A Decade of Misplaced Devotion Chapter 08
Vernon continued, “If you’re still sore, we’ll let you have your fun on the side. Open marriages are all the
rage these days, right?”
His shameless bullshit made me laugh in disbelief. I didn’t even bother responding. Instead, I announced to the room, “My wedding with Lynn is next door. Anyone interested is welcome to join and offer blessings. But if you’re there to cause trouble, don’t blame me for not holding back.”
I took Lynn’s hand and headed for our venue.
Stella, ignoring her swelling cheek, hiked up her gown and chased after us. “Matteo, wait! Who said you could marry that woman? I am your bride. You promised me forever!”
She jabbed a finger at me, playing the victim. I only gave her a cold shoulder. “Go away!”
“I wasn’t serious with Laurent,” she pleaded. “I never meant to marry him. He told me this was a way to test your true feelings for me, and I foolishly believed him.”
She turned and grabbed Laurent, demanding sharply, “Explain it to Matteo now, or I’ll make sure you
can’t survive in this city!”
It was the first time I’d seen her snap at Laurent like that. His face flushed with humiliation, but he bit his tongue, not daring to shoot back. He could only look daggers at me.
“Don’t bother,” I said indifferently. “Every word out of your mouth just makes me sicker. Using cheating to test my love? Only you could come up with such a pathetic excuse!”
She desperately shook her head. “No, it’s not like that. I love you for real. I’m sorry for going too far this time, but I’ll make it up to you. From now on, it will be you and you only.”
She reached for my arm, but I recoiled like she’d got the plague, dragging Lynn clear. My disgust was plain as day. “Stay away from me! You’re filthy! Go play house with your kept boy; you’ve got a kid on the
way.”
Laurent seized the moment, tugging Stella’s hand and whining like always, “Stella, why beg this ungrateful jerk? Let’s just go back and finish our…”
His words were cut off by a loud slap. A clear handprint bloomed on his right cheek.
Stella glared at him with pure venom. “Shut your trap! None of this would’ve happened without you. That kid in my womb is a total mistake. I’m terminating it right after this.”
Laurent bristled. “Mistake? Don’t forget, you’re the one who called Matteo boring and said you were fed up with him. And who snuck into my bed at 2 a.m., desperate and lonely?”
