Chapter 2My Drunk Husband Called My Best Friend His Wife!

I pulled Marcus to his feet and splashed a glass of water onto his well-maintained face.

"Are you sober now? If you want to make a complete ass of yourself, go home and do it there."

Everyone, fearing I might lose control and attack them both, rushed over to restrain me.

"Stella, calm down."

"Maybe Marcus was just drunk and didn't know what he was saying…"

Hah. They thought too much of me. I never hit people. I just wanted to stop him from humiliating me further.

"You've all been drunk. You know how people act when they're hammered, right?"

They froze, then exchanged knowing glances, falling silent. Their gazes turned to Jade. "You're really something, too. Calling you an ungrateful snake is an understatement. You know what Stella has done for you. Why would you seduce her husband? Have you no shame, Jade? What happened to your heart?"

"Exactly! If it weren't for Stella, you'd still be looking for a job right now."

"Jade, I despise you. You're not a good person."

Faced with universal condemnation, the panic on Jade's face vanished, replaced by a surge of bitter resentment.

This resentment seemed to have festered for years.

She stood up and kicked the table over, her face contorted.

"Shut the hell up, all of you! Stop feeding me that garbage about how 'good' Stella was to me! I'm sick of it!"

"Ever since we were kids, she always outshone me in everything – academics, grades, even family background. She always had the upper hand. I don't need anyone's pity. Her 'help' only made me feel more useless, like she was rubbing my face in my own incompetence."

"What makes you so special, Stella? You're just lucky you were born into a better family. If we'd swapped places, if I'd had your background, you'd know true suffering."

At her words, our other friends immediately burst out in anger. "Bullshit! You think everyone's as sick and twisted as you are?"

"Stella helped us too, but we never felt that way! We were grateful!"

"Exactly! Because we have consciences, unlike you, you animal!"

The shouting was loud. Combined with the water splashed on his face, Marcus sobered up considerably.

But as soon as he cleared his head, he saw everyone taking my side, tearing Jade apart.

Marcus exploded. He stood up straight, shielding Jade.

"Shut up, all of you! This is between my wife, Jade, and me. It's none of your business to lecture us outsiders!"

"I was just drunk! I made a mistake, I thought Jade was…"

I didn't give Marcus a chance to waffle. I threw my phone at him.

"Look at this! A video clip I just pulled from the security footage."

When Marcus saw the video of himself and Jade naked and intertwined, he didn't show shame. Instead, he angrily smashed the phone to the floor.

"Enough! Do you want to scream to the world that you, Stella Brooks, are a cuckold? Can't we just talk about this at home?"

"I wanted to interrogate you two at home! But you were the one acting like a horny dog, clinging to Jade and spilling all your dirty secrets!"

I had never felt such pain and fury. My chest ached as if someone were tearing it open. Every breath was agony.

I couldn't stay there another second. I grabbed my jacket and fled like a coward.

I ended up at a bar, walking down the quiet, cold street, tears brimming in my eyes.

I knew our marriage was over. My best friend and my husband – I wanted neither of them anymore.

It was late when I finally returned to the home that once felt so happy and warm.

But seeing our wedding photo, faded memories, sharp as daggers, ambushed me, leaving me no escape.

I took the wedding photo down and smashed it myself.

The noise was loud. Marcus, wearing a flimsy, sheer nightshirt, rushed out.

"Stella, that's enough!"