After we divorced because he cheated, Jason Gilbert spent a year chasing me.

By year's end, he'd climbed to the top of some "Model Husband" ranking list.

"What man doesn't make mistakes? He admitted he was wrong, he's changed, and he treats you well now—what more do you want?"

"Even if you found someone new, he might not be any better. As long as Jason stays faithful from now on, that should be enough."

Even my best friend said this, worn down by how devoted Jason seemed. She kept pushing me to give him another chance.

So I put on the lace miniskirt he'd once bought me, grabbed my ID, and hid in the back of his car, ready to surprise him.

I don't know how long I waited. I was almost asleep when the car shook. I reached for the party poppers, ready to jump out—

And saw a woman pressed against the window by Jason Gilbert.

They kissed like the world was ending.

I froze. My whole body went cold.

Because I recognized her—Nora Sullivan. My best friend. The same woman who'd spent last night convincing me to remarry him.

…

Outside the window, they devoured each other like animals.

I cracked the window open and heard Nora's voice, teasing and mocking:

"Exciting, isn't it? I worked so hard yesterday getting Claire to take you back. Once you're remarried... can we keep this up?"

"As long as you want," Jason murmured, "we can keep this up forever."

"Mm. The girl next door really does taste better than strangers."

His lips trailed down her neck. Her moans grew louder. Clothes started coming off.

Finally, Jason couldn't wait anymore. He yanked open the back door.

The two of them, drunk on lust, were about to climb in—

I aimed the party popper straight at their faces.

Bang.

Streamers exploded in the air.

Nora screamed and threw herself into Jason's arms.

He stared at me, still in shock, eyes wide:

"Claire? Why are you here?"

I looked at him. Sneered. And hurled the bouquet—the one meant to be his surprise—right at them both.

"Why am I here?"

"Am I ruining your little moment? Is that it?"

My eyes burned as I glared at them:

"Is this fun for you? One of you chases me relentlessly, swearing you'll only love me. The other practically begs me to give him another chance. And all along, you two were fucking behind my back!"

"Playing me like this—does it feel good?"

Jason released Nora's shoulder and stepped toward me, reaching for my hand:

"Claire, let me explain. I can explain everything—"

His face was calm. Too calm.

I pulled out my phone and aimed it at him:

"Fine. Explain. I'd love to hear how the 'Model Husband of the Year' justifies cheating again and again. If this is just who you are, we could've stayed divorced. Why keep coming after me?"

"And now my best friend? If you two are so in love, just be together. Why hide it? Why tell me you want to remarry while sneaking off with her in parking lots?"

The moment Jason saw the camera, his expression hardened.

When I didn't back down, he grabbed my phone and smashed it against the ground.

"I said I'd explain. Do you have to make this ugly?"

The phone hit the floor. The screen shattered, flickered twice, and went black.

Jason visibly relaxed. He turned to me, his tone almost casual:

"I slept with Nora. That doesn't mean I don't love you."

"You're still the one I love most. You're still my Mrs. Gilbert."

"You're the one who thinks it's dirty when I find women outside—so I went to Nora instead."

"I chased you this hard, and you still can't see how I feel? I like to play around, sure, but my love for you is real. I've given you so much face already—can't you try to understand me a little?"

I laughed out loud.

So this was it. He'd finally stopped pretending.

Five years ago, Jason fell for me at first sight and pursued me relentlessly. But he wasn't my type. My family situation was complicated, and I didn't want to drag him into it. So I rejected him again and again—and he never blamed me for being cold. He only begged me to look at him one more time.

After countless gestures of goodwill, I finally caved. I agreed to be with him.

I thought I'd found a man who would love me forever. I thought I'd finally have someone to rely on. But one year into our marriage, I caught Jason being inappropriate with Victoria Hartley—the daughter of one of his company's business partners.

The first time I saw their flirtatious messages, I was shaking with anger.

Jason knelt on the floor. "She came onto me. She's a partner's daughter—I couldn't just refuse her outright. I promise I'll shut it down. Even if we lose the deal, I want my wife to feel secure."

I forgave him.

The second time, I went to his office to bring him lunch—and found Lily Monroe, the struggling student I'd been sponsoring, kneeling in front of him.

