Alexander’s steps faltered for the briefest moment.
Then, without a word—
he walked out.
The door closed behind him.
All the strength drained from my body.
I braced myself against the edge of the table, barely able to remain standing.
So in the end...
he still chose her.
I had offered him our future—
and he still left.
It turned out the peace between us these past few days had only been an illusion.
When forced to choose between Lilian and me—
Alexander had never hesitated.
A scoff sounded beside me.
Michael looked at me with open disgust.
"Let’s go. Stop pretending."
His lips curled coldly.
"What kind of act is this, mistress? Lilian is still in emergency."
With a sharp crack, I swung my hand with every ounce of strength I had left and slapped Michael Livingston across the face.
The sound rang through the corridor.
Michael staggered half a step, stunned.
His hand flew to his reddened cheek as fury surged across his features.
"Are you insane?" he snapped. "Don’t think that just because Alexander indulges you, I won’t deal with you myself."
I stared straight into his eyes.
My voice shook with rage.
"Then listen carefully."
I took a step closer.
"Call me a mistress one more time, and I’ll slap you again."
My chest rose violently.
"Lilian is the mistress."
Each word came out like blood.
"She’s the one who tried to destroy someone else’s marriage."
I lifted my chin.
"I am Alexander Blackwood’s legal wife."
My voice cracked, but I did not look away.
"The one protected by law."
The room fell deathly silent.
Then, in one sweeping motion, I struck the edge of the table.
Plates crashed.
Wine spilled.
The lacquered gift box tumbled to the floor.
It burst open on impact.
The emerald bracelet inside shattered into three broken pieces.
I looked down at it for only a second.
Then I grabbed my handbag and phone, turned, and walked out without looking back.
"Alicia!"
Michael’s voice came sharply from behind me.
Footsteps followed fast.
"What did you just say?" he demanded. "Say it again."
I kept walking.
The restaurant doors opened before me, and I stepped out into the night air.
I chose a random direction and kept going.
"Where are you going?" Michael caught up beside me. "I’ll take you home."
"I don’t need you to."
"No. I’m taking you back."
He reached for my arm.
The moment his fingers brushed me, I jerked away as if burned.
All the grief, humiliation, jealousy, and despair I had been forcing down burst at once.
"Get away from me!"
My scream tore through the street.
Michael froze.
I was breathing hard.
At some point, tears had already flooded my eyes.
My vision blurred.
My face was wet.
I hadn’t even realized I was crying.
Through clenched teeth, I glared at him.
"You’re all the same."
My voice trembled violently.
"Every one of you are bastards."
"Stay the hell away from me."
For once, Michael had no words.
He stood rooted in place, watching me.
I turned and walked away alone.
My mind was completely blank.
I didn’t know where I was going.
I only knew I couldn’t stop moving.
Step after step, I stumbled into the night—
with no exact destination in mind.
Lilian was right.
I never accepted that bet because, deep down, I already knew I would lose.
Maybe that was why I hadn’t even bothered getting Alexander a gift this year.
On our anniversary, he still left me to see her.
His eyes followed Lilian without hesitation—so much so that he didn’t even notice the humiliation I endured in front of his friends.
I lost.
Completely.
How ridiculous.
VERIFYCAPTCHA_LABEL
Comments
The readers' comments on the novel: My CEO HUSBAND sign the divorce