"You've really crossed the line, you crude thing. Apologize to Serena right now, and someone stop her."
I gripped my suitcase and looked at Kevin. His face was thunderous as he helped Serena up.
"Kevin, tell them to move!"
"Didn't you hear what my mom said?"
Serena nestled into his arms with the posture of a winner. He didn't see anything wrong with it. Meanwhile I—the wife who'd just married him—stood there like the outsider.
"What if I don't?"
"Then behave and be a good Mrs. James."
He thought this was just me throwing a tantrum to scare him.
"I'm sorry, Miss Simmons. I shouldn't have pushed you. It was my fault."
I bowed to her sincerely, and everyone froze. Usually I was proud—untouchable. If something wasn't my fault, I never backed down.
But I memorized everything that happened today. One day, I'd make them pay it all back.
Only after I left did they snap out of it.
"I'm sorry, this is all my fault. I'll go after Rachel."
"Don't bother. You've spoiled her rotten. Without our family, she's nothing. Reckless little thing."
Kevin didn't care either. He was certain I'd come crawling back by morning. Our fights never lasted more than twelve hours. Why would this time be different?
Serena wanted to stay longer, but for once, he told her to go home. Said it was "inconvenient." She added that to her list of grievances against me.
The next day, Kevin checked his phone. Nothing from me. When he got to the office and found out I'd taken leave, his mood soured further.
"Did she get my approval for this?"
"Director Gilbert is using her annual leave, sir."
He called me. Straight to voicemail. Every time. He decided I'd gotten too bold for my own good.
I returned to the company a week later. I'd always kept work and personal matters separate. Kevin had wronged me, but that wouldn't affect my professionalism.
"Director, your position…"
I pushed open the door and found Serena at my desk, posing and snapping photos like she owned the place.
"Get out."
"Oh, Rachel, sorry." She didn't look sorry at all. "Since you abandoned your post, Kevin asked me to fill in. You don't need to come anymore."
I almost laughed. Had Kevin forgotten who secured half his projects? Some deals even the James family couldn't land—especially the ones in the Tri-State region.
"I'll say it once more. Get the hell out."
"Kevin, maybe I should go…"
"The one leaving is her, not you." He appeared in the doorway. "Since you didn't want to come back, someone had to take your place. I don't need employees who throw tantrums."
I didn't argue. I grabbed my things and headed for the door.
"Admit you were wrong, and I'll let you stay."
"Mr. James." I turned, cardboard box in my arms, and met his eyes. "What exactly did I do wrong?"
He went quiet. Because he couldn't answer. He kept saying I was wrong, wrong, wrong—but the joke was, I'd done nothing wrong at all.
"Think carefully. If you really want to cut ties with me, you'll be labeled a discarded wife. You'll never hold your head up in this circle again."
In their circle, I'd never been able to hold my head up. To them, I was already a joke. Just because I smiled through it didn't mean I was deaf to what they said behind my back.
I used to think brushing it off was enough. But I realized now—these people just wanted to watch me humiliate myself.
Fine then. I'd make them the joke instead.
Kevin didn't expect me to be this resolute. But there was no way he'd lower himself to reconcile either.
He was far too proud for that.
