Seducing my Ex-husband back (Claire) novel Chapter 36

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Chapter 36

DEALING WITH A PROBLEM

-MONICA’S POV-

Richard had that smug look plastered on his face, the same one he wore when he thought he was cleverer than me. It made my teeth grind.

“Are you seriously this clueless?” I snapped, unable to stop the words from flying out. “Do you have a screw loose, or is it just rust rattling in that empty head of yours?”

He blinked at me like I was being unreasonable. “What’s your problem, Monica?” His tone was calm, too calm- like he’d already decided I was overreacting.

“My problem?” My voice pitched higher. “You paraded after Claire last night like a dog that’s lost its master. Everyone saw it, Richard. Everyone. And now, this morning, you want me to apologize for ‘assuming things‘?”

His arms crossed tight across his chest. He thought that stance made him look in control, but all I saw was defensiveness. “I wasn’t chasing her. We were just talking.”

“Talking?” I threw my hands up, incredulous. “Is that what you call gazing at her like she hung the moon? Because from where I stood, it looked like you were one step away from licking her shoes.”

“Don’t be dramatic.” His jaw tensed. “I was polite. Friendly.”

“Friendly?” I spat the word like it was poison. “Friendly is shaking hands, saying hello, moving on. What you did was orbit her like some lovesick planet.”

“Honestly, she was the one flirting with me,” he said, and the gleam in his eye made me want to claw it out. He believed that. He actually believed that.

My blood boiled, heat crawling up my neck. “Flirting? That’s your excuse? She fluttered her lashes and suddenly your wedding ring disappeared from your hand?!”

He leaned closer, voice hardening. “You’re acting like I’m the bad guy here. I didn’t ask her to flirt.”

“You didn’t have to. You gave her the stage. You let her think she still has a chance.” My voice cracked with rage. “And you want me to apologize for reacting to that? You’re out of your damn mind.”

His nostrils flared. “You should at least apologize for jumping to conclusions before you know the facts.”

“Apologize?” I laughed, sharp and ugly. “For what? For assuming my husband was being an idiot in public? No, Richard, I won’t apologize for telling the truth you’re too cowardly to admit.”

He opened his mouth again, probably to feed me more self–pity, but I was done. In one hot burst, I snatched the heavy book from the shelf and hurled it at him.

It slammed against the wall inches from his shoulder, pages fluttering open like startled wings.

Richard jerked back, eyes wide. “Are you insane?!”

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Chapter 36

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“Get out!” I screamed, finger stabbing toward the door. “Get out before I make sure the next thing I throw actually hits you.”

He scoffed, muttered something about me being impossible, and stormed out. The slam of the door rattled through the room.

I stood there, chest heaving, anger still buzzing under my skin like electricity. But beneath it was something I hated admitting–fear. Fear that Claire still had claws in him.

Fear that people saw me as the pathetic wife, clinging while he ogled his ex. Fear that maybe, just maybe, he liked her attention more than he liked me.

I hated that thought. I hated it enough to call the only person who ever knew how to shut me up: Owen.

The new restaurant downtown buzzed with low chatter and clinking glasses. Owen was already waiting at the bar when I arrived, tall, relaxed, his smile warm enough to melt some of the frost inside me.

He waved like we hadn’t seen each other in years, even though I’d blown up his phone just this morning.

“Monica,” he said as I slid onto the stool beside him. “You look like a storm cloud about to burst. Tell me everything.”

I didn’t need prompting. “Richard is a complete ass! Last night at the auction, he trailed Claire like she was the last glass of water on earth. I watched people stare at me with pity. And today? He had the audacity to demand I apologize for ‘assuming things.“”

Owen blinked, then burst into laughter, sharp and loud enough to turn heads. “He asked you to apologize? Oh, that’s rich.”

“I know!” I slammed my palm on the bar. “I couldn’t believe it. He’s blind, stupid, or both. And then he had the nerve to say she was the one flirting with him.”

“You told me about this last night,” he reminded, still chuckling. “But the apology part? That’s new levels of delusion.”

“He actually believes she wants him back,” I muttered, twisting the napkin in front of me. “He’s walking around with his chest puffed out like he’s God’s gift, when really he looks like a fool.”

“Did you at least throw something at him?” Owen teased, eyes glinting.

I smirked despite myself. “A book. Barely missed his head. Shame, really.”

“Classic Monica.” He raised his glass in a mock toast. “But seriously, he’s pushing your buttons. And maybe he likes it. Maybe he wants you rattled.”

That thought burned, because deep down I suspected it was true. Richard thrived on chaos. He liked making me jealous–it gave him proof I still cared.

“He thinks I’ll just roll over,” I said bitterly. “That I’ll stay quiet while he humiliates me.”

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Chapter 36

“And will you?” Owen’s voice was gentle, but his eyes were sharp.

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