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Home / Romance Short Story / After the Toasts / Chapter 1 - Chapter 8

All Chapters of After the Toasts: Chapter 1 - Chapter 8

8 Chapters

Chapter 1

My post hit the trending page within minutes, and notifications flooded my screen."Six feet tall, eighteen, passport ready.""What are the odds your husband murders us?""Lonely cougar seeking attention? The internet really has everything."Plenty of the replies were much uglier.I stared at them without expression.The cold light from my phone sharpened the tear tracks on my face.Then the phone rang.Derek's urgent voice came through the speaker."Honey, what was that post? Did you see the stupid video Mason uploaded?"I knew you'd read too much into it. It was scripted for views. Don't let it get in your head."My nails dug into my palm as I forced my voice to remain steady."He sounded convincing. For a second, I thought Leo might be your son."Derek hesitated, then answered too quickly."Evelyn, you cannot believe that. I swear to God."If I'm lying, may God strike me down."The oath came fast and frantic.At almost the same moment, I heard the keypad at the fron

Chapter 2

I practically fled to the bedroom.I ignored Derek when he called me to eat.In the darkness, I felt his familiar warmth settle beside me.His breathing slowly became even.I opened my eyes.The face I had loved and trusted for ten years looked terrifyingly unfamiliar.His secure work phone sat on the nightstand beside him.I reached for it as carefully as I could.Our anniversary date failed.His birthday failed.Finally, my hands trembling, I entered Leo's birthday.The screen unlocked.The contacts list was empty except for one unsaved number.The call history showed that same number on every night Derek had supposedly been sent out on an emergency.All those years of duty, sacrifice, and honor had been a performance.Every callout had been another lie carrying him to a woman and child.I opened the photo gallery with shaking hands.It was filled with family pictures.Derek, Valerie, and Leo.One image had clearly been taken after Derek and Valerie slept together.

Chapter 3

The memorial luncheon had been set up to feel both solemn and warm.Derek stood beside Captain Ross, the precinct commander, in his dress uniform.The moment he saw me, he hurried over and lowered his voice."You actually came? There is nothing for you to do here. Why don't you head home?"I wore my best coat, carried my nicest handbag, and smiled."I'm already here. Supporting an officer's family is the right thing to do."The program began.Captain Ross spoke about Derek's late mentor and the other officers the department had lost in the line of duty.The room grew heavy and quiet.Eventually, the conversation turned to Valerie.Captain Ross patted Derek on the shoulder."You have done a great deal for Valerie over the years. Thomas would be grateful if he could see it."People around the table immediately agreed."Lieutenant Foster has always been loyal.""Valerie has had a difficult life. Thank goodness Derek has helped her.""Look at them. They might as well be marr

Chapter 4

"Evelyn!"Derek shoved through the stunned crowd.He seized my wrist hard enough to hurt."Listen to me. It isn't what you think. Those pictures are..."His words tangled together as his breathing grew harsh and a vein pulsed at his temple.I stopped and slowly turned toward him.Panic and pleading churned in his bloodshot eyes.Beneath them was the anger of a man humiliated in public."Then what is it?" I asked quietly."Were the images fabricated? Did I force you to cheat, father a child, and bring her into our bed?"Derek's lips trembled, but he had no answer.The people around us stared at him as though they had nailed him to the wall.Captain Ross slammed his palm onto the table, shaking with rage."Derek Foster, what the hell is going on?""Captain, I..."Derek opened his mouth but could not form a sentence.Valerie cried out and covered her face as though she were the victim."This isn't Derek's fault. It was mine."She reached for his other arm, seeking protec

Chapter 5

I replied to the unknown number.We agreed to meet the next afternoon at a quiet coffee shop.A plainly dressed young woman named Hannah Brooks stood when I approached the corner table.She looked nervous and kept stirring a drink she had barely touched."Mrs. Foster?"I nodded and sat across from her. "Do you know me?""I used to work at a private maternity residence."She lowered her voice."I was assigned to Valerie Pierce after she gave birth."My heart tightened.I kept my face calm."Go on.""Mr. Foster arranged everything. He paid in cash and demanded confidentiality."Hannah hesitated."I never planned to interfere, but I saw that video online a few days ago. Then I heard what happened at the luncheon."She paused."You have a right to know."She removed a worn employee logbook from her bag and pushed it across the table.The open page contained Valerie's admission record.It listed the date, age, room number, and visitors.Derek's name appeared again and ag

Chapter 6

The attorney's investigation took time.I did not return to the house I had shared with Derek.Unable to find me, he began harassing my friends.Then he appeared outside my condo building.Through the peephole, I watched him stand there looking exhausted and unkempt, and felt nothing.A man who once controlled every emotion in me now inspired only irritation.He pounded on the door."Evelyn! I know you're in there!"Open the door. We need to talk!"Even if you want a divorce, you owe me one face-to-face conversation!"I called the police.The responding officers made him leave.From behind the locked door, I listened to his reluctant footsteps fade.At last, the hallway was quiet.A friend brought me a new SIM card.I temporarily abandoned my old number to escape Derek's constant calls.I contacted my attorney from the new phone.A few days later, she called with an initial report."Mrs. Foster, we found a pattern of payments involving Mason Reed and Valerie Pierce.

Chapter 7

Mason approached me before I could approach him.He had lost weight, and dark hollows ringed his eyes. The swagger from his videos was gone."Evelyn."He gave me an awkward smile and lifted a bag of fruit."I heard you were staying here. I wanted to check on you."I walked around him and reached for my car door."Don't bother."He blocked me, suddenly desperate."I know you're angry with Derek and me, but the internet twisted everything. It wasn't what it looked like."I stopped and faced him."Mason, do you honestly think that line still matters?"His expression tightened."Valerie came to see you, didn't she?"He lowered his voice."Whatever she told you, don't believe her. She's unstable. She wants to destroy everyone around her.""I don't know whether she's unstable."I watched him carefully."I do know some people will do almost anything for money."The blood drained from Mason's face."What is that supposed to mean?""How are those unexplained deposits in your

Chapter 8

I parked beside the river.The cold wind battered me until my breathing finally steadied.My phone rang. It was Dana Mitchell."Mrs. Foster, we have built a strong evidentiary record."We still cannot directly prove what happened on your wedding night. Too much time has passed."I was not surprised.The law required evidence.Some violations could never be fully punished in a courtroom."What we have is enough," I said. "Can I recover most of what he diverted and leave him with almost nothing?"Dana paused."You have a strong case for a heavily favorable settlement, especially because of the hidden transfers and misuse of marital assets. We also uncovered something else.""What?""Valerie appears to be collecting records of Derek's departmental misconduct. She may be building an exit strategy. Do you want us to contact her?"I considered it."Not yet."After the call, I watched muddy water move beneath the gray sky.Derek called again from a new number.This time, I an

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