Skip to content
Novel Catalog
Chapter_87
A Re–Enactment
The recording played on, its voices crystal clear without any background noise, recounting every detail of the scene that had unfolded inside the bar. Melanie’s laughter rang through the office, sharp and triumphant, as her words grew louder and more insidious with each passing moment. Every syllable of her voice seemed to claw at the air, pulling everyone’s attention fully onto her.
I focused solely on Matthew’s face, watching his expression as the recording played. The initial disbelief in his eyes was slowly replaced by discomfort and guilt. As the recording continued, the words spoken by Melanie became unbearable, their impact deepening with each phrase. Although I had already known the contents, hearing them again sent a shiver of disgust through me, and a sense of heartbreak I could no longer suppress. Tears began to spill down my face.
Suddenly, Melanie’s voice broke through the tension, her anger palpable. “You set me up, Chloe! I’m going to kill you!” she screamed, her shock quickly transforming into venomous retaliation.
But Ivanna was prepared for this. With one swift motion, she kicked Melanie, sending her crashing into the couch. Melanie’s fury flared as she scrambled to her feet, her eyes bloodshot with rage. In a frantic, desperate move, she grabbed an ashtray from the nearby table and hurled it at me.
I turned just in time to avoid the projectile, but the crystal ashtray collided with the floor, shattering into jagged pieces. The sound of glass shattering echoed in the silence that followed. Everyone in the room froze, their gasps of shock hanging in the air.
Matthew, his gaze fixed on me, gulped as though he could no longer bear the weight of the situation. He avoided looking me in the eye, his guilt now undeniable. After a brief, tense moment, he stepped forward and reached for my phone, trying to stop the recording.
But I was ready. I snatched the phone away just in time, stepping back with a defiant look. Ivanna stood protectively in front of me, her presence a barrier between us.
“What? Was that too much for you?” I asked, my voice rising in frustration. I yelled like a madwoman, and the room fell back into stunned silence. “Keep listening!”
The recording continued, and even through the distorted sounds of my struggles and desperate cries for help, I couldn’t bring myself to stop it. The pain of hearing my own voice in that moment was almost unbearable, and I couldn’t suppress my sobs.
I turned to Matthew, asking through my tears, “What else… can you say to defend her?” My voice trembled as I addressed Henry. “Do you still think I was being unreasonable? Do you still believe the apple doesn’t fall far from the tree? You’ve taught them so well that they ended up in bed together. Do you think that’s my fault?”
Before I could process the weight of my own words, Melanie rushed at me, screaming. “I’ll kill you, bitch! How dare you set me up!”
Johnson stepped forward, holding her back as best as he could. “Ms. Melanie, please calm down. Everyone, relax.”
But Melanie wasn’t done. “Matt, you’ll just stand by while she does this? The man who carried her away was Atlas, the guy from ATL Empire!” She shouted, her voice thick with venom.
“Smash her phone!” she shrieked.
As if on cue, Matthew lunged at me once again, reaching for my phone. This time, I dodged his grasp, my fury burning brighter. But he didn’t stop. With a burst of strength, he pushed past Ivanna, grabbed my arm, and yanked me toward him in an attempt to snatch the phone from my hands.
Ivanna didn’t hesitate. She struck Matthew across the face with a sharp slap, yelling, “What are you trying to do, scumbag?!”
Matthew froze, a stunned look spreading across his face. I broke free from his grip and glared at him, the anger I had been holding back now fully unleashed.
“Don’t look at me like that,” I spat, the words full of raw emotion. “Don’t you know she caused all of this? She provoked me into discovering your affair. I’m grateful to Melanie for sending me those photos.”
I pulled my phone out once again, showing the damning pictures to Henry and Grace. “Look. Here’s your son and daughter.” I turned to Matthew, showing him the photos. “Matthew, take a good look. Melanie asked me if they looked good. What do you think?”
Matthew paled as if the weight of his actions finally hit him. He collapsed onto the couch, burying his head in his hands, unable to face the consequences of what had been revealed.
Johnson stood there, speechless, his disbelief evident as he watched everything unfold.
But Melanie, still seething with rage, broke free from Johnson’s hold. “What about you and that Atlas guy?!” she yelled, her voice filled with fury. “Can you say you two didn’t do anything?!”