- 8.
Ryan finally realized things weren’t going the way he’d planned.
If Ethan was really on my side, then…
Ryan came to talk things out, offering what he probably thought was a generous deal. “Let’s settle this amicably,” he said, with a smug air of self–righteousness. “Whatever happened with you and Ethan, I won’t hold it against you. We’ve been together for years, and no matter what, you’ll always be James’s mom. I won’t let you leave empty–handed.”
He sounded so noble, as if he were doing me a favor. His proposal? A house and a million dollars in cash. Generous, compared to what he was originally willing to give me, but still nowhere near what I deserved.
But that’s not what I wanted.
“Ryan,” I said calmly, “don’t act like you’re doing me a favor. Do you even know why you’re suddenly feeling so ‘generous‘? You’re furious at the thought of me and Ethan, but let’s be honest–what are you really mad about? Is it betrayal? No. You’re terrified that we might team up and threaten your precious business.”
His face darkened, and I pressed on.
“Stop looking down on me like I’m some clueless housewife. Do you even know what marital assets are? This company of yours? I was there from the beginning, building it with you. And don’t bother trying to move your assets now–it’s way too late for that.”
Ryan’s hand twitched, and for a moment, I thought he might hit me.
I motioned to the security camera in the corner. “Go ahead. Lay a finger on me. Just remember, that’ll be evidence of domestic violence, and it’ll only make things worse for you.”
you
Ryan froze, his anger plain on his face, but he forced himself to back down. “What do want, Nicole? Shares in the company? You don’t know the first thing about running a business. Take the money and leave–don’t act like you’ll be better off managing anything. Do you even realize how hard it is to run a company? You wouldn’t make half of what I can
give you.”
r
21:15 Wed, Mar 12
C
80%
Ryan froze, his anger plain on his face, but he forced himself to back down. “What do you want, Nicole? Shares in the company? You don’t know the first thing about running a business. Take the money and leave–don’t act like you’ll be better off managing anything. Do you even realize how hard it is to run a company? You wouldn’t make half of what I can
give you.”
Ah, there it was–the belief that I was just a useless stay–at–home wife.
He’d conveniently forgotten that we graduated from the same prestigious university. Sure, I’d spent the last few years focusing on family, but that didn’t make me an idiot.
“You think I don’t know how to run a company?” I said with a smirk. “Fine. I’ll just hand my shares over to Ethan. That would make him the majority shareholder, wouldn’t it?”
Ryan’s eyes narrowed into slits, his voice dropping. “Nicole, I know I’ve wronged you, but don’t let Ethan manipulate you. He’s just using you to push me out. Without me, that company would be nothing!”
I casually brushed my hair back. “Your drama with Ethan? Not my problem. Here’s what I want: two properties in the city and five million in cash.”
“You’re insane!” he barked. “Forget it. I’m not divorcing you!”
“Fine by me,” I said with a shrug. “But do you think your little mistress will be okay with
that?”
Ryan’s face twisted into disappointment. “Nicole, how did you turn into this? We’ve been married for years. There has to be some love left between us. Why are you forcing my hand? If you don’t care about yourself, at least think about James.”
“Oh, don’t worry about James. He’ll still have both parents, no matter what happens.”
At that, Ryan stormed out.
I sent a recording of our conversation to Ethan, just to remind him where he really stood In Ryan’s life.
asiabing nto the phone. “Nicole, you’re not even
<
21:15 Wed, Mar 12UW
I sent a recording of our conversation to Ethan, just to remind him where he really stood in Ryan’s life.
Ethan called me almost immediately, sighing into the phone. “Nicole, you’re not even leaving me a chance to hesitate, are you?”
I laughed. “It’s not me, Ethan. It’s Ryan who isn’t leaving you any room to doubt.”
“…I see.”
It didn’t take long after my confrontation with Ryan for Annie Jo to show up, determined to assert her dominance.
She wasn’t the loud, overconfident type. No, Annie preferred the soft, sweet approach, all full of veiled jabs. “Mrs. Harris–oh, wait, I suppose I won’t be calling you that much longer. Ms. Shaw, if I’ve hurt you in any way, I’m truly sorry. But Ryan and I… we’re truly in love.”
She stood there, doe–eyed and trembling, like some delicate flower in full bloom.
So, naturally, I slapped her.
Hard.
The sound echoed in the room, and her head snapped to the side.
“Nicole!” she gasped, clutching her cheek, her expression a mix of shock and rage. “How dare you!”
“You brought your face to me,” I said coolly, “so how is it my fault that I slapped it? What, you think I wouldn’t dare? Go ahead, run to Ryan. Or better yet, make a scene. Tell the world how you slept with a married man and got slapped by his crazy wife. See if anyone takes
your side.”
Annie’s eyes burned with hatred, but she didn’t say another word. She simply turned and
left, her shoulders stiff with humiliation.
I sat back with my tea, utterly refreshed.
It felt good to finally let loose. No more bottling UD
my anger no mora pretending If I
21:15 Wed, Mar 12 WW
นน
| ཎྛརྗཚྭ80%=
The sound echoed in the room, and her head snapped to the side.
“Nicole!” she gasped, clutching her cheek, her expression a mix of shock and rage. “How dare you!”
“You brought your face to me,” I said coolly, “so how is it my fault that I slapped it? What, you think I wouldn’t dare? Go ahead, run to Ryan. Or better yet, make a scene. Tell the world how you slept with a married man and got slapped by his crazy wife. See if anyone takes your side.”
Annie’s eyes burned with hatred, but she didn’t say another word. She simply turned and left, her shoulders stiff with humiliation.
I sat back with my tea, utterly refreshed.
It felt good to finally let loose. No more bottling up my anger, no more pretending. If I wanted to slap someone, I’d slap them. Life was too short to stress myself into a health condition over people like her.
