Chapter 34: Bad Decisions

Mike's POV

At The Bar

The bar was half full when I walked in. It was one of those places that smelled like whiskey and fried food. Tired men sat around with drinks, trying to forget the day. The lights were low, the music soft, and the air filled with cigarette smoke. Jack was already there, sitting at the far end of the counter, nursing a bottle of beer.

He saw me the moment I came in. “Well, look who finally crawled out of his hole,” he said, raising his glass.

“Don’t start,” I muttered, taking the seat beside him.

The bartender came over. “What are you having?”

“Whiskey. Double.”

Jack smirked. “You look like you need more than that.”

I didn’t reply. My mind had been running in circles all day. That TV clip wouldn’t leave my head… Diane, smiling like she owned the world. The glow, the baby bump, the calm in her voice.

Jack turned to me. “You said it was urgent when you called. What’s going on?”

I rubbed my jaw. “You find out anything about Diane?”

He took a long sip, then sighed. “You sure you’re ready for it?”

“Just say it.”

Jack leaned back in his seat. “She’s doing better than ever. That’s the short version. But since you asked for details… Diane Henderson is the CEO of GlamHome. You know the company? It’s one of the subsidiaries of Henderson’s Corp.”

I froze. “Wait. Henderson’s Corp.? As in…”

“Yeah. Lance Henderson. Her husband.”

I blinked hard. “Her what?”

Jack nodded slowly. “She married him a few months later after the divorce. Big wedding. Private though, not much press. She’s pregnant now. Due in about four months, from what I heard. The deal with Marvella? That’s hers. She closed it herself.”

I felt my throat tighten. “You’re kidding me.”

“Do I look like I’m joking?”

I stared at my glass. The whiskey burned my tongue, but I barely felt it. My hands clenched against the counter. “She married him?” I repeated with a low voice.

Jack gave me a long look. “Yeah, she did. The same woman you left for Amanda. The one you said wasn’t ambitious enough.”

I didn’t answer. I couldn’t.

Jack shook his head. “You really messed up, Mike. I mean, damn. You could’ve had all that… the company, the success, the spotlight. Now look at you. Scraping to keep your business running.”

“Don’t start,” I said again, but it came out weaker this time.

He laughed a little. “No, man. I’m serious. This is what karma looks like. You had a good woman, and you threw her away. Now she’s the one everyone’s talking about, and you’re the one sitting here pissed off.”

I looked up at him. “I didn’t think she’d become that big.”

“That’s the problem. You never thought she could.”

His words hit harder than I wanted to admit. I swallowed the rest of my drink and waved at the bartender for another.

“She’s got everything I used to want,” I said quietly. “Power. Money. Attention. And now, she’s even got a family.” I never believed she could birth a child. I mean, I thought she couldn’t. What changed?

Jack gave a short laugh. “You sound jealous.”

“Maybe I am,” I said, staring at the amber liquid in my glass. “You know what hurts the most? Everything she owns now could’ve been mine too. If I’d stayed, I’d be part of all that. Maybe my company wouldn’t be drowning.”

He shook his head. “You sound pathetic, man. You left her. You can’t come back now.”

I turned to him. “Why not? People move on and come back all the time.”

“Not when she’s married.”

“I don’t care.”

Jack raised a brow. “You’re out of your mind.”

“I want her back,” I said flatly.

Jack let out a low whistle. “Wow. You’re serious.”

“I need her,” I said, leaning closer. “At least, she can help me fix things. I can’t let her just walk around like she won. I built her confidence once. She owes me.”

He gave me a disgusted look. “You’re unbelievable. You don’t even love her. You just want to use her.”

I didn’t reply. Maybe he was right. Maybe I didn’t love her. Or maybe I just missed what it felt like to have her look at me like I was someone important.

Jack sat back. “What about Amanda? She’s your fiancée.”

“She’s just my fiancée,” I said, waving my hand like it didn’t matter. “That can change once Diane’s back.”

He scoffed. “And the baby Amanda’s carrying? You forgot about that part?”

I stared into my drink. “I’ll keep the child,” I said quietly. “Whether she likes it or not. But Amanda’s not the one I want.”

Jack ran a hand down his face. “You’re digging your own grave, man.”

“I already did. I just need a rope to climb out.”

He chuckled bitterly. “You never learn.”

We sat there in silence for a few minutes, the noise from other tables filling the gap between us. A group of men laughed somewhere behind us, and a woman’s voice sang softly along to the music.

Jack finally stood. “Look, I’m not getting involved in this mess. You want to chase your ex-wife? Fine. But don’t come crying when it blows up.”

I sighed. “Just help me, Jack. Please.”

He hesitated, then said, “I’ll see what I can find out. But I’m not promising anything.”

“That’s all I need,” I said, finishing my drink.

He clapped me on the shoulder. “You’re a fool, Mike. A real one.”

“Yeah, I know.”

By the time I left the bar, it was already late. The street outside was quiet and the air was cool. I drove home with the windows down, trying to think, but my head was too full. Every time I closed my eyes, I saw Diane’s face on that TV screen.

When I got home, the lights were off. The house was quiet except for the faint sound of music playing from upstairs.

“Amanda?” I called. No answer.

I dropped my keys on the table and walked up the stairs. The bedroom door was slightly open, light spilling out from inside.

When I pushed it open, I stopped.

Amanda was lying on the bed, completely naked, her long hair spread over the pillow. The room smelled like her perfume. Soft, sweet, full.

She looked up at me with a slow smile. “You’re late,” she said.

“I was out,” I replied, my voice low.

“Yeah? Doing what?” she asked, sitting up a little. The blanket slid down, revealing more of her skin.

“Talking to Jack.”

“About me?”

I hesitated. “No.”

She tilted her head. “About Diane then.”

Her tone changed, knowing.

I didn’t say anything.

Amanda stood and walked toward me, her body swaying slightly with each step she took. Her eyes were fixed on mine, daring me to look away. But I didn’t.

“You’ve been quiet all week,” she said softly, placing her hands on my chest. “Thinking about her again?”

I swallowed. “No.”

She smiled, but there was no warmth in it. “You’re a bad liar, Mike.”

Her hand slid down my chest slowly, her touch was light but firm. I felt my heartbeat pick up.

“Forget her,” she whispered. “She’s gone. And you’re mine alone.”

Her lips brushed against my neck. My body reacted before my brain did. She kissed me again, slower this time, and I didn’t stop her.

I couldn’t.