Chapter 3Dead Wife Walking

Caleb didn't let me finish. He jumped up, screaming.

"Julian, are you crazy?! Spreading rumors that your wife is dead? Do you have no conscience?"

I had hesitated to get physical because I watched this kid grow up.

But he was trashing my party, screaming and dancing around. Even Sophia couldn't take it anymore.

She gripped my arm, warning Caleb.

"Get out, or I'm calling security."

Caleb turned his sneer on Sophia.

"Julian, you're so brazen with your mistress. You're done!"

"I'll have the Rhodes family kick you out tomorrow!"

At this point, I felt a mix of certainty that he was insane and a sliver of pity.

Whoever's pregnancy test he was holding, I felt obligated to show him reality.

"Since you insist, why don't you come with me to see Ava? Then you'll know I'm not lying."

Caleb followed me, still bragging.

"Hmph, wait until you see Ava. You'll see how much she loves me!"

I looked at him with pity and asked Sophia to arrange the cars.

Soon, two luxury sedans pulled up to the hotel entrance.

Many guests, driven by curiosity, followed us in their own cars.

When we stopped, the driver opened the door for Caleb.

Caleb took off his sunglasses and started yelling.

"Julian! Why did you bring me to a cemetery? What are you trying to do?"

"Don't panic. Just follow me."

I guided Caleb forward a few steps and stopped in front of a headstone.

"Take a good look. Whose grave is this?"

Caleb glanced at the name on the stone and laughed loudly.

"Julian, I admit you're committed to the bit. Faking a grave to avoid divorce?"

"But let me tell you, it's useless."

"No matter how much you lie about Ava being dead, you can't deny she's the mother of my child."

Caleb seemed to lose patience, issuing his final ultimatum.

"If you initiate the divorce now, I can ask Ava to leave you a few grand."

"Keep this up, and you'll end up miserable."

Even my typically calm girlfriend laughed in disbelief.

She pulled out her phone, turned on the flashlight, and shone it on the tombstone.

"Caleb, look closely at the photo. Is this the woman you spent Valentine's Day with?"

Caleb stared at the photo on the granite.

After a few seconds of silence, he pointed an accusing finger at me.

"Julian Thorne, you are heartless."

"To put on a show, you even printed your wife's photo on a tombstone!"

He refused to give up, continuing his tantrum in the quiet cemetery.