning. “You’ll scream some more? Make another TikTok about toxic men and healing your inner child? Sit down.”

“Say it again,” Ella said, stepping closer. “Say one more thing about her and I swear I’ll end you right here. I’ll bury every lie you’ve ever told. Every secret. You want me to name them one by one?”

His grin twitched.

At this point, different phones were already up. The people who were pretending not to watch weren’t even pretending anymore.

“You think anyone’s gonna take her side?” He threw a hand toward me. “She’s a joke. Samantha Cander—the gold-digging whore who slept with multiple men to make money and became the talk of the town. How exhausting that must be.”

My chest was tight. My heart was at this point louder than the music. But I gave him nothing.

“You don’t know the first thing about her,” Ella spat. “She lived and survived you. That’s more strength than you’ll ever have.”

He laughed. “Don’t flatter her. I made her. She was nothing until I touched her.”

I didn’t blink. Didn’t move. Silence was the only shield I had.

“Ella,” I whispered, close to her ear. “Let’s just leave. This is exactly what he wants. I’m not performing for him or this crowd.”

“No, Samantha,” she said, her voice shaking. “Not this time. He doesn’t get to do this to you and walk away smiling.”

Vincent scoffed. “Oh look. Your little guard dog is barking again. Still hiding behind louder women, huh, Samantha? Just like always. You’re weak. That’s why David keeps you locked away like a dirty secret.”

That made me step forward. Just one step. Still calm. Still in control.

“You don’t get to say his name. Or mine. Ever again.”

He leaned in. “Oh? You finally grew a spine? What, did your rich husband train you to speak?”

I stared at him. “You’re not getting a reaction, Vincent. You don’t matter enough.”

That shook him. Just a blink, but I saw it—his confidence cracked.

Ella didn’t wait. She shoved him—hard.

He stumbled back, shocked. “You crazy—”

“Touch her again,” Ella growled, pointing at him, “and I’ll leak every message you begged her to delete. Or should we talk about that night in the parking lot? Want to trend, Vincent? I promise you will. And not for the reasons you hope.”

He laughed, but his face was pale. He remembered that message—the one he sent me, begging for another chance before he destroyed my life. He knew it’d ruin the perfect image he tried to project.

People were whispering now. Some people recorded openly. Others just stared as Vincent continued to shout at the top of his voice, but it wasn’t long before bouncers were pushing through the crowd.

“Let’s go,” I said to Ella, grabbing her arm, I don’t wan moe drama. My voice was low. My hand shook.

Vincent took one last swing. “Running again, Samantha? You’ve always been pathetic.”

But I turned back.

“I’m not running,” I said quietly. “I’m choosing peace. Something you wouldn’t recognize if it slapped you in the face.”

We hadn’t even made it to the door before Ella suddenly gasped. “Sam.”

I followed her eyes—and froze.

David.

He was here. And it wasn’t just his presence. It was the way the room reacted to it. All the women turned, and more phones came out. Some screamed his name. Some tried to touch him. He moved through the crowd like a storm wrapped in silk.

Even Ella blinked in surprise. “Damn.”

“Ella!” I snapped.

“Sorry,” she whispered. “But girl, your husband is hot.”

Before I could say anything else, David was in front of me.

His hand reached for my forehead, checking me gently. “Are you okay?”

I nodded, too stunned to speak.

“I’m sorry I got here late,” he said, and I just stared. This wasn’t the David I knew. The David I married would have scolded me for being here. But now… now he looked almost human. Gentle. Concerned.

“Who was the idiot harassing you?” he asked.

Before I could answer, Ella stepped in. “That fool and his gang,” she said, pointing to Vincent.

Immediately, David's men flooded in, and behind them were uniformed officers who pulled Vincent and his crew out of the crowd. This made many faces go shocked. They didn’t know that Vincent would be arrested and all. He struggled, and tried to run from the men, but he was caught. The crowd exploded in gasps and cheers.

“You’re going to jail, bastard!” Ella shouted. “Sleep well, asshole!”

David turned to me again. “You sure you’re okay?”

I nodded. My mouth couldn’t form the words. He guided me out of the club with Ella close behind. While other women still tried to follow, still reaching for him, still recording.

Ella spun around. “Back off! That’s her husband. Go thirst over someone else.”

Outside, under the night sky, David let go of me. The second we were alone.

He looked at Ella. “That’s enough. I want to go home with my wife. You’ll catch up with your friend later.”

Ella didn’t budge. “I still want to check if she’s okay—”

“I said she’s fine,” David cut in. His voice was colder now. “And I’ll handle it—as her husband. I want to leave this circus you both created.”

“David,” I said, stepping in. “Don’t talk to her like that. Not Ella. You want to talk to me that way, fine. But not her.”

He didn’t reply. He just turned and walked to the car.

“Get in,” he said over his shoulder. “Now.”

I turned to Ella. She gave me a sad smile and touched my arm gently.

“Just go,” she mouthed. “I’m fine. Just make sure you are. And don’t let him talk down to you. Ever. I love you, baby girl.”

She opened the car door and pushed me in gently.

“Call me when you get home,” she said softly, closing the door.

As the door shut and the car pulled away, I finally let the tears fall. Watching my best friend disappear behind the glass, I felt the weight of it all crash down like a wave I didn’t see coming.