Drowning Him In Regret

Chapter 2 Wired To My Account.

Vivian wasn't wrong-I looked like death itself.

Three months back, cancer had roared back into my life, stripping me down to bones and shadows. I was all jagged edges, my face hollowed out.

Then there was Vivian: glowing, cute as hell, with that delicate face and huge, sparkly eyes. She could've been my college twin, plucked straight from my better days.

Next to her, I wasn't just a wreck-I was barely alive, a ghost clinging to the edges.

But what could I have done? I was already halfway gone.

A coworker leaned in, whispering, "Cool it, girl. Mr. Carson was crazy about his

wife. You kept running your mouth, and you'd be screwed."

Everyone bought the lie that Jude was my forever guy.

Total bullshit. If they'd known the truth, they'd have seen he'd have danced on my grave.

Vivian rolled her eyes but slapped on a smile so fake it could've curdled milk. "Hey, Ada, sweetie, Mr. Carson was in the middle of a huge video call. No walk- ins, you know the deal."

She tilted her head, that smirk creeping back. "But if it was urgent, I could've just... popped in and filled him in for you."

Translation: I owned his world, and you were nothing. She was practically shoving her status in my face.

Her smile was stunning-if one ignored the cold, scheming glint in her eyes.

And that smile? God, it was like staring at my old self, back when I still had fire. No wonder Jude was hooked.

His other women-flings, "assistants," whatever they'd been nothing serious. Just toys for a quick thrill.

Each one was a test, a jab to see if I'd crack.noveldrama

At first, I'd lost it-screamed, fought, tore into him. But the louder I got, the more he loved it, like my pain was his damn drug.

So I shut down. Went blank.

Eventually, I could've watched him flaunt some woman right in front of me and still closed the door with a smile, like I was their fucking butler.

But Vivian? He'd kept her hidden. No parading her at home, no shoving her in my face.

Still, the office group chat was a gossip mill-photos of them at the movies, cozy candlelit dinners, strutting around in matching outfits like some sappy rom-com couple.

That wasn't a fling. He was in deep.

And every rumor, every image, felt like my own youth playing back to mock me.

I dropped into a chair, locking eyes with her, calm as stone."No hurry. I'll wait.

"Oh, and could you grab me a coffee? Milk, two sugars. Thanks."

Vivian froze, my coolness hitting her like a slap. Her face twisted, and she snapped, "Who the hell do you think you are, bossing me around?"

"And who the hell are you?" I fired back, my voice flat, not a spark of emotion.

She choked on her words, her cheeks burning red, that bratty swagger crumbling fast.

That loud, entitled attitude? It was like staring at the old me, all spark and no

scars.

Jude must've turned the world upside down to find a replica this flawless.

But someone had already poured me a fresh coffee and slid it my way.

I caught Vivian hiss "suck-up" under her breath, and the poor colleague's face lit

up like a tomato as they hightailed it out of there.

I let out a low chuckle, barely audible. "So, Vivian, you know you're a fucking side piece, don't you?"

No clue which word stabbed her ego, but her eyes brimmed with tears, and she went off like a firecracker. "Oh, be quiet! The real side piece is the one no one gives a shit about!

"Jude's been done with you for years! You're the one glomming onto him like a goddamn parasite!"

"Look at you—what a fucking wreck! Who'd ever want that?"

She came at me, hands clawing like she meant to haul me out of my chair.

I just shook my head, almost pitying the kid. She was all spit and vinegar, too young to know better, but I wasn't here to throw down with some starry-eyed fool.

The day after our first anniversary, when Jude strutted in with a pair of blonde bimbos, my heart didn't just break-it fucking disintegrated.

Wasting my breath on him, letting him eat up what little I had left? Hell no, not worth a second of it.

A couple of coworkers jumped in, grabbing her before she could do more damage. All she got was my coffee cup, which hit the floor and exploded into shards.

A tiny nick opened on her hand, and surprise, surprise-she started bawling like

it was the end of the world.

I glanced at the coffee splashed across my clothes. Good call on the black outfit today; the stains were barely a whisper.

"Ada, what's your deal? I didn't take you for such a vicious bitch!"Jude's voice sliced through the air.

I looked up, and there he was, cradling Vivian like she was made of porcelain.

The cut on her hand was a joke-hardly a drop of blood-but Jude was acting like she'd lost a limb.

"What the fuck are you idiots doing? Get the damn first-aid kit already!"he yelled. "And call my doctor-tell him to get his ass to the office now!"

I watched the whole pathetic soap opera play out, my face a blank mask, but I caught the smug little glint in Vivian's eyes.

What the hell was she so proud of? Getting fawned over by a complete trash heap like Jude was some kind of triumph? It was laughable, really-pathetic,

even.

Maybe my icy stare got under her skin, because her eyes welled up again, and her voice turned syrupy with fake remorse. "Mr. Carson, I'm so sorry. I didn't mean to get Ada all riled up.

"But I can't just shut down my heart, you know? Is it a crime to fall head over heels for someone? Are we wrong for loving each other?"

She cried like she was auditioning for a rom-com, tears sparkling like they'd been choreographed, pretty enough to twist anyone's gut.

Jude was all in, wiping her cheeks like she was his entire universe, then shooting me a glare that could burn holes.

"What the fuck are you even doing here, Ada? You haven't bothered showing up to the office in ages,"he said coldly.

I let a small, sharp smirk tug at my lips. So he'd noticed I'd been ghosting the place, huh? Good to know he wasn't completely blind.

I stood up, towering over the sorry pair sprawled on the floor, and felt a flicker of something-maybe satisfaction, maybe just exhaustion.

I said calmly,"Jude, I want 30 grand. Wired to my account. Today. Or else—"

"Or else what?" he snapped, his eyes blazing like I'd just pissed in his cereal.

I grinned wider, jabbing a finger at the flashy diamond necklace hanging off Vivian's neck. "That's ours-marital property. The law says I'm entitled to half, so don't test me.

"You've got thirty minutes. No money, and I'm dialing the cops. Your call."