Chapter 2 The Breaking Point

After their figures disappeared from sight, my fists tightened until my nails dug deep into my palms, the sharp pain cutting straight to the bone.

'No. Even if we're going to end things, I won't swallow this humiliation!' I thought and stormed out of the room.

They were just about to step into her room when I raised my voice, shouting after them, "Grayson! Are you seriously going to sleep with her tonight?"

Grayson froze. He turned, eyes wide and filled with warning. "Keep your voice down! What are you yelling for? I'm just walking Scarlette back to her room. Why do you have to be so sensitive and suspicious all the time?"

Then, he sized me up. "What's gotten into you tonight? Do you really think marrying me gives you the right to throw tantrums whenever you please?"

At that, Scarlette leaned her head against his shoulder, her tone trembling just enough to sound pitiful. "She's so mean, Grayson. Will she bully me in the future?"

Grayson's jaw tightened, his face hardening into stern disapproval. "She wouldn't dare. And if she ever does, I'll deal with her myself."

Satisfied, Scarlette lowered her head, hiding the triumphant smile tugging at her lips—but not before flashing me a quick, mocking glance.

I laughed coldly. This woman knew exactly how to play weak and pitiful to earn his sympathy. No matter how wrong she was, Grayson always defended her. Even back when I was his girlfriend, I'd had to step aside because she was his sister-in-law.

And every time I gave an inch, she took a mile.

My eyes hardened, and instead of backing down, my voice rose, sharp and furious. "Grayson, I'm your wife! If you spend the night with her, what does that make me?"

A hush fell over the crowd. The guests who hadn't yet left were staring up from the first floor, their necks craned toward us.

Grayson's expression darkened instantly. "Kayla, what the hell has gotten into you?"

He clearly hadn't expected me to keep pressing, much less expose everything in front of everyone. He marched toward me, grabbed my arm hard, and glared daggers at me. "If you keep acting out like this, I'll teach you a lesson you won't forget."

The room had gone completely silent. With so many eyes on him, he must've realized how that sounded, because he quickly softened his tone. "Enough already. Stop making a scene. Just apologize to Scarlette, and we'll put this behind us."

Scarlette chimed in sweetly, her timing perfect. "Yes, Kayla. You've got it all wrong."

Watching the two of them play off each other so seamlessly, I suddenly felt like a stranger in my own life. How had I not seen it sooner? He always said I was being unreasonable—but was I really?

For years, I'd told myself he was only looking after his late brother's widow. I'd tolerated it, again and again. And my patience had only given him the space to fall for her.

That thought snapped something inside me. I yanked my arm out of his grip and stepped back, putting distance between us.

Grayson stared at me, frowning as if he couldn't understand what I was doing. But I was done pretending. "Grayson, she bullied me! I'm the real victim here! Don't tell me you really don't know!"

His expression shifted, his features tightening.

I drew in a steady breath and laid it all bare. "Do you remember that trip we took? You two had plane tickets, but mine somehow wasn't booked. She claimed she forgot, but we both know that was a lie. During a picnic, she pretended to trip and said I pushed her.

"At our university graduation party, she cut up my gown so I'd humiliate myself in front of everyone. When I competed in the design competition, she drugged me with sleeping pills so I'd miss it. And she knew I was allergic to peanuts—she knew it could kill me—yet she still put peanut butter in my cake."

Gasps rippled through the guests below.

I gave a bitter smile, my voice trembling but steady. "When I was in hospital, barely breathing, you came not to comfort me—but to scold me. You said I shouldn't have frightened her like that. You told me I wasn't dead, so why make such a big deal out of it?"