**Chapter 4**
Peyton Kennedy had a way of perceiving things that painted me as the cowardly one, scurrying away with my dignity tucked firmly between my legs. With a triumphant grin plastered across her face, she began her carefully crafted performance, weaving sweet yet manipulative words around Thomas like a skilled puppeteer.
“Thomas,” she cooed, her voice dripping with feigned concern, “what are we going to do? Riley is genuinely upset about this. You should really go talk to her. I’d hate for you two to fight over something so trivial that involves me.”
“Talk to her?” he scoffed, waving his hand dismissively. “I can’t be bothered. She’ll come crawling back to me anyway. If I rush to her every time something goes wrong, she’ll just start walking all over me.”
His arrogance was palpable, and in some twisted way, he believed he had me completely under his control. Perhaps, in those moments, I really had been that pathetic, a mere shadow of my former self.
After splashing cold water onto my flushed face in the restroom, I made my way back toward our private room. Just as I was about to push the door open, a cacophony of laughter erupted from within, causing me to pause.
“Thomas, man, what kind of wife did you even marry?” one of his friends guffawed. “She’s petty, broke, and all she has going for her is her height. A total airhead.”
“If you ask me, you and Peyton are the perfect match,” another chimed in, their laughter ringing out like a cruel melody.
They mocked me without a second thought, their words slicing through the air like daggers, and Thomas remained silent, allowing them to tear me apart without a single word of defense.
“Peyton, this is all your fault,” one of my so-called friends spat, venom dripping from her voice. “You’re the one who broke up with him. So what if you were moving abroad? Long-distance isn’t impossible. You made Thomas cry outside your house for ages, and you still wouldn’t take him back.”
“If you hadn’t pulled that stunt, Thomas never would have settled for someone like Riley Addison! You’ve been back for a while now, so why don’t you take some responsibility for what you started?”
“Yeah, yeah, Peyton, you owe it to Thomas!” another friend echoed, their voices rising in a chorus of misguided loyalty.
How fascinating it was to witness this entire group of friends encouraging Peyton to play the role of the other woman. It was almost comical, really. Thomas, unable to have the one he truly loved, had settled for me—the consolation prize. From the very beginning to the bitter end, I had merely been his backup plan.
Once his friends had set the stage, Peyton’s performance became even more heartfelt, dripping with false sincerity.
“Thomas, I was wrong back then,” she said, her voice softening as she stepped closer to him. “I was just so worried you’d suffer in a long-distance relationship, so… I… I came back this time because I want us to start over!”
“Thomas, if Riley wasn’t in the picture, you’d still choose me, right?” she pressed, her eyes glimmering with a mix of hope and desperation.
He didn’t respond immediately. Instead, his gaze remained locked on Peyton, his expression filled with longing and desire. After a long, agonizing moment, he finally nodded, his voice barely above a whisper.
“Okay.”
The moment he agreed, Peyton seized the opportunity, leaning in to kiss him passionately, their lips meeting in a way that felt like a betrayal.
And in that instant, a wave of unexpected calm washed over me. Thank goodness I had stepped outside; otherwise, I would have missed this spectacular display of deceit.
As I pondered how I might gather proof of his infidelity, it struck me that this was a stroke of good fortune. The timing couldn’t have been better.
“Whoo!” Thomas’s friends cheered, their voices echoing in the room. I discreetly slipped my phone back into my pocket, but I didn’t stop the recording; the audio continued to capture every moment.
With a deep breath, I pushed the door open and stepped inside. The jubilant atmosphere transformed into a heavy silence in an instant. All eyes turned to me, expressions shifting from amusement to something more complicated, darting between me, Peyton, and Thomas.
A few of the closest friends braced themselves, as if anticipating an explosion of rage from me, ready to defend their beloved Thomas. I had to admit, their loyalty was commendable.
In a panic, Thomas pushed Peyton away, scrambling to his feet as he rushed towards me, his face flushed with embarrassment and desire.
“Riley, it’s not what it looks like! Just let me explain…”
His voice was frantic, but I couldn’t bring myself to listen to his excuses. I had all the proof I needed of his betrayal.
Since Thomas had chosen to ignore my divorce papers and we never had a chance to discuss our situation, I decided to take matters into my own hands. I would file for a contested divorce, and I was confident my lawyer wouldn’t dismiss my evidence as worthless now.
With determination, I pulled out the divorce agreement I had meticulously prepared earlier and placed it in front of Thomas, handing him a pen with a steady hand.
“How about this, Peyton? I’ll give you a birthday present too. It’s rude to show up empty-handed, after all,” I said, my voice steady, masking the turmoil within.
“Sign it, Thomas. Don’t you want to make things official with Peyton?” I added, my heart racing as I awaited his response.
Conclusion
In the aftermath of that fateful confrontation, a profound sense of clarity washed over me, illuminating the shadows that had clouded my judgment for far too long. No longer was I the timid girl who allowed herself to be a mere afterthought in someone else’s story. I stood tall, armed with the evidence of betrayal and the unwavering resolve to reclaim my narrative. The laughter that had once echoed mockingly in my ears now faded into silence, replaced by the steady rhythm of my own heartbeat—a reminder that I was worthy of love and respect, not just a consolation prize. As I faced Thomas, the weight of his indecision and the mockery of our so-called friends fell away, leaving room for a new beginning, one that I would craft for myself.
With the divorce papers laid bare before him, I felt a surge of empowerment coursing through my veins. This was not just a legal document; it was a declaration of my independence, a promise to myself that I would no longer tolerate being treated as second best. As Thomas fumbled for words, his frantic pleas fell on deaf ears, my heart resolute in its decision. I was ready to step into the light, to embrace the uncertainty of the future without the shackles of a relationship built on deceit. Beneath the crimson moon, I found strength in my vulnerability, the shadows that once threatened to consume me now transforming into a pathway leading toward a brighter horizon.
