Seducing my Ex-husband back (Claire) novel Chapter 31

Chapter 31

MANWHORE

-MONICA’S POV-

+25 BONUS

I swear I could feel the blood boiling in my veins. From across the glittering ballroom, there was Richard….my husband, my supposed partner….gazing at Claire like she was spun out of gold.

His eyes never left her.

The laughter spilling from her lips was the kind that stabbed right into me, because it wasn’t meant for me. It was meant for him.

I wanted to claw her perfect little smile right off her face.

The whispers around us were unbearable. I could practically hear the pity dripping from every corner of the room: ‘Poor Monica. Did you see the way Richard looks at Claire?‘

Fucking humiliating.

I hadn’t spent all day wrapped in silk and diamonds just to be made a fool of. Every detail of tonight….the dress, the makeup, the hair……was for him to remember who I was.

And yet the moment Claire walked in, I became invisible.

What a manwhore.

He was supposed to be mine. He was supposed to be standing beside me, making it clear that I was his wife. Instead, he made me look like a discarded accessory.

And if that wasn’t enough, Eleanor….that frosty old bitch…had the audacity to treat me like a nuisance. She practically glued herself to Claire, ignoring me at every turn.

Y

Her sharp little looks made it clear: ‘You’re not welcome here, Monica.‘

Well, fuck her too.

I drained another glass of champagne, counting the minutes until I could leave without giving these vultures more gossip to feed on.

By the time the gala ended, my anger had hardened into something harsh and unmovable. I stormed out, brushing past strangers like they were insects.

I searched for Richard, but Annette told me he had already left.

Typical.

The rage boiled with every step I took home. By the time I pushed through our front door, it was no longer boiling….it was volcanic.

1/4

Chapter 31

+25 BONUS

And there he was. Richard. Sitting in the living room like a smug king on his throne, drink in hand, not a care in the world.

“We need to talk,” I said. My voice cracked with fury.

“Oh, Monica!” he said cheerfully, like I was some stranger he was humoring. “How was the gala? I had to leave early, but I’m sure you did fine on your own.”

I blinked. On my own. As if I were a child he’d left at daycare.

Fine? Fine?!

“Don’t you dare act like you care,” I snapped. “You were too busy trying to get your next fix with Claire.”

His eyebrows rose, like he actually had the balls to play dumb. “What are you talking about?”

“Spare me. I saw you! You couldn’t take your eyes off her. You made me look like a pathetic joke in front of everyone!”

“Monica,” he said, rolling his eyes. “You’re blowing this out of proportion. Claire’s just another person. You’re my wife.”

“Another person?” I scoffed. “Is that what you call it when you stare at her like she’s the only woman alive? Like

erson? I don’t even exist? People were ‘pitying me,‘ Richard. Do you get that? They felt sorry for me!”

“God, you’re so dramatic,” he muttered, sipping his drink like this conversation was beneath him. “You’re overreacting.”

Overreacting.

The word hit me like a slap.

“I’m overreacting? You humiliate me in public and make me look like an idiot, and I’m overreacting? You’ve been acting like a goddamn manwhore who doesn’t care what this does to me, to us. How is that not serious?”

“Maybe you’re just insecure,” he shot back. “I was just being friendly.”

“Insecure?” My voice cracked, louder now. “You don’t understand how this looks! You’re tearing me apart, Richard! Do you even realize what you’re doing to me?”

For a brief moment….a flicker…his face softened. There was regret there. But just as quickly, it was gone, replaced by that wall of arrogance I hated more than anything.

“I’m not ruining anything,” he said flatly. “You need to calm down.”

“Calm down? You’ve messed with my sanity tonight!”

“We’re married, Monica. You can’t just throw tantrums whenever you don’t get your way.”

That did it. My vision blurred with rage.

“Oh, so now you want to talk about marriage? Where was that commitment when you were drooling over her all night? Where was that loyalty when everyone saw you humiliate me?”

2/4

Chapter 31

+25 BONUS

He opened his mouth to argue again, but I couldn’t take it. If I stayed another second, I’d explode. I spun on my heel and stormed upstairs.

My chest heaved, my head pounding. The rage wouldn’t die down….it only grew. I snatched up my phone and hit

Owen’s name.

“Come on, pick up,” I muttered, pacing.

Finally, his groggy voice came through. “Monica? What’s going on?”

“I need to talk!” My words came out sharp, broken.

“Whoa, okay. Slow down. Are you alright?”

“No! Richard is a complete idiot! He humiliated me tonight!”

“What did he do?” Owen’s voice steadied, calm in the storm.

Verify captcha to read the contentVerify