Goodbye Toxic Ex

Chapter 2

"What am I doing here? You told me that you were busy while clearly you are here, having a lovely time with your VP?" The taste of bitter irony burned in Riley's lungs.

She sneered. Riley searched her eyes for a trace of guilt, even the slightest hint of pity, but none was there.

The only thing that remained in her eyes was a twisted sense of irritation that burned deep into her bones.

"That's exactly what I am talking about, Riley.

You make assumptions out of the blue without getting your facts straight. You think that everything in the world is about you.

You come up with lies and stories just to suit your own narrative, and you're so good at it sometimes, I wonder if you actually believe those lies yourself!"

A bitter, sorrowful laugh rasped from Riley's throat, that of a broken man who saw nothing anymore and was dead to the core.

"Is that really what you think of me? A liar and a manipulator? Is that all you have to say when I caught you in the act?"

Cold, harsh breath gushed from her lungs and she shook her head, like a mother disappointed by her own child.

"That's not what I think about you, Riley, that's who I know you to be and nothing more!" She glared.

"You're a bitter and jealous man. Even when I've told you countless times that Harry is only my VP and nothing more.

I promised my best friend before her death that I was going to take care of her brother, and Harry has contributed so much to this company, yet he supports it while you stay at home and enjoy the money I make. So don't come over here and act like a victim."

Riley's bones shook with astonishment.

"So that's what she really thinks of me!" he thought.

All his work and years of trying to assist her while still being a faithful husband who made her bed when she came back from work.

Made her meals even when he was tired himself—all those sacrifices, she saw as nothing.

He opened his mouth to speak, but no words came.

Harry had a broad smirk on his face watching the couple bicker because of him, flashing a mocking gaze at Riley.

Then he stepped forward.

His expression softened and his lips formed innocent, flowery words.

"I think I've overstepped and I should really get going so that I don't provoke your husband anymore. Maybe we could meet some other time!"

Harry said and turned to leave, but Sophia held onto him tightly, like her life depended on it.

"You cannot go!" she replied with a softness in her voice unlike anything Riley had ever heard from her before.

Then she turned to Riley, the murderous glint in her eyes sharper than ever, her lips curled with rage.

"See what you have caused, Riley. You are making my guest uncomfortable.

Harry has been working so hard for this company, and when I decide to treat him, you suddenly feel like the whole world should revolve around you?" She glared. "Don't you even have any decency?"

"If only you could be half as considerate as Harry is, then I wouldn't have to worry about so many things!" she spat.

Riley looked at both of them, then back at Sophia.

The woman he had married, who was supposed to pour all her affection into him, was pouring it onto someone else instead.

His hands curled into tight fists.

And the truth settled in his chest.

Truly, he was the one who didn't belong. He shouldn't be standing there with them, not now, not ever.

Riley turned around to leave, his head racing and his vision blurring both from the pain of betrayal and the heavy pounding tearing through his chest.

He heard fast footsteps rushing toward him, carrying the pattern of faked concern.

It was Harry.

To Sophia he flashed a smile, but to Riley it was a smirk, followed by a cold, bitter glare.

"Don't leave, please, brother-in-law. Maybe you could stay back and we will all have a good time together. A win for all of us!" he said.

Then he drew closer to Riley's ear and whispered.

"She will never believe you over me. And guess what? Soon I will be in bed with your wife, and I'll even send you the pictures so you can see for yourself!"

Even though Riley had already decided to leave, his instincts immediately snapped into place and his hand moved.

Slap.

It resounded through the halls in waves. Harry stumbled backward, tumbling far further than the impact should have allowed, and groaned in pain, making sure the sound echoed through the entire suite.

"What have you done!" Riley watched his wife quickly rush to where Harry lay, groaning and tearing up in pain.

"Brother-in-law must have a lot going on in his mind. Don't take this out on him!" Harry said, between ragged and explosive bursts of breath.

Riley could see that this wasn't meant to defuse Sophia's anger by any means. It was meant to spike it instead.

Harry had a smile on his face as he watched Sophia rise from the floor, her heels clicking hard and fast against the tiles, her eyes bloodshot.

"What did you just do!"

"He said something!" Riley wanted to keep quiet. He wanted to walk away.

However, the need to make her understand got the best of him.

Before he could finish his statement, it rang out.

Slap.

Riley's face turned and his head rang instantly, every other sound draining from his ears except for the ringing.

Slap.

Another slap tore into the other side of his face. Riley's cheeks burned bright red while Harry chuckled.

"You slapped me?" Astonishment burned across Riley's face.

The woman he had married, the one he had taken to the altar, had slapped him because of another man.

Her eyes glowed bright red with rage.

"You should thank your stars that I am not making it worse. Dare to touch him again and you will see just how far I will go for Harry!" she snapped, and Riley's stomach churned.