Chapter 7
I looked at Raymond’s face. It looked like he was about to cry.
Honestly, I didn’t understand why he was the one crying.
When I first found out he cheated, I tried to convince myself that maybe it was just a one–time slip. Maybe I’d done something wrong that pushed. him away.
I thought it was on me, not him.
But then I saw him all over Minnie, acting lovey–dovey in public and ignoring his friends when they tried to talk sense into him. He even threw away his morals just to sleep with her.
That was when I realized it was on him.
He had changed ages ago. I was the one who stayed stuck. It was time to move on. Or at least stop standing still.
After we divorced, my life felt calm again. The company I put money back. into started growing fast.
That was all thanks to Alice–she had my back the whole time.
One day, Alice shared some gossip.
“After what we pulled off, Raymond is completely ruined.”
Someone had live–streamed me catching a mistress. Many people started following me, praising me for my decisiveness and efficiency. Some even said I was the woman others should look up to.
Alice smiled. “You’ve got a ruthless side I didn’t expect. I kind of admire.
it.”
Then, she got serious. “But I know how bad it hurt you.”
Alice knew how much I loved Raymond.
There was a time when he tried to cut corners to make fast money and almost got caught.
Alice helped us out of that mess. She even loaned us money so we could start fresh.
“Whitney, I’ll support whoever you choose, but you must remember this.” She looked at me, dead serious. “Your husband can’t have a criminal record. If he’s ever been in trouble again, you have to break up with him!”
Starting a business with Raymond was brutal. It was so difficult that alcohol was our meal. I ended up in the hospital over ten times with alcohol poisoning.
Since Raymond was allergic to it, I was always the one doing the drinking when we met clients.
He’d stay by my side every time I landed in the hospital, crying with swollen eyes. “Whitney, I’m sorry!” he’d say, slapping himself. “I’m so
useless!”
Eventually, we landed our first real deal, bought a house, and got a car. That studio turned into a company with a thousand employees.
And somewhere along the way, Raymond forgot what it took to get there.
I saw that he had a bad reputation online. Then, I got a call from Lucian. “Whitney, Ray is in the hospital.”
I didn’t say anything.
Chapter 7
Lucian went on, “Minnie’s parents wanted her to study abroad. She didn’t want to, so she ran off to Ray’s place.
“His company is bleeding money. He didn’t want her to suffer, so he tried to be like you to go out drinking to win deals. And now…”
Raymond ended up in the hospital from alcohol poisoning. Instead of helping him, Minnie ran away.
She even stole the 10% shares and cashed them in. No one knew where she was.
The doctor called Lucian, and it seemed that he wanted to be a peacemaker now.
“We’ve seen how you and Ray have been these past ten years. Maybe you could-” Then, Lucian’s girlfriend snapped in the background. “Won’t you feel ashamed to call Whitney? I told you this would happen. Let Raymond die!”
Lucian and his girlfriend started arguing, but I cut in.
“Lucian.”
I knew Raymond was with them. I wasn’t just talking to Lucian–I was talking to him, too,
“I won’t change my decision.
“Cheating won’t just happen once. Once he crosses that line, there’s no going back. I don’t take back trash.”
Then, I hung up.
