But he sided with Rachel, scolding me as a vicious, deceitful woman, saying he regretted marrying me, and even forcing me to sign divorce papers in public.
This man who once swore he loved me had abandoned me without hesitation—because David was his company’s biggest client, his golden goose.
And worst of all, before I died, I discovered the truth: Eric had been secretly meeting Rachel at hotels many times.
I once adored him.
Now, when I looked at him, all I saw was filth.
Eric didn’t notice the hatred in my eyes. Frowning, he asked, “Honey, what’s wrong? Who upset you this time?”
Before I could answer, my phone rang again.
It was Rachel.
I answered right in front of Eric.
Her panicked, angry voice burst out:
“Grace, I told you to stall David! What the hell are you doing?”
“He’s already here at the Holiday Inn with people to catch me. If he finds me in bed with someone, I’m finished! You’d better think of a way to draw him off, now!”
I said coldly, “Not my problem.”
And hung up.
Eric was stunned.
When he snapped out of it, Eric turned to me in shock.
“Honey, what are you doing? Rachel’s your best friend—how can you just let her walk into disaster?”
“You know David’s temper. If he catches her in bed with someone, she’s finished—don’t you…”
I cut him off, voice icy:
“You seem awfully concerned about Rachel.”
His expression turned awkward. “I’m not worried about her. I just think—you two are so close. Sure, what she did was wrong, but we can’t just stand by and watch her crash and burn, right?”
He was frantic—whether for Rachel, or because he feared David would take his anger out on us and cut ties with him, I didn’t know.
I sneered inwardly. “If you want to help her, you’d better go now. You heard where she is—Holiday Inn, not far from here. Don’t go to the wrong place.”
Seeing I was determined not to intervene, Eric sighed helplessly and rushed out the door.
I finished packing, then waited quietly at home.
Around seven, the front door was kicked open violently.
David stormed in with a dozen thugs.
Behind them trailed Rachel, weeping, and Eric, his face dark.
David’s eyes blazed with fury. He strode over and slapped me across the face.
“You filthy bitch!” he roared. “How dare you set up my wife! I’m going to kill you today.”
He knocked me to the floor, then kicked me several times.
Crying out in pain, I shouted, “I didn’t frame her, it was she—”