“A charity event you’re attending together?” He laughed. “You never attended any with me.”
Did he realize he was the reason I never attended any? He told me last minute about these events, and I’d be either swamped with work or taking care of our home or too tired to attend.
But Derek had taken care of the dress and hired a babysitter without me asking him to.
“How long has this been going on exactly? How long were you sleeping with my wife, Peterson?” He asked, his words harsh, and I didn’t like how he kept addressing me as his wife when I had already signed the divorce papers.
Several heads turned in our direction. I felt heat crawl up my neck, but Derek’s hand pressed more firmly against my back. The scent of his cologne was heady and comforting.
“Careful, Jack,” Derek said, his voice dangerously low. “You’re making accusations you can’t prove.”
“Can’t prove? She moved in with you three days after leaving me!” His voice was loud, drawing more attention. Behind him, Olivia finally looked up, and when our eyes met, she immediately glanced away. Guilt was written all over her face. “Barely three days! And now she’s here on your arm like… like you didn’t steal her from me!”
“Steal her?” Derek’s voice dropped even lower. “I didn’t steal anyone, Jack. Paige made a choice to leave because you made the stupid choice that led to it.”
“Don’t you dare?—”
“Where’s your wedding ring?” I asked. The words came out before I could stop them. “Because I notice you’re not wearing it and keep calling me your wife when you’re here with another woman in your arms. Funny how that works.”
“That’s different,” Jack said, his face turning red. “You left me. You abandoned our marriage?—”
“I left because I found you in our bed with her,” I said, gesturing toward Olivia, who looked like she wanted the marble floor to swallow her whole. “My friend. In our bed, Jack. While our daughter slept down the hall.”
“You aren’t wearing a wedding ring either. And it was a mistake! One mistake, and you threw away all the years?—”
“Notice where we are, Jack,” Derek said smoothly, tilting his head. “Look around. Cameras are everywhere. Society reporters. Half of the city’s legal community is here. Do you really want to have this conversation right now? Do you really want to ask Paige why she’s not wearing her wedding ring when you’re standing next to the woman you cheated with?”
Jack’s mouth opened, then closed. His eyes darted around the room, finally seeming to register the watching crowd and the photographers.
“This isn’t over,” he said. The tone of his voice had an edge to it. “You think you’ve won, Peterson? You think she’s just going to move on with you and play happy family? She’s using you. She’s always?—”
“I think you should go,” Derek said, and there was something sharp in his tone that made Jack take a step back. “Before you say something you’ll regret. Or that your lawyer will regret.”
Jack looked at me one more time, and I saw something crumble behind his eyes. Maybe his pride. I couldn’t tell anymore, and I realized that I didn’t care.
He turned and walked away, Olivia hurrying after him. I watched them disappear into the crowd. I realized I had been holding my breath until they left.
“You okay?” Derek asked softly, pulling me closer.
“I… don’t know—” I blinked up at him. “Can we just… I need a minute.”
“Of course.”
He smoothly guided me toward a quieter corner, away from the curious stares while I focused on breathing.
But within minutes, people started approaching us. Colleagues of Derek’s, lawyers I recognized from firm events, socialites whose names I could never remember. Everyone wanted to know about us, about our relationship, about how Derek Peterson had finally settled down. That too, with his assistant.
“We’re so happy for you,” one woman gushed, her hand on Derek’s arm. “We were beginning to think you’d be a bachelor forever!”
“Paige is special,” Derek said, smiling at me in a way that looked so genuine it made my chest ache because I never knew how much of a talented actor he was. “Worth the wait.”
“And after that dreadful business with Kelly,” another woman chimed in, shaking her head. “We’re just glad to see you with someone who’s truly right for you.”
I smiled, nodded and played my part. Derek’s arm was firm around my waist, his lips brushing my temple to make it look believable.
We looked convincing, like a real couple. And maybe that was the problem.
Because it felt too real. Every touch, every smile, every time he looked at me, made me feel like I was something precious.