Again, he had an explanation. She'd thrown herself at him, desperate to take a shortcut. He was just about to turn her down when I walked in. He told me not to make a big deal out of it. It would never happen again.

So I believed him. I knew men like him had no shortage of young women throwing themselves forward. As long as he held firm, that was enough.

But the third time—when I caught him in the act—I found him with his assistant, Megan Price, in our marital bed.

I went back to Victoria and Lily. That's when I learned the truth: Jason had initiated everything.

The divorce battle lasted six months.

After it was finalized, Jason threw himself into winning me back even harder than he'd pursued me the first time. Just days ago, he was on his knees, sobbing, clutching the hem of my dress:

"Claire, without you, my life isn't complete."

"Look—I've deleted every woman from my contacts. Every female employee at the company, young or old, I've transferred them out."

"Look at my phone. The only contacts left are you and your best friend. I kept hers just so I could ask how you've been."

When I saw that his phone only had my number and Nora's, I actually softened.

Now I just found it pathetic.

He'd kept Nora's contact not to check on me—but to make cheating with her more convenient.

Outside women were dirty, so he chose my best friend.

His explanation was revolting.

I said coldly:

"Both of you—get the hell out of my life."

I turned to Jason. "I'm going to expose exactly what kind of 'model husband' you really are."

Then I looked at Nora, still fumbling with her clothes.

"As for you, we're done. I'll be consulting a lawyer about how to divide the account. Everything you've done? I'm posting all of it. You two deserve each other, and I'm going to make sure everyone knows it."

Nora's face went white. She threw herself into Jason's arms.

"Jason, what do we do? She's lost her mind..." She turned to me, tears already spilling. "Claire, let me explain. I'm not trying to steal him from you. You'll still be his wife—I'd never fight you for that. We're best friends. How could I ever hurt you?"

She buried her face against his chest, voice cracking. "That account—we built it together. If you leave, you're basically killing me. You can't do this..."

Nora was a top-tier influencer now. Tens of millions of followers. But the strategy, the content, the planning—all me. She couldn't run a poll without my help. The account was my blood and sweat too, but after this? Was I supposed to swallow my disgust and keep making her money?

I scoffed and bent to grab my phone from where Jason had knocked it.

He kicked it away.

"Enough." His voice was cold. "I chased you for a year. What exactly are you still putting on airs for? This is who I am. If you really loved me, you'd accept that."

He stepped closer. "So I cheated. It's not like I stopped loving you. What more do you want?"

I ignored him and moved toward the phone again.

He grabbed my arm and slammed me against the car.

His fingers dug into my chin, forcing me to meet his bloodshot eyes.

"Claire." His voice dropped. "Yesterday, I acquired the hospital where your brother lives. One call from me, and the power to his room gets cut. How long do you think he'd last? Half an hour? Less?"

I went rigid.

Adam's condition was critical—he survived on machines. If those stopped, he'd suffocate. He couldn't leave that room. Ever. We'd raised each other after our parents died. Jason knew exactly what Adam meant to me.

And he was using that to threaten me.

I lunged forward and sank my teeth into the flesh between his thumb and forefinger.

"Are you even human?"

He didn't flinch. "Who told you this kind of threat works on you?"

He pried my jaw loose, smirking. "Be good, wife. To the outside world, you're still Mrs. Gilbert. We're still the perfect couple."

He pulled out his phone, thumb hovering over the screen.

"But right now? You're going to kneel. Apologize to Nora. Swear you'll keep running her account and keep your mouth shut about us."

I stared at him with pure hatred.

His finger moved toward the call button.

"Wait—" I grabbed his wrist. Then I closed my eyes and dropped to my knees in front of Nora.

"I'm sorry. I shouldn't have threatened you with the account. I'll keep running it. And I won't tell anyone about you and Jason."

Nora's smile spread slow and satisfied.

She bent down and helped me up, voice dripping with sweetness. "Don't be like this, babe. You're my best friend—my only bestie. I just want things to be easier for you." She squeezed my hands. "Don't worry. I'll keep an eye on this scumbag for you. Make sure he doesn't go chasing other women."