My Best Friend Stole My Husband, So I Rewrote My Fate

"Son, that's what happened, right? We're calling the police! We'll throw this tramp in jail!"

The moment those words left his mother's mouth, Roberta's bravado crumbled. Her eyes welled with tears, and she shrank into Clay's arms.

"Enough!"

Clay roared, shielding Roberta with his entire body.

He lifted his head and looked at me through the crowd.

His eyes were dark, impenetrable. Not a flicker of panic. Not a trace of guilt.

"Lydia, let's talk."

The Vance parents cleared everyone out of the room.

Only the three of us remained.

I didn't think there was anything left to say.

All I could think about was why, in this life, I hadn't sent Roberta to prison, hadn't let her rot behind bars. And yet he could still face me like this without an ounce of remorse.

I couldn't tell if what I felt was bitterness or hatred.

I pulled off my wedding ring and tossed it into the trash can.

My voice was flat.

"You made a vow. If you lied to me, we divorce."

"Clay, I'll have the divorce papers drawn up as soon as possible."

"Lydia!"

Clay's voice stopped me from behind.

"I'm not divorcing you."

I spun around, and for the first time, I looked at him with pure hatred.

"Then I'll file for divorce in court!"

"Go ahead and try."

Clay's face was half-swallowed by the dim light, his features blurred and unreadable.

"If you dare file for divorce, I'll cut off your mother's treatment immediately."

"I guarantee that no hospital in this city—no, in the entire country—will take her."

"Clay Vance!"

I clenched my jaw. My whole body trembled uncontrollably.

I must have looked utterly pathetic and powerless, because I saw Roberta break into a gleeful smile.

"Why are you doing this to me?"

"If you love her, just divorce me! You two can be together out in the open! Why do you have to drag me into this?"

I looked at Clay through my tears.

"I already stepped aside for you. I've never done a single thing to wrong you! Why won't you just let me go?"

Clay's voice was cold and detached.

"You haven't wronged me. But you've wronged Roberta."

My eyes went wide.

"When did I ever—"

Clay let out a scornful laugh.

"Every single boyfriend Roberta ever had—didn't you steal them all?"

"You, hiding behind that so-called 'loyalty tester' act, seduced every one of Roberta's boyfriends, slept with them, pushed her into depression until she nearly killed herself!"

"You stole so many of her lovers. It's about time you found out what it feels like to have your own man taken from you."

"And your mother! Do you dare tell everyone what actually caused her brain hemorrhage?"

"Your mother tried to help you steal a man. She showed up at Roberta's wedding and made a scene, and people cursed her until she collapsed. Your mother's lying there half-dead because she deserved it."

My head exploded. I lunged at them on pure instinct.

My palm cracked across Clay's face.

But when I raised my hand again, swinging at Roberta—

Clay shoved me away.

"Enough! Even now, you're still bullying Roberta!"

I wiped my tears and ground out every word through clenched teeth.

"I never did any of that! None of it! Clay Vance! Roberta is the one who stole my boyfriends! She's the one who eloped with my ex at the wedding and sent my mother into a rage until she collapsed!"

"There were witnesses. Every chat log is still on my phone. You can check for yourself—"