All Chapters of The Fatal Scam: Chapter 1 - Chapter 8

I immediately called my best friend and asked her to look into Heather's for me.While I waited, I scrolled restlessly through my phone and accidentally opened Joshua's social media feed.One photo immediately caught my eye.Joshua was draping a coat over a middle-aged woman's shoulders while Vanessa stood beside them, smiling.The caption read, [It's so nice having a psychologist for a friend. Mom's been having a hard time lately, so she gets free therapy.]The location tag showed the best private psychiatric hospital in Cunthersaw. The photo was posted while Kyle was still in the emergency room.While I was running around trying to save his father's life, Joshua was comforting another woman's mother.Before I could even process my anger, I noticed the emerald bracelet on Vanessa's wrist. It belonged to my late mother-in-law.Not long ago, Joshua told me he had taken it in to be serviced. Apparently, by "serviced," he meant putting it on his mistress's wrist.The sheer shamel

Over the next week, I handled every detail of Kyle's funeral on my own, from choosing the cemetery plot to arranging the memorial service. Each day wore me down a little more.On top of that, my company told me they planned to transfer me to the Arlingston headquarters as general manager. Between work and the funeral, I felt like I was barely holding myself together.The day of the funeral, the sky was dark and overcast. Dressed in black, I stood at the entrance greeting guests, my face blank and my posture straight.A large crowd came. Kyle's old neighbors, my coworkers, and reporters from several media outlets had all heard about the story.What should've been a funeral had turned into an anti-scam livestream. Before it even began, thousands of people were already waiting online to watch.When Joshua and Vanessa arrived, a murmur swept through the room.Joshua wore a perfectly tailored black suit and a solemn expression. Vanessa, meanwhile, wore a white dress with light makeu

Joshua woke up in the hospital.The sharp smell of disinfectant made him frown. He pushed himself upright, one hand pressed to his pounding head, and saw me sitting by the window.I was peeling an apple in one long strip.His lips parted. His throat was so dry that his voice came out hoarse."Cassidy..."I ignored him. When I finished peeling the apple, I cut it into small pieces and ate them myself."You're awake?"His eyes were still unfocused, and he looked like he hadn't fully recovered from the shock when his phone rang.It was the hospital director.He quickly answered. The person on the other end got straight to the point."Dr. Knight, the fallout from your livestream has been extremely serious. The hospital has decided to suspend you pending further investigation."The call ended.Joshua's phone slipped from his hand and landed on the blanket. He fell back against the bed and lay there without moving.His father was dead. Now his career was falling apart, too.T

A week later, my divorce from Joshua was finalized.When the judge announced how the property would be divided, Joshua barely reacted, as if none of it had anything to do with him.I walked away with most of the assets. He left with nothing.The sun was blazing when I stepped out of the courthouse.I had a flight to Arlingston the next day, and the branch office had already called several times asking when I would arrive.Before I left, Joshua called and asked me to meet him at the café where we first met. When I got there, he was already sitting by the window.He had lost so much weight that he barely looked like himself. His eyes were sunken, and the polished confidence he once carried was gone."Cassidy." His voice was rough and hoarse.I pulled out the chair and sat down. "Make it quick. I'm in a hurry."He didn't answer. Instead, he poured me a glass of water, his gaunt face faintly reflected on the surface."I just wanted...to see you one more time.""You've seen me.