Chapter 7
At 30, Riley looked me in the eye and said, “I’ve been done with you for a long time.”
Even though I’d braced myself for this, his words still cut deep, sharp as a knife. Looking back, I remembered how Riley’s mother had cheated, caught in the act. Riley had chased after her, sobbing, only to witness her die in a car accident right before his eyes.
After that, his father wanted nothing to do with him–saw him as tainted goods.
I was the only one who stayed by his side all these years. He used to tell me, “My parents‘ marriage was a disaster. That’s why I can’t accept any flaws in my own relationship. I would never allow myself to betray or be unfaithful. When I choose you, it’s only you.”
But now, Riley had become a shadow of his mother, choosing infidelity for the thrill of something new, betraying our marriage, and still trying to blame it all on me.
But I’m not his father. I’m not taking the fall for this.
I told Riley, “If that’s how you feel, then I’ll give you what you want.”
I wasn’t going to beg him to stay.
“As long as you sign the papers, you’re free.”
Seeing Riley hesitate, Jasmine immediately tried to stir things up. “Riley,
if you don’t want to, you don’t have to.”
Then she turned to me, suddenly dropping to her knees.
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“Alora, it’s all my fault. Please forgive Riley! If you have to blame someone, blame me.”
I saw right through Jasmine’s little act and let out a cold laugh.
“Sorry, I’m not a dumpster. I don’t take in everyone’s trash.”
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People nearby were livestreaming the whole scene. When they heard me someone blurted out, “Damn! Alora’s a badass!”
Another laughed, “Seriously, did that fake sweetheart think she could play the victim and come out looking good? Alora’s not buying it!”
“Why’s that loser still hesitating?”
“Is he really trying to have it both ways?”
Nicole watched Riley with a calm, almost amused look. “If you still have any backbone left, sign now and end it clean. Otherwise, you’ll lose even the last shred of dignity you have.”
To Riley, everything we had built together was community property. He picked up the divorce agreement, reading it closely, then glared at me, eyes red with anger.
“Why?! j
“Why do I only get 10% of the shares?!”
Riley finally dropped the act.
Oddly, I felt relieved. I pulled out an old recording, notarized years ago, and tossed it in front of him.
20–year–old Riley, proposing to me, had insisted everyone–including the lawyers–witness it.
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“I, Riley Huxford, if I ever wrong Alora Darnell, I’ll leave with nothing. I willingly give all my assets to Alora—she’ll own everything!”
I looked down at him from where I stood.
“Ten percent is for the Riley I loved when I was 18. From today on,” I said coldly, “we’re even.“.
Eighteen–year–old Riley–when my stepfather tried to hurt me again, he’d thrown himself at the man, fighting him off and leaving him badly injured.
My stepfather swore he’d make Riley pay, but Riley just told me, “Alora, from now on, you never have to be afraid again.”
Now, I watched Riley’s expression shift and twist.
Finally, maybe remembering the past, he picked up the pen and asked one
last time.
“Are you sure about this?”
I didn’t answer.
He signed his name in the space for the husband, then looked up at me.
“Happy now?
“Alora, after 12 years–are you satisfied?”
I looked at Riley, on the verge of tears, and honestly, I couldn’t understand what he had to cry about. When I first learned of his betrayal, I even lied to myself.
Maybe Riley had just lost his way. Maybe I wasn’t good enough–that’s why he strayed.
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Maybe it wasn’t Riley’s fault.
Maybe it was mine.
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But then I saw Riley flaunting his love for Jasmine in public, ignoring his friends‘ advice, insisting on being with her, even willing to accept that Jasmine had a son nearly his own age.
That’s when I knew.
I was wrong.
Riley had changed long ago, and I shouldn’t keep standing still. I needed to move forward–at the very least, I couldn’t keep dragging things out.
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