The Verdict on My Husband the Judge: GUILTY novel Chapter 10

Chapter 2

Silence swallowed the room as Wes stared at me for a few seconds.

“Stella, nobody’s drinking. She-”

“It’s fine. I’ll do it.”

I laughed bitterly, grabbed the first bottle, and started chugging.

At first, just the bitter sting of alcohol on my tongue. Then my throat lit up like fire.

Friends tried to stop me. I ignored them.

One bottle. Two. Three…

The burn in my stomach was unbearable, but it didn’t come close to the pain shredding my chest.

By the fifth bottle, tears were streaming down my face.

I slammed the empty bottle on the table and stumbled toward the exit.

Outside, the cold wind hit my face and cleared my head a little.

Three years of humiliation with him played on a loop in my mind.

I hated myself for not seeing it sooner.

Wes had a whole album on his phone just for Stella.

A photo of her tucked in his wallet.

Even his bare–bones office desk had one picture–him and Stella.

All the signs were there. I just never thought his feelings for her were romantic!

So stupid! So pathetic!

My stomach lurched. I bolted to the corner and dry–heaved.

Suddenly, a hand rubbed my back.

Wes’s voice, tinged with annoyance:

“I told you not to drink. Why’d you have to be so stubborn?”

19:59

The Verdict on My flushal the Judge: GUILTY

7.50%

Chapter 2

“Stella just got back. She’s used to being spoiled. Why are you picking fights with her?”

The burn in my stomach mixed with years of buried hurt, rising like bile. I shoved his hand away.

“Don’t touch me.”

Wes frowned at my disheveled state, paused, then grabbed my arm.

“Brynn, stop being dramatic.”

“Let’s go home.”

Home. Our place. I’d furnished it. He barely slept there.

Looking at that face I’d been so obsessed with, I couldn’t help but laugh softly.

I’d loved Wes one–sidedly for half a decade.

Thought we were finally getting our happy ending. Turned out it was all a fever dream.

But I’d given him five real years. The least I could do was end things cleanly. N

I stopped fighting and followed him to the car–then saw Stella in the passenger seat.

“Hop in, Brynn!”

My expression went ice–cold.

“She’s coming with us?”

Wes didn’t even look at me. Just got in the driver’s seat.

“It’s late. Where else is she supposed to go?”

“The house I bought her just got renovated. Can’t move in yet Relax–she’ll be out in a week.”

I slid into the back seat in silence and spent the whole ride listening to their sibling banter.

“You still have that bracelet I made you!”

“You made it for me when you were little. How could I ever get rid of it?”

My heart felt like someone was squeezing it in a vice.

I once drove two hours to this little chapel everyone raves about, waited in line forever, and got Wes a hand–blessed silver cross.

19:59

The Verdict on My Husband the Judge: GUILTY

7.8%

Chapter 2

I wanted him to hang it in his car. He didn’t even hesitate to refuse.

“No. I’m not taking this bracelet down.”

I didn’t get it then–the bracelet looked handmade, a little worn. Why was he so attached?

Ha! Now I finally knew–because Stella.

I thought Wes was just emotionally distant. Cold to everyone, not just me.

Turns out, he does know how to love someone.

He loves her so much she’s woven into every corner of his life.

Watching him smile at Stella, something sour and unbearable twisted in

I never got that. Not once.

Their laughter filled the car all the way to our place.

my

chest.

Wes hauled her suitcase out with one hand and adjusted her collar with the oth

“Welcome home, Stella.”

♡ (0)