"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."
