Chapter 122 #122
Chapter 122
~Shailyn's POV~
Ha.
What a day.
I lay on my bed, still in the pink dress, staring at the ceiling.
My phone buzzed.
Dwayne: Happy New Year. Are you okay?
I smiled despite everything.
Me: I’m fine. You?
Dwayne: Been better. That was one hell of a night.
Me: That's one way to put it.
Dwayne: I'm sorry I punched him in front of you.
Me: Don't be. He deserved it.
Dwayne: Still. It probably made things harder for you.
Me: Nothing I can't handle.
Dwayne: I know. You're stronger than anyone gives you credit for.
I stared at those words for a long moment.
Another message came through.
Dwayne: Get some rest. Tomorrow's going to be interesting.
Me: Not looking forward to it.
Dwayne: We'll get through it. Together.
Together.
I liked the sound of that.
My mind suddenly went to Hannah. Oh wait a friend I have!
Flashback - Earlier That Night
Hannah had cornered me in the bathroom at the chance she could get.
"Shailyn!" She grabbed my shoulders. "When you said you had a video, I thought it was someone else! I should have asked. I should have double-checked what I was uploading!"
"Hannah, it's fine—"
"It's not fine! That was you! He was choking you and I just, I put it up there for everyone to see without even knowing—"
"Hannah, stop. Breathe."
She took a shaky breath, tears in her eyes. "Are you okay? Please tell me you're okay."
"I'm fine."
"How can you be fine? Everyone saw—"
"Everyone needed to see." I took her hands. "This was the plan. Show them who Dante really is."
"But you….you didn't tell me it was you in that video."
"Because you wouldn't have used it if you knew."
"Of course I wouldn't have! Shailyn, that's….that's private. That's traumatic. You shouldn't have to relive that in front of hundreds of people."
"I wasn't reliving it. I was weaponizing it."
She stared at me. "What?"
"I needed something that would hit hard. Something undeniable. That video shows exactly what Dante is capable of."
"But the cost—"
"Is worth it. Trust me."
Hannah pulled me into a tight hug. "I'm so sorry. I'm so sorry you went through that. I'm so sorry I didn't know."
I hugged her back. "It's not your fault."
"When did it happen? When did he—"
"Few months ago, right after you joined the company. I said something about divorcing. He didn't like it. Said I was neglecting my duties as his wife. That we are meant to be for life and I can't leave him.”
"Oh my God."
"He grabbed me. Pushed me against the wall. Then his hands were around my throat and I couldn't—I couldn't breathe, Hannah. I thought I was going to die."
"Shailyn—"
"Someone knocked on the door. His assistant needed him to sign something. That's the only reason he stopped."
"Did you tell anyone?"
"Who would I tell? His family? They'd just cover it up. My family? My mother can't speak and my father is dead."
"You could have told me."
"I couldn't. I should have. But I was ashamed. Embarrassed. I thought you didn't even know me enough. I thought maybe it was my fault—"
"Don't. Don't you dare blame yourself for his actions."
"I'm not. Not anymore." I pulled back to look at her.
"That girl who thought she deserved that? She's gone."
"Good."
"You know what's funny?"
"What?"
"I spent my whole life thinking no one could ever really love me. I was too awkward. Too nervous. Too insecure about my body. My stage fright. Everything."
"Shailyn—"
"But then I found someone who saw me. Really saw me. And loved me anyway." I smiled. "I guess I finally found someone now."
Hannah's eyes widened. "Dwayne."
"Yeah."
"Oh, Shailyn."
"I know it's complicated. I know there are a million reasons why it's wrong. But Hannah, when I'm with him, I feel—"
"Seen?"
"Yes. Exactly that. Seen. Valued. Like I matter for who I am, not what I can do for him."
She hugged me again. "You deserve that. You deserve all of that."
"Thank you."
"So what now?"
“With Dwayne, I just left the universe play out. I still don't trust him enough but he makes me feel things I can't hide. He protects me even without me asking. But I don't know what to do. I just wait.”
“I'm happy you feel this way and I trust your judgement. But don't loose yourself in the process, remember that you will always have me.” She said.
“I just hope I'm not making a mistake Hannah.” I said to her worriedly.
“No, you're not. You're allowed to love someone who's incredible and will treat you right.”
“What if it isn't how it is? This is how Dante acted at first before he started misbehaving.”
“Don't overthink it Shailyn. You're an amazing person. And even a fool can tell how much Dante expresses his love even without him saying it.”
“But how do I tell him about the babies?”
“Shailyn! Just let everything happen naturally. You don't need to beat yourself up. I'm sure Dante already love the babies.”
“Okay. Thank you Hannah. Thank you so much.”
“Anytime babe.” “What about Dante?” Hannah asked.
"Now I wait."
"For what?"
"For Dante to crash. Let him walk on eggshells for a while. Let him think he's fixing things. Then I'll push again."
"Push what?"
"Another revelation. Another crack in his perfect image. Until the whole thing shatters."
Hannah grinned. "I love this version of you."
"The vengeful one?"
"The strong one. The one who fights back."
"I'm out for blood, Hannah."
"Good. He deserves it."
End Flashback
\---
I pulled myself off the bed and changed into pajamas.
Dante was still in his study, probably trying to do damage control.
Let him scramble.
Let him panic.
I had time.
But there was still one more person I needed to deal with.
Tyler.
The man who murdered my father.
Who took Kingsley Henson from me before I even got to know him.
I needed to think of something perfect. Something that would destroy him completely.
But what? He was a hard man to deal with. He was already crippled but just that won't do. I won't kill him physically. I don't have the mind for that.
I paced my room, mind racing through possibilities.
My phone buzzed.
I opened the message.
A video file. I pressed play.
The quality was grainy at first, but the audio was crystal clear.
My heart started pounding while listening and watching it.
The video ended.
I stared at my phone, hands shaking.
Oh my God, oh my God. I had to do something fast.