Chapter 21
“Ms. Miller, so you’re really fine being the other woman, huh?“}
“Mr. Miller, you’re just going to stand by and watch your own sister wreck her life like this?”
“If being a homewrecker was illegal, you’d be her accomplice!“}]
With just a few biting comments, Chelsea turned the tension in the elevator up to eleven.}
Everyone listening in quickly pieced the story together. Joseph knew Theo was married, but still let Nina chase after him. And tonight–just their luck–the wife caught them red–handed.§
This was the kind of drama even gossip blogs wouldn’t dare make up. But here it was, playing out right in front of them.”
Scandalous didn’t even begin to cover it.”
Chelsea wasn’t even part of their usual crowd–she had the whole Parsons family behind her, and her dad was some big shot in the military. No way would any of them dare mess with her directly.”
They wouldn’t do anything, but that didn’t mean they were rattled.
Joseph’s face stayed cool, casual, He shot Chelsea a lazy look. “You keep calling her a homewrecker. Got any proof?”
“Oh, please. Anyone with eyes can see what’s happening. Who else clings to someone else’s husband like that? Zero boundaries. Is she clueless or just desperate?“}
Did they really think everyone else in here was an idiot?}
This was exactly why Patricia had said she wanted a divorce. If she hadn’t, Chelsea would’ve shredded this whole group without a second thought.
The elevator kept descending, and the gossip hanging in the air turned into bold, unashamed staring.”
Joseph couldn’t be bothered to argue with Chelsea anymore. Instead, he turned to Patricia. “So you’re just gonna let people talk about your husband and another woman like that? Nothing to say?“}
Wasn’t Patricia always the one who cared most about her reputation? And now she was just letting people throw dirt on her name?”
Patricia let out a soft, almost amused laugh. She lifted her chin, her eyes clear and bright with a hint of mockery. “What am I supposed to do? I’m just a cripple, remember?”
What could she possibly do?”
What kind of trouble could someone like her really stir up?!
Those words–they’d always come from Joseph and his friends. She’d heard them enough times. Back when Theo would make excuses to stay home instead of going out with his buddies, they’d snicker, “What’s he supposed to do? His wife’s a cripple.”
Every sneer, every insult, always circled back to that–she was just a cripple.
Joseph paled for a split second as the elevator doors slid open.
Theo stepped forward, gently nudging Chelsea aside to take his place behind Patricia’s wheelchair. “Let’s go home.”
“Maybe you should save your hands for other women. I’ll handle the heavy lifting,” Chelsea said, breezing past Theo and pushing his arm away so she could take over pushing Patricia’s wheelchair herself.
Theo shot her a sideways glance, sizing her up.
He’d been married to Patricia for two years, and in all that time, Chelsea had never called him brother–in–law. Usually, if they passed each other on the street, she’d act like he didn’t exist.”
Tonight, though, she couldn’t stop saying it. She wanted everyone to notice he was married, but still getting close with another woman.
She was twisting the knife, and she knew it.!!
Jackson helped Patricia into the car while Marian folded up the wheelchair and stashed it in the trunk.M
Chelsea slid into the back seat, the corners of her mouth turning up in a cold, mocking smile as she shot a glare at Theo. Let’s see how long you can keep pretending, she thought.%
The black SUV rolled away and disappeared from sight. Theo’s friends let out a collective sigh of relief, barely realizing they’d been holding their breath.%
*Did you see Patricia’s eyes just now? Gave me chills.“/
“Lucky she’s disabled. If she wasn’t, Theo would be done for”
