Chapter 8
Seeing my unwavering stance, my former classmates finally cracked.[]
No longer daring to confront me, they turned their collective fury on Victoria.
“This is all your fault, you delusional psychol You jumped to conclusions and dragged us into this!”
“Really! You’re the actual homewrecker here, yet you had the nerve to accuse her and get us involved!“]
“Pretending to be the CEO’s fiancée of Global Prime? How pathetic can you get?“]
“We only kissed up to you because we thought you had connections! Now you expect us to pay for your delusions? No way in hellr
“Exactly! You should be responsible for that $790 million! Don’t try dragging us down with you!“]
Faced with their accusations, Victoria snapped.[]
She fired back instantly, “You spineless social climbers dare blame me?
“Since Dalton, you’ve all been encouraging me to put others down!]
“If it weren’t for your desperate networking attempts, I wouldn’t be in this mess!
“You treated me like Upper East Side royalty when you thought I was marrying a CEO, but now you’re throwing me to the wolves!
“Look at yourselves–born to be brown–nosers! None of you are walking away from this!“]
Victoria and her former minions went at each other’s throats. If the NYPD hadn’t stepped in, they might have recreated a Real Housewives fight scene.
After the screaming match, the classmates tried claiming innocence, saying they hadn’t damaged anything personally.]
But when the cops pulled up the security footage, their false bravado evaporated.]
Each person faced their individual charges.
Some, desperate to avoid Rikers Island, liquidated their assets and begged their networks for loans, only to crawl away broken after settling.
Others received divorce papers from their spouses and found themselves cut off from their social circles.
With no one willing to touch their GoFundMe campaigns, they were left to face justice in detention.
As for Victoria, she’d been the ringleader of the destruction.
Naturally, her portion of the debt was the largest.]
Faced with this crushing financial burden, she turned to Nathan in desperation.]
“Nathan, after everything we’ve shared, can’t you help me? I couldn’t pay this off even if I sold my organs!” Victoria
I
sobbed, mascara running, voice breaking.
Nathan, feeling a flicker of gullt, hesitated before giving me a pleading look.
“Darling, maybe we don’t need to go nuclear. Could you show some mercy? Just this once, for old times‘ sake?”
I shot him an arctic glare. “Show mercy?]
Nathan, have you lost your last shred of dignity? You think you have any say with me right now?]
“Every time I think about how you played me with your fake devotion all these years, I feel nauseous.]
“The divorce papers are ready. As of today, we’re done.”
I walked away without looking back.
Victoria and the classmates who couldn’t pay were taken into custody, facing criminal charges.
Even Mrs. Reynolds found herself under investigation for her role.
As for Nathan, he left with nothing but his Tom Ford suit, as per our prenup.]
I transitioned from being someone’s wife to being gloriously single.
While it took adjustment, I discovered an unexpected freedom in it
Then one morning, during my usual Central Park run, I spotted Nathan lurking on my regular path.
His designer stubble had grown into an unkempt beard, and his eyes held a wild gleam. When he saw me, his face contorted as he lunged forward, pulling out a knife.
“You bitch! Finally found you!” Nathan snarled, voice raw with rage.
I frowned slightly, maintaining composure. “Nathan, what do you think you’re doing?”
He glared at me, eyes burning. “What am I doing? You heartless witch! You turned me from a Wall Street CEO into a homeless man digging through dumpsters! And you have the audacity to ask what I’m doing?
“So what if I married you for money? What’s wrong with that? Every guy’s got his hustle. Just because I got ahead doesn’t mean I can’t find real love too! What gives you the right to destroy my life over this?“”
Seeing Nathan unravel like this made me sigh, and I spoke firmly, “Nathan, you’re still young. Drop the knife. You can still turn your life around.”
“Turn around? What the hell are you talking about?” Nathan shouted, advancing with clenched fists.
He continued, “You took everything from me. If I can’t have peace, neither will you! Dier“]
He slashed the knife at me.]
In that instant, my concealed security detall sprang into action, delivering a precise strike that sent Nathan flying.
From the moment I’d realized Nathan’s true nature, I’d stepped up my protection.
I knew someone like him wouldn’t just fade away quietly.
That’s why I’d hired ex milltary security to shadow me dally.
I hadn’t expected to need them so soon.
“Take him to the precinct,” I ordered coolly and turned away, heading back to my Upper East Side townhouse.
Later, I heard Nathan’s violent tendencies had erupted in prison, leading to a fight that left him permanently disabled with two shattered legs.]
As for me, I reclaimed my life and identity.]
I learned that depending on others for happiness was a fool’s game.
Being single felt empowering–no disappointments, no betrayals, just pure freedom and clarity.
A woman didn’t need a man to shine; she could thrive independently with grace.
Self–love was the greatest romance of all
Lo
