Vanessa's POV
Valerie pulled away from our little fake moment when her phone buzzed.
"Oh, look. Clarissa's calling. Wanna hear what we’re plotting next?" she sneered, holding her phone up and tapping the speaker like it was a show.
"Hey, Clarissa! Guess what? I'm officially the new manager at Scott’s office."
"Finally! Took long enough. After that stunt we pulled at my party, I knew you'd land the spot. Honestly, I’m rooting for you and Scott. Vanessa’s been a damn leech in his life forever. Time to get rid of her for good."
"Talk soon, babe," Valerie ended the call with a sickeningly sweet tone.
It all clicked. The party disaster. The whispers. It was all them. Planned from the start. I was their damn target.
I clenched my fists, not wanting to get into much more with Valerie. I got up from my seat and prepared to leave this place.
"Where are you going? Want to cry about all this to Scott? Do you think he'll believe you?" Valerie held my arm, holding me back.
I brushed it off, so tight this time that she was startled.
“Oh, you want to challenge me?"
Valerie smiled at me. She held her phone and turned it, then threw it down tight.
"Vanessa! What are you doing? Don't smash my phone!" Then she crouched down and picked up a fist-sized stone.
I tried to do it, but losing quickly, Valerie consciously hit herself with the stone on the temple until it was bruised and injured.
I was horrified at her recklessness. She also scratched her arm until there were reddened scratch marks.
"Enough, Vanessa! You want to kill me?" Valerie shouted.
"What are you doing? I didn't hurt you!"
I tried to grab it, and she let go this time, but after that, she crouched down and covered her head.
"Forgive me, Vanessa, I never influenced Scott to be mad at you."
I was silent long enough for the sound of footsteps to come to us.
"What have you done, Vanessa? You hurt Valerie again?" Scott came, followed by a staff member.
He confronted me and slapped me with a strong force. I've got to take a few steps back. The heat in my cheeks coupled with the heartache that attacked my inner self.
He took the stone from my hand and handed it over to his staff. "Keep this well, for evidence of molestation."
The staff nodded and left us.
Scott, with his cold face and red eyes, looked at me with anger. "Do you feel superior to think you have the right to hurt the people I love?"
"Do you believe I did all this?"
"Why not? You don't like Valerie. You will do anything for revenge."
Scott's words this time were not held back at all. He admitted it. He no longer felt compelled to lie.
Valerie hugged Scott and cried, her tears feeling fake to me. She flashed me a sly smile.
"I just wanted to have a heart-to-heart talk with Vanessa, but she was busy instead. She said I had you. She also attacked me. It's a good thing you came, I was so scared, Honey. I was traumatized. Vanessa lost her mind."
"Are you lying again, Valerie? I have absolutely no intention of doing anything to you! You're the one who lost your mind and hurt yourself!"
"Enough!" Scott roared.
"You are cunning, Vanessa. I never thought that behind your innocent face, you are a rude person. If you don't want our relationship to continue, then get out of here. I don't want to see you again, Vanessa! I hate you!" Scott hugged Valerie tighter and kissed her injured forehead. Then he carried her and left me alone.
* * *
It didn’t take long to snap out of it. Who was I kidding? This marriage was a lie from day one
I left the office heading home. I prepared my suitcase and put the divorce papers in the file. I didn't ask for Scott's signature. He already stepped on my pride and kicked me out. I will grant it, but before that, I have to defend my pride.
Tomorrow is Scott's office's birthday. A massive party will be held and attended by all the staff, business colleagues, and his friends. I will give him the last present.
I started recording myself. And said everything on the recording. The beginning of the meeting, the wedding, the pretense of fake status that I had to obey, and lastly, the humiliation and betrayal I received from him and Valerie.
I put the divorce papers on the bed.
When I was done, I booked a plane ticket heading to my hometown. I was going back home. I wanted to hug my mom and dad. I needed peace.
After everything was done in this house, I handed the footage to my trusted staff. I asked her to put this video up as an opening at Scott's office birthday event.
I spent the night at the hotel. In the afternoon, I went straight to the airport. Along the way, I waited for the staff to send video evidence that had been played along with people's expressions to see the reality that I proved completely.
I got it and could smile contentedly throughout the journey.
When I reached the airport, a barrage of messages and several calls from Scott came insistently, almost blowing up my phone.
I didn't answer any, I just read it and turned off my phone.
"Goodbye, Scott. Let's never meet again.”
