Twenty-Six receipts of betrayal Novel novel Chapter 31

Chapter 4

Silence on the other end.

Finally, he spoke:

“Wren, you brought this on yourself.”

“What you said at that party made everyone think Scarlett was some kind of homewrecker. Ruined her reputation. Going public wasn’t just about the joint ops–it was damage control. Fixing the mess YOU made. Thought you’d get it, learn your lesson. But no. You pushed her down the stairs.”

I laughed.

Actually laughed until my eyes watered.

Oh, so this is all for my own good?

“She’s NOT a homewrecker? Really? That’s the story we’re going with?”

“Wren Hayes, you need to grow the hell up!”

His shout cut me off.

“Look. I don’t want this mess dragging on. Apologize to Scarlett. I’ll have her publicly forgive you. Then we’re done. Move on.”

Move on?

Like it was that easy.

Like he hadn’t just torched my entire reputation.

I tilted my head back, keeping the tears in.

Was about to say something when I heard another voice on his end.

“Captain, she’s awake. Asking for you.”

“Be right there.”

Then he hung up and rushed down the hallway toward Scarlett’s room.

Halfway there, he stopped. Turned to his aide.

“That necklace I had you order–the Tiffany one Wren mentioned a while back. You get it?”

The aide nodded.

“Good. Drop it off at Wren’s place.”

Garrett knew Wren had her pride.

Making her apologize to Scarlett? Yeah, that’d sting.

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Twenty Six Receipts of Betrayal. My Silence Was the Countdown to His Eternal Regret

Chapter 4

But she messed up. Actions have consequences.

At least Wren was easy to smooth over.

Whenever she got pissed before, a little gift and she’d melt.

“Oh, wasn’t there a matching bracelet in that set? Give that one to Scarlett.”

Garrett sent someone with the necklace right as Dr. Patel was showing me Scarlett’s latest interview,

On screen, she was propped up in that hospital bed, Garrett gently tucking the blanket around her.

The reporter asked: “Miss Morgan, have you seen what people are saying online? Did Wren Hayes really try to–you know–push you down the

stairs because she was jealous?”

Scarlett gave this tired little smile. “I don’t blame Wren. Garrett’s amazing. Lots of girls have crushes on him…‘

17

The reporter looked outraged. “So it IS true?! That’s basically assault! How is someone like that allowed to work as an army surgeon?!”

Scarlett just smiled weakly, like she was too exhausted to continue.

Then the reporter noticed her wrist.

“Wait, is that–oh my GOD, is that the bracelet from that European royal auction?! I heard the matching necklace went for six figures!”

Scarlett glanced at Garrett.

The reporter ate it up. “You two are GOALS. Some people really think they can just insert themselves into a relationship like this, huh?”

Dr. Patel lost it. Started yelling at the screen.

Right then, Garrett’s aide showed up with a Tiffany box.

Dr. Patel chased him out, still cussing.

Look, Walter Reed wasn’t about to just roll over.

The apartment complex had security logs. I went in and out of that place constantly–it was MY assigned housing.

The hospital’s PR team pulled the records, had multiple official accounts post them.

[@WalterReed Hospital: Dr. Hayes has been assigned to this residence for three years. She’s in the logs constantly. Captain Reid? Barely ever

there.]

@MilitarySpouse Network: Two photos of three people entering a building doesn’t prove anything. Maybe there’s context we’re missing? Stop jumping to conclusions.]

The hospital also issued an official statement.

Online opinion started shifting.

But the hospital’s defense didn’t even last an hour.

Garrett posted himself.

[@GarrettReid: Interesting. Looks like Dr. Hayes has been sneaking into my apartment when I’m not around.)

Attached: housing assignment paperwork with his name on it

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Twenty Six Receipts of Betrayal: My Silence Was the Countdown to His Eternal Regret

Chapter 4

1 felt like all the blood rushed to my head at once,

Lars ringing. Vision swimming.

Before I transferred to Walter Reed, we both lived in base housing at Bragg–shared quarters, his name and mine on the lease.

After my transfer, I didn’t want him feeling like I was moving up while he stayed behind. So when I applied for off base housing near the hospital, I put his name on the assignment paperwork.

Back then, he’d laughed, pulled me close:

“Wren, you don’t have to do that. I trust us. I trust what we have.”

Now?

That trust was a knife in my back.

Dr. Patel exploded.

She didn’t think he’d go this far.

“The marriage certificate! Wren, where’s your marriage certificate? We can POST it, shut this whole thing down-”

“Garrett has it.”

She went quiet.

We’d filed our marriage paperwork the day after he proposed. He was so happy–kept kissing the document, grinning like an idiot.

Said he wanted to get it laminated. Frame it. Keep it forever.

Dr. Patel’s voice came out flat. “…Were you two really together for ten years?”

I smiled, bitter.

Suddenly, my phone buzzed.

[Julian Cross: Need help?]

I stared at it for a second.

[Thanks. I’m good.]

Then I locked my phone and handed Dr. Patel a flash drive.

“Doc. Submit this.”

16:34

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Twenty Six Receipts of Betrayal: My Silence Was the Countdown to His Eternal Regret

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Chapter 5