Mr. Fake-Mute's Love Game Ended When I Stopped Playing the Fool novel Chapter 72

Chapter 3

The office falls dead silent.

take my suspension notice and leave.

he second I step outside the TV building, Willow’s messages blow up my phone.

Jozens of photos.

Manhattan’s king, the untouchable Cade Ashford–currently on his hands and knees like a dog, playing human horse for “true love.”

neeling to wash her feet, kissing her toes.

Villow wants a mountain of gifts?

le empties out every luxury boutique in the city within an hour, just to make her smile.

Liya, when I was your bestie, I was just your backup girl.”

But not anymore. The man you love is MINE now.”

I’m gonna step all over you and take everything you have–your money, your status, your happiness.”

ealous? Bitter? LOL you can’t do SHIT about it hahaha?”

he smugness drips off every word like poison.

snort, screenshot everything and upload it to the cloud.

abel: Fifteen days later–Gift #2 for my ex–husband.

head back to the mansion to grab one last thing.

efore my grandma passed, she gave me a family heirloom–a hand–made wedding dress.

survived wars, migrations, decades of hardship.

‘s the living proof of our family’s legacy.

ade once said, “Give me something precious to you, babe. I’ll keep it safe. That way I’ll know you’ll never leave me.”

low? I’m done.

one dancing with this darn curse.

‘m taking back my heirloom and cutting ties clean.

But the second I walk in-

Willow’s holding a filthy stray dog, still peeing on itself.

Tears in her eyes, she reaches for Cade–who’s clearly allergic to dogs but forcing himself to stand there anyway.

Cade, the poor puppy’s so dirty! Grab that rag for me. I’ll clean it up.”

That “rag” she’s pointing at is my hand–made wedding dress on the wall.

Chapter 3

My heart drops.

I rush forward to stop her.

Too late.

Cade smashes the frame, pulls out the dress, and hands it to her.

He smirks. “Is Liya brain–dead? Framing a dirty rag and hanging it up like it’s art?”

When his memory’s intact, that “dirty rag” is his holy relic.

‘Good doggy, let me clean you up,” Willow coos.

she uses my family’s legacy to wipe piss and shit?!

lose it and lunge-

But I don’t even get close.

Cade grabs me by the collar like I’m garbage and THROWS me across the room.

slam into the floor–to–ceiling window.

ilass shatters. Shards slice through my clothes, cut into my skin.

lood pours out.

or a split second, Cade freezes.

lis face goes pale–like something flashes in his head.

Cade! Liya’s scaring me! The puppy’s scared too! I don’t wanna be here anymore!”

Villow’s fake sobbing snaps him out of it.

le shakes his head hard, muttering to himself.

There’s no way I’d lose my mind over some arranged marriage tool. I love Willow. Only Willow!”

efore I pass out from the pain, I let out a bitter laugh.

o the closer we get to Day 15, the more his buried memories start bleeding through.

My body goes numb from blood loss.

drag myself across the floor like a worm, reaching for the dress–now covered in filth.

Willow walks past me, leaning into Cade’s arms.

he mouths the words silently, smirking:

You’re just like that dirty rag. 1aya. Cade will give ine anything I want. Hahaha…”

Then she lets go of the stray dog.

Smelling filth, the dog goes wild, snarling, biting into me.

The pain rips through my flesh–and everything goes black.

Chapter 3

When I wake up, I’m in a VIP hospital room, still clutching that dirty dress.

A young nurse comes in to change my bandages, muttering.

“Miss Clarke, your husband’s a piece of shit. Absolute scum.”

“You almost didn’t make it last night. The surgeon called him to sign.”

“And guess what he said? He’s busy comforting his girlfriend. Told us to let you DIE.”

Let me die–is this what he really wants?

I turn my head toward the window.

Morning sunlight streams in, warm and soft.

My phone buzzes, a message from my lawyer.

Miss Clarke, seven more days. Then your divorce is official, and you’re free.”

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