It felt like falling from the clouds straight onto concrete—no buffer, nothing but the raw, tearing pain of impact.
Stella put away the video, completely confident as she stared at me.
"So? Still planning to cling to him?"
I blinked back my tears and forced a laugh. "No. I won't."
"But I do want to show you something."
I held up my phone and showed her the messages Gerald had just sent me.
[Stella has a strong sense of morality. If she finds out she's actually the other woman, she won't be able to bear it.]
[I'll compensate you. For now, just play along with her.]
Her face twisted again.
Her eyes reddened, and she burst into angry tears.
She immediately dialed Gerald.
"Tell me, who's the mistress here?! Gerald, you scumbag! Get over here right now and clean up your mess!"
Before he could say a word, she hung up.
The arrogance in her voice made it obvious—Gerald spoiled her regularly.
I had been his childhood sweetheart.
Ten years of love, five years of marriage.
Even at my angriest, I had never spoken to him like that.
"Sorry... I didn't know my husband lied to you," she said, wiping her tears with a silk scarf. "My attitude earlier was a little harsh."