He had never looked at me like that.
I smiled at the reunion of the two lovebirds.
The woman next to me leaned over and said,
“Whitney, if I were you, I’d want to disappear. Why are you getting in the middle of them?”
HIGH
I nodded in agreement and clapped loudly,
drawing everyone’s attention.
<
“Congratulations! I wish you a happy reunion,
a perfect match, and lots of kids!”
They realized I was still at the table, still
Chadwick’s legal wife.
Charlotte looked upset and stood up to raise
her glass to me.
“I’m sorry, Whitney. I forgot you were at the
table. Chadwick and I are in the past. Don’t worry about it. I apologize. This drink is for
you!”
She was about to drink it all, but Chadwick
stopped her and comforted her.
“Charlotte, you’ve already had so much to
drink. Don’t drink anymore. It’s just a game,
there’s no need to apologize!”
He looked at me.
“Whitney, it’s just a game. You’re not going to
be upset, right?”
I didn’t answer Chadwick. I smiled at
Charlotte.
“The Grille Hotel is upstairs. Should I book a
room for you? Consider it a gift from me. Oh,
and I’ll tell you a secret.”
“Chadwick likes cowgirl, I hope you have fun
tonight!”
Ryan, acting as Chadwick’s mouthpiece,
immediately started his performance.
He grabbed a nearby glass and threw it at
- “Whitney, watch your mouth!”
The glass shattered on the floor.
Charlotte rushed to smooth things over.
“Whitney, don’t misunderstand! Chadwick and
I are just friends!”
She always said that, trying to provoke me
into arguing with Chadwick, then stepping in
to comfort him and play the victim.
I casually replied, “Of course. Friends share
hotel rooms.”
Chadwick’s expression darkened.
“How many times do I have to tell you,
Charlotte and I aren’t like that!”
“You’re always imagining things. Why do you
have to make things so awkward? I’m
embarrassed to be seen with you!”
“Apologize to Charlotte and everyone else,
and I’ll forget about it.”
I looked at Chadwick and asked, “What right do you have to demand anything from me?
Ex-husband?”
The room froze for a moment.
Charlotte’s eyes darted around, and a sneer
played on her lips.
“Whitney, are you still mad about the Empire
State Building thing?”
I knew she was trying to make me look like a
fool.
“Whitney, if you’re really upset, I apologize. I
really didn’t know beforehand. It was just a
welcome party, and I didn’t know it was your
fifth anniversary.”
Chadwick took a deep breath, barely
suppressing his anger.
“Whitney, stop it! Are you trying to blackmail
me with a divorce? Charlotte apologized!
Don’t be so ungrateful!”
“Yeah, yeah.”
“Just apologize and let it go. Don’t ruin our
fun.”
A few people chimed in, putting all the blame
on me.
I wiped my mouth, stood up, and walked out.
“Whitney, stop!”
“You weren’t home on our anniversary, either! Why are you blaming me? Wasn’t it because your dad was in the hospital and you asked me for money? I gave it to you, didn’t I?”
I paused, hearing Chadwick’s sneer.
He took out a card and slammed it on the
table.
“You want money? Here’s a million dollars for
surgery! Apologize to Charlotte!”
I turned around and stared at Chadwick.
“It’s your dad in the hospital, not mine.”
I walked out of the room, got in my car, and
drove around aimlessly.
I didn’t understand why Chadwick was
dragging his feet when signing the divorce
papers would be easy for him.
It would even make everyone happy. There
was no reason for him to delay it.
I had thought he would sign it, announce it at
the party, and let his friends make fun of me
while they congratulated him and Charlotte.
If he just signed it, I would be free.
I was used to people talking about me.
I drove home, showered, and opened my
social media.
The first thing I saw was Charlotte’s post..
Chadwick was drunk, and Charlotte was
holding him close.
She wrote, “Good night, my prince.”
I didn’t react at all.
