Chapter 20 – Falling Apart
The liquor burned my throat, but I didn’t stop drinking.
I sat on the living room floor with a bottle in one hand and my tie undone. The television was on but the sound was low. I didn’t care what was playing. Nothing made sense anymore.
My marriage was a joke. My company was slipping through my fingers. Gwen… Gwen was gone and I hadn’t heard her voice in weeks.
And somehow, it hurt more today than it did yesterday.
The door creaked open, and Cara walked in. She looked tired. Pale. Her bump was growing fast and her dress looked tight around the waist.
“Jack,” she said, standing in front of me. “I have a checkup. You said you’d come with me.”
I took another gulp of whiskey and leaned my head back against the couch.
“I’m not going.”
Her eyes narrowed. “You promised.”
“I don’t care,” I said flatly. “Take the driver.”
Cara folded her arms. “Of course. The great Jack Velcro can’t lift a finger now that everything’s not about him.”
I didn’t answer.
She laughed bitterly. “Fine. Sit there and rot. I’ll take myself.”
The door slammed as she left.
I sat there, still and drunk, until I heard small footsteps behind me.
“Daddy?” David’s voice was soft. “Can I play with you?”
He came closer, clutching his toy truck. His face was hopeful, smiling like he didn’t know the world was crumbling.
“Not now, David,” I mumbled.
He reached for my sleeve.
“Play with me, Daddy-”
I shoved him away too fast.
He fell back, landing on his side with a yelp. David’s lips trembled. Then he started crying.
Before I could move, my mother came rushing in. She scooped David up and shot me a deadly glare.
“What the hell is wrong with you?” she snapped.
“I didn’t mean to-” I started, rubbing my face.
“You shoved your own son! Because you’re sitting here wallowing in self-pity like a coward?”
“I’ve lost everything,” I said, my voice cracking. “The company’s dying. Gwen’s gone. I married the wrong woman. I don’t even know who I am anymore.”
My mother shook her head.
“Poor Jack,” she mocked. “You destroyed a woman, betrayed her, tortured her-and now you want sympathy because it hurts?”
She walked off with David, still crying in her arms.
I slumped back down, the room spinning.
I reached for the remote and turned up the TV, hoping to drown everything out.
That’s when I saw it.
BREAKING NEWS: Matt Kingston Steps Down As CEO Amidst Scandal
I sat up slowly, eyes narrowing.
The reporter’s voice continued.
“This morning, tech mogul Matt Kingston was arrested following the leak of a signed confession tying him to the abduction and assault of the ex-wife of Jack Velcro, Gwen Lyndon. Sources say an anonymous woman has purchased a controlling interest in Kingston Tech and is now the new CEO. While her identity hasn’t been officially confirmed, speculation suggests Gwen Lyndor herself may be behind the takeover.”
I dropped the bottle.
My heart stopped. My breath froze.
“What?” my mother asked, walking back into the room. “What did they say?”
I didn’t answer.
Gwen.
Gwen did this.
I stood up fast, nearly tripping over the empty glass on the floor. My head pounded from the alcohol, but I didn’t care. I grabbed my keys and stormed out the front door.
The police station smelled like sweat and anger. Reporters were already swarming outside, waiting to catch a glimpse of Matt.
barged through the hallway just as he stepped out of the holding area, face tight, lips cracked, suit rumpled.
‘Matt!” I called out.
He turned-then punched me hard.
Pain exploded across my jaw. I stumbled back, tasting blood.
“You bastard!” he shouted. “You ruined me!”
“What the hell are you talking about?” I yelled, shoving him back.
“You brought her back!” he roared. “You made her into this! I warned you-your ex-wife is out for blood!”
“You sold her out just like I did,” I said. “We’re both guilty.”
He pushed me again. “Yeah, but I lost my company. I was arrested! My name is everywhere. My
213 21.9%
wife’s divorcing me. My investors are gone.”
“Why is she doing this?” I asked, chest heaving. “Why now?”
Matt’s eyes were wild. “Because you pushed her too far. You made her something else. You didn’t just lose her, Jack-you created your own fucking enemy.”
I froze.
He stepped forward and grabbed my shirt.
“She owns my company, Jack,” he said. “She’s coming for yours next.”
I stared at him, stunned.
“No,” I whispered.
“Oh, yes,” he hissed. “She’s dangerous now. You wanted to ruin her? Well guess what-sh survived. And now she’s back to ruin you.”
Iran.
drove straight to Kingston Tech. I ran through the lobby, shoved past security, and reached th executive floor, breath short and heart racing.
“Where’s Gwen?” I demanded.
The receptionist looked up from her desk.
‘She left ten minutes ago, sir.”
turned to leave when my phone rang.
t was my secretary.
Jack…” her voice was shaky. “You need to come back to the office immediately.”
“What is it now?” I barked.
There was a long pause.
“You’ve been voted out as CEO.”
stopped breathing.
‘What?”
“The board held an emergency vote. It was unanimous. You’ve been removed. Effectiv
mmediately.”
I hung up. The silence in the hallway pressed into my ears. Gwen had taken Matt’s company.
Everything was slipping. I leaned against the wall, chest heaving.
She wasn’t the same Gwen anymore.
And for the first time in my life… I was afraid of her.
