chapter95

The hallway was a cacophony of screams and muffled curses. From the room across the hall, the relentless flicker of camera flashes pulsed against the walls. A tide of people surged forward, and in my panic, I lifted the hem of my gown as the crowd swept me through the doorway.

Inside, the scene was pure chaos. Two tangled bodies were huddled on the mattress; the woman had her head buried behind the man’s shoulder, her screams a non-stop piercing wail. The man was shielding her with a desperate ferocity, pointing a shaking finger at the sea of lenses.

“All of you, get out!” he roared, but no one moved.

Lauren stood defiantly at the edge of the bed, her heels planted firmly on the duvet that had been kicked to the floor. Two other women stood flanking her, their feet resting on a discarded pile of clothes.

I stood there, paralyzed, my mind refusing to process the image before me.

The man was Matthew—the same Matthew who, moments ago, had been toasted as the perfect husband during our anniversary gala. He had looked so sharp, so impeccable in his tailored suit. Now, he was stripped of his dignity and exposed to the world.

And the woman... the woman was Melanie, my sister-in-law. She had arrived today looking the picture of elegance, but in this light, she was utterly repulsive.

Lauren stood with her arms crossed, a smug, cold triumph radiating from her as she directed the mob. “Keep shooting! Don’t stop! Get every angle. Move over there—pull that slut’s face out from behind him. I want a clear shot!”

A fierce-looking woman lunged forward, yanking Melanie by her hair. Melanie shrieked and tried to fight back, but she was met with a flurry of sharp slaps. Her head was forced back, her tear-streaked face turned directly into the glare of the cameras.

“Lauren, do you have any idea what you’re doing?” Matthew screamed at her, his voice cracking with desperation.

“What I’m doing?!” Lauren laughed, a harsh, jagged sound. “I’m giving you a taste of your own medicine! What’s the matter, Matthew? Are you trying to protect her? Go ahead, then! So this is the one you’ve been pining for? Your taste is certainly... bold! Everyone, keep the cameras rolling! I promise you, this is going to go viral by morning!”

“Let her go... get out... I want to see who dares to keep—” Matthew’s threat died in his throat.

I was standing at the foot of the bed now. Our eyes locked.

The room fell into a sudden, suffocating silence as the crowd followed his gaze. I didn't move; I just stared at the two people on the bed, my heart turning to stone.

The murmurs began almost instantly, rippling through the room.

“Wait... isn’t that his sister?” “Good God, it is. He’s with his own sister?” “Shh, look—his wife is right there. If I were her, I’d kill him.” “How can anyone be this shameless? He has such a beautiful, brilliant wife, and yet he stoops to this? Matthew is truly beyond redemption.” “The anniversary toast... the speeches... was it all just an act? The man belongs in Hollywood, not business!”

Their words were like physical blows. Matthew stared at me, his face pale and frozen. Then, reality seemed to snap back into place. He began to scramble frantically, searching for anything—a sheet, a pillow—to cover his shame.

I never imagined he could be this unfaithful. He had spent the last few days swearing oaths of eternal devotion, promising us a future of happiness. Downstairs, guests were still drinking to our "perfect" marriage while the host was up here, destroying everything.

He must have been truly desperate to stoop to this level. It was more than a betrayal; it was a sickness.

I don’t know who guided Matthew’s parents into the room. Grace burst into hysterical tears at the sight, while Matthew’s father could only stare blankly at the wreckage of his family.

My stomach churned violently. The nausea was overwhelming, rising in my throat like bile. Someone reached out to steady me, but I gritted my teeth and suppressed the urge to retch. I watched Matthew cower, trying to hide behind a headboard that could no longer shield him.

When someone tried to grab my arm to lead me away, I shook them off with a violent jerk. In that moment, the thought of any human touch was repellant.

I turned and ran.

The lobby was a blur of people rushing toward the elevators, sensing the scandal breaking upstairs. I ignored them all, flying down the stairs, my eyes searching desperately for the only thing that mattered.

I found Ivanna near the entrance, holding Ava. They both looked frantic. I snatched my daughter from Ivanna’s arms and ran toward the exit. My long, heavy train nearly tripped me, catching on the floor. In a fit of manic energy, I grabbed the fabric and began to tear at it.

Rhinestones clattered onto the pavement like hail. I ripped the expensive silk until the dress was short enough for me to run.

Ivanna followed us out into the night air. “Chloe! Chloe, stop! Talk to me—what happened?”

“Take me home!” I begged, my lips trembling so hard I could barely speak. “Please, Ivanna. Just take me home.”

Atlas came running out of the hotel behind us. “Chloe!”

“Go away!” I screamed at him, the sound raw and broken. “I don’t want to see you! I don’t want to see anyone!”

Startled by my scream, Ava began to wail, her cries joining the chaos of the night.