Chapter 8
I didn’t stick around to hear her hiss out another word. I turned to leave. Neil looked like he wanted to say something, but Rowina grabbed his arm like a vice. “Don’t go after her! Cece is still in the hospital. Now that you’re divorced from that woman, marry Cece immediately!”
“Just stay out of it!” Neil snapped, yanking his arm free. Whatever meltdown happened between them after that? Not my problem anymore.
What did surprise me, though, was how fast Neil managed to pull himself together.
Rowina sold off their old estate and even liquidated some of her precious jewelry, scrambling to keep them afloat. But the damage had been done. The Schmidt family had lost its footing, and there was no catching up.
Neil and Cecelia ended up together–unofficially, at least. She took my place, though it wasn’t the upgrade she’d probably imagined. I glanced at her latest social media posts. She was still at it, curating the illusion. From the outside, she looked… okay, I guess.
Two months later, I found myself at a banquet with my dad. And because the universe loves its awkward moments, Neil and Cecelia were there too.
Two months had done wonders for me. I’d only grown more confident, more radiant–like I was finally breathing again. Neil, though? He looked like a ghost of himself–quiet, worn down, as if a shadow had settled over him that wouldn’t budge.
Cecelia stood beside him, but the shine was gone. Her face was pale, her frame fragile, like the weight of holding onto Neil had taken its toll. She’d spent months in and out of hospitals trying to keep her pregnancy intact, and it showed.
When she spotted me, I caught the flash of venom in her eyes. It didn’t take long for her to snake her way over, waiting until no one else was watching.
“Angela, you’ve really outdone yourself,” she hissed. “I actually thought you and Neil were in love. Turns out you were just setting me up.
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Chapoor B
“You took everything from him, and now I’m the one suffering!
+25 Bonus
“You’re heartless. You tricked Neil, and I heard about all the male models you’ve been with
since the divorce. You’re nothing but a cheap, loose woman!”
I looked at her with mild contempt. “This is the price of betraying a marriage, isn’t it? Though I should thank you. Every smug little photo you posted gave me all the evidence I needed.”
Her face twisted, blotchy with anger. “You-! It doesn’t matter. I’m the one by his side
now!!!
“Is that so?” My voice was ice. “Then you’d better hold onto that spot. A baby bump doesn’t exactly make you appealing–least of all to someone like Neil.”
He cheated once. What’s stopping him from doing it again? Or a third time?
Cecelia froze, her eyes wide as she clutched her belly like she was about to start some over-
the–top scene.
Before she could open her mouth, I grabbed her chin. “Don’t you dare try any tricks on
me.”
The steel in my voice made her flinch. I let go, pushing her aside just as Neil appeared.
“What’s going on?” he asked.
Tears instantly welled up in Cecelia’s eyes. “Neil, my stomach hurts… It’s not her fault–1 just couldn’t resist coming over to say hello.”
I laughed, sharp and mocking. “Mr. Schmidt, maybe you shouldn’t parade your mistress around in public. And perhaps remind her not to provoke me. I can’t guarantee I won’t lose my patience.”
I flicked a glance at her belly. Neil’s face hardened as he turned to her. “What nonsense is this?”
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Cecelia’s voice trembled. “Neil, I swear I only wanted to apologize!”
I pulled out my phone and hit play. Her voice echoed through the speaker–sharp, spiteful,
undeniable. The color drained from her face.
“Save the act for someone else,” I said, sliding the phone back into my clutch. “It’s pathetic. Neil, I guess this is the best your judgment can do.”
I didn’t wait for his response. I turned and walked away.
Neil’s face darkened, and that was the last I saw of Cecelia that night. Word spread later that he’d kicked her out.
I spent the rest of the banquet mingling alongside my dad. People couldn’t stop coming up to talk to me–curious, polite, and just a little nosy. Divorced, holding Neil’s fortune, and standing firmly on my own? I was officially on their radar, part of the ranks of the wealthy
now.
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