His Betrayal: Choosing Her Over Me

"Bang!"

It felt like a sledgehammer spiked with ice had smashed straight into Leia's skull, scattering every thought she had and leaving her drowning in a hazy fog. Her vision swam, and a sharp, searing pain behind her sternum twisted tight around her heart.

Leia Shaw bit down hard on her lower lip, glancing over her shoulder at the woman standing behind her: Piper Cooper. Piper's smile was nothing but a mocking taunt, stripping every last scrap of dignity Leia had left right off her bones.

Julian Shaw—her husband—was tearing into her in front of Piper, and his string of accusations wasn't even close to finished.

"Leia, I always thought you were sensible. My sweetheart—innocent, full of life."

"When you saved Piper, I felt indebted to you. I spoiled you, took care of you, protected you, gave you everything you ever asked for."

"Until yesterday, when I brought up divorce and you agreed without a second thought. I thought you were just being kind, straightforward. But now I see—this whole thing was just a game to win me over."

"You've let me down."

Disappointment dripped from every line of his face, like he'd never known her at all. Every word sliced into her like a sharpened knife. Leia held his gaze in silence, tears tracking hot and heavy down her cheeks.

This was the first time he'd ever shouted at her. The first time he'd ever doubted her. The first time he'd called her two-faced. The first time he'd admitted all his "generosity" was rooted in guilt over another woman.

Her heart felt ripped clean in half as the tears kept falling. After a long, heavy silence, all she asked was, "Are you done?"

Her question was ice-cold, completely empty of any emotion—and it shook Julian to his core.

He stopped talking...

And she laughed a bitter, hollow laugh. "Yeah, that's me. A deceitful fraud."

"I can't stand how she fakes being pitiful in front of you."

"I can't stand watching you two play the happy couple right in front of my face anymore."

"My heart's already broken. Thanks for two years of a cushy life. Thanks for your guilt. But I don't need any of it."

The room went taut with tension as Julian stared at Leia's face, now stamped with nothing but cold indifference.

The ache in his own chest spiked sharp. He regretted losing his temper, regretted the cruel things he'd said.

She kept going. "So everything you gave me, I'll give it all back. No need to keep reminding me what you've done for me."

"I have my dignity. I have my pride."

With that, she turned to leave.

Silence settled over the room again, broken only by Piper's soft, sniffling sobs.

A minute later, Leia walked back in, holding a pen and a blank sheet of paper. Julian's eyes clouded with uncertainty, and a cold fear began to creep up his spine.

Leia had dried her tears, and she held up the divorce papers he'd had her sign days earlier.

Julian frowned. "You..."

A loud ripping sound cut him off.

She shredded the paper into pieces, letting the scraps flutter to the floor like cold, final snowflakes. Her gaze never once left the man standing in front of her.

She smiled—a beautiful, heart-shattering tragic smile.

"You said you supported me for two years? Well, I'm paying you back. Every last thing. This new settlement covers the one point one million, the car, the house you gave me. Is that enough?"

"If it's not, I'll find another way to pay you back."

Julian felt her words like a dozen daggers to the chest, leaving him gasping for air. Behind him, Piper still smiled that quiet, secret smile.

"Leia..."

He whispered it, everything already slipping out of his control, panic climbing up his throat.

Leia waved a dismissive hand, silenting him, then crossed to the desk and started writing.

Piper stood slowly, tears streaking her cheeks, and whispered to Julian, "Julian, I'm so sorry. Leia's just upset. This is all my fault."

Julian glanced at her, irritation sharp in his gaze, but said nothing.

When she finished writing, Leia walked toward them, pale as a sheet.

She handed him the new papers, voice flat and steady. "Sign it. Tomorrow, we finalize this."

Her words left Julian frozen in shock. Piper stood between them, her surprise masking a hidden satisfaction.

"Leia, can't we stop this madness?"

"Madness? Really?"

Julian cast a skeptical glance at the new settlement terms. "We're sticking to the original agreement. This isn't valid."

"It's unnecessary," she stated firmly.

"Leia, you've crossed a line today. I'm giving you an out. You should take it."

Leia's eyes turned to ice, her tone hard as stone. "Will you sign it? If you don't take this chance now, you'll never get another one."

"Julian," Piper's eyes went wide and pleading.

Leia sneered. "In a hurry, Piper?"

"Leia, that's not what I meant. Don't pressure him."

Piper looked the picture of innocence, tears glistening in her big eyes.

Pressure?

Leia almost laughed out loud. Instead, she just stared right at Piper. "Piper, you got what you wanted. Congrats."

"Leia, you've misunderstood..."

Leia cut her off mid-sentence. "Spare me the act."

Her words left Piper's jaw tightening, visibly annoyed.

Leia's voice was ice. "I'm giving you until the count of three to sign. If you don't, the chance is gone forever."

Turmoil churned in Julian's eyes, the tension in his chest growing heavier by the second.

"Three."

"Two."

"One."

"Julian, sign it!" Piper urged, almost hysterical.

Leia sneered again. "Not signing? Fine. You'll never get another shot."

With that, she turned for the door. "And Piper? Since I'm still Julian's wife, this is still my house. By tomorrow, I want you—this outsider—gone."

"Move out now, or I'll see you in court."

She walked out, slamming the door hard behind her.

Julian was stunned by the transformation. This new, cold, unapologetic Leia unsettled him down to his bones.

A flash of anger flickered across Piper's face, gone so fast no one but her would notice. She tucked her hand into Julian's arm and sobbed, "Julian, what do we do now? She's furious, she wants me gone."

"She won't get her way. Go rest, I'll handle this."

He turned and left the room.

Piper snickered quiet under her breath. "Leia, you think you can get rid of me? Not a chance in hell."

Back in her bedroom, Leia closed the door and slid down her back until she hit the floor. The cold hardwood sent a shiver rippling through her, but she just dropped her head forward.

She didn't cry, didn't throw anything. She was eerily calm, like nothing had even happened.

Suddenly, there was a knock on the door, and Julian's voice echoed through the wood.

"Leia, open up. We need to talk."

His voice cracked straight through her carefully built facade. Tears slipped silent down her cheeks as hot anger surged through her veins.

She shouted, cold and sharp. "Go away."

This was the first time she'd ever told him to leave. The first time she'd ever shouted at him.

"Just breathe for a minute. We have to talk," he urged, gentle but firm.

Leia felt completely overwhelmed. All her pent-up frustration threatened to swallow her whole, the pain in her chest tightening until her fists were clenched so hard her nails dug into her palms.

"If you don't open this door, I'm gonna force it open."

She heard the iron determination in his voice, and for a brief second, she hesitated.