Chapter 4

Curled up on the couch in Lexi’s apartment, I sipped the hot takeout soup she handed me, which gradually eased the violent cramping in my stomach.

"So much for treating me to a fancy dinner. We ended up back at my place eating takeout soup," Lexi teased, shaking her head.

I didn't answer. I just stared blankly into the cup, taking small, silent sips.

"What happened to you?" Lexi’s tone grew concerned. "Making principal is an incredible milestone. Why do you look like your soul’s been sucked out?"

She leaned in, searching my face. "Did someone hurt you? Joy, tell me who messed with you and I'll go beat their ass. Don't be like this, you're scaring me."

I set the soup down on the coffee table. The dam broke, and I collapsed into her arms, sobbing uncontrollably.

When my tears finally ran dry, my throat was so swollen and hoarse I couldn't string together a single coherent sentence.

All I could do was unlock my phone and play the shaky video of them kissing in the garage, handing it over to Lexi.

The footage was erratic, but anyone who knew Jordan could instantly tell it was him.

"Holy fucking shit! That piece of garbage dared to cheat on you?!"

Lexi completely exploded, springing up from the sofa. "I am going to break his damn neck!"

She paced the living room, fuming. "You really never can judge a book by its cover! I actually thought he was one of the good ones—turns out he’s just another sleazebag! We shouldn't have driven back here. We should have marched right into that restaurant, caught them red-handed, and exposed those shameless bastards to the entire world!"

I only shook my head weakly.

"Hey..." Sitting back down, she gently rubbed my back. "What are you planning to do? Once a cheater, always a cheater. You know I have zero tolerance for this kind of bullshit."

"If you want to cut ties with this scumbag, just say the word. I’ll make sure that two-timing asshole and his side piece pay dearly for this!" Lexi’s knuckles popped as she clenched her fists.

"Why, Lexi? Nine whole years..." I choked out, tears burning my eyes again. "Why did he do this? If he stopped loving me, why didn't he just tell me? I wouldn't have clung to him... Why did he have to do it like this? Why...?"

"Lexi, my heart hurts so badly... My stomach, my head... My whole body feels broken."

Muffled by exhaustion and grief, I eventually drifted into a restless sleep.

The following morning, loud voices woke me up.

With swollen, stinging eyes and a heavy head, I stumbled out of the bedroom.

Jordan was sitting on Lexi’s sofa, wearing the exact same clothes from yesterday, looking disheveled and miserable while taking the brunt of Lexi's fiery rage.

The moment he saw me, he shot to his feet and moved to support me.

Lexi planted herself firmly between us. "Stay the hell away from her, you piece of trash."

"Joy... I..."

I looked at him. His eyes were wide with desperate guilt and anxiety. "I... When I got home last night, you weren't there. You didn't answer your phone. I was worried sick about you."

"Wipe that hypocritical look off your face. Who do you think you're fooling this early in the morning?" Lexi sneered with utter disgust.

"I saw everything. In the parking garage at The Glass House," I said quietly, looking straight into his eyes. "Do you have anything to say for yourself?"

"I... I can explain! Can we please just go home first, Joy?"

He reached out, trying to grab my hand.

"Go home for what? Say whatever you have to say right here!" Lexi slapped his hand away and pulled me behind her. "I'd love to hear what pathetic excuse you have for cheating on your wife!"

"This is between my wife and me. I’d appreciate it if you stayed out of it," Jordan snapped, his temper flaring.

Before Lexi could unleash another tirade, I gently squeezed her arm.

"I'll go back with him. We need to settle this between the two of us."

"Fine," Lexi said, glaring daggers at Jordan. "Call me if you need anything. If he dares to pull anything on you, I will kick down your front door and drag you out myself."

I gave her a tight hug. "Thank you. I don't know what I'd do without you."

Once we stepped inside our apartment and shut the front door, Jordan dropped straight to his knees before me.

"Joy, I was wrong. I swear to God I was wrong! Hit me, scream at me, do whatever you want—just please, don't leave me!"

"Why?" I looked down at him, tears threatening to spill once again.

"It was an accident at first! I got completely wasted at a business dinner, and she took me back to a hotel... Joy, I swear on my life, it was an accident!"

He gripped my hands tightly, his eyes pleading for me to believe his lies.

"Jordan," I whispered, my voice raw and rasping from crying all night. "A man who's truly dead drunk can't even get it up."