Chapter 28 #28

Chapter 28 #28
Chapter 28
Shailyn

The next morning, work felt heavier than usual.

As soon as I stepped into the office, my phone buzzed nonstop. Messages stacked one after the other, lighting up my screen like an accusation I couldn't ignore.

Hannah: Shailyn, this is who Dante is. Please listen to me.

I sighed and locked my phone, shoving it into my bag with more force than necessary.

But I couldn't focus. Not with the weight of every pair of eyes in the office landing on me like stones.

People stared. Some tried not to, stealing glances when they thought I wasn't looking, their conversations dropping to hushed whispers the moment I walked past. Others didn't bother hiding it at all, their gazes following me openly, unashamedly curious about the woman at the center of the latest Belmar scandal.

Whispers followed me like a shadow, clinging to my footsteps no matter where I went.

"Is that her?"

"She stayed?"

"I thought she'd leave him by now."

"Can you imagine? After everything in those photos?"

My shoulders stiffened with each comment, each pitying look, each barely concealed smirk. I kept my eyes forward, my chin up, refusing to let them see how much their judgment was getting to me. But inside, I felt like I was crumbling, piece by piece.

Then Dante walked in.

The office energy shifted immediately. People straightened in their chairs, conversations died mid-sentence, and suddenly everyone was very interested in their computer screens.

He didn't hesitate. He strode across the office floor with that confident swagger he always had, completely unbothered by the stares, by the whispers, by the scandal that had his face plastered all over the internet.

He came straight to me.

Without a word, he laced his fingers through mine, his grip warm and possessive. Then he lifted my hand and pressed a kiss to my knuckles, his lips lingering there just long enough to make a statement.

"Good morning, my love," he said, his voice pitched not so loud but loud enough for those around us to hear. Loud enough to make it clear exactly where he stood. Loud enough to claim me in front of everyone watching.

The office went quiet. Every eye turned toward us, some shocked, some approving, some clearly disappointed that the scandal hadn't torn us apart.

I forced a smile, trying to match his calm confidence even though my heart was hammering against my ribs. "Morning."

He leaned in closer and whispered against my ear, his breath warm on my skin, "Ignore them."

I nodded, not trusting my voice.

"They'll get tired," he said calmly, straightening up but keeping my hand in his. "They always do. Give it a few days and they'll find someone else to gossip about."

When he finally let go and headed toward his office, the whispers resumed, louder now, more animated. I could feel the speculation buzzing through the air like electricity.

Then I felt a presence beside me. 

"Did you see my text?" Hannah asked quietly, her voice careful, like she was approaching a wounded animal.

I didn't look at her. I kept my eyes fixed on my screen, my fingers hovering uselessly over the keyboard. "I'm busy."

"Shailyn…" Her voice was softer now, pleading.

"Why are you pushing this?" I snapped, turning sharply toward her, all my frustration and confusion boiling over at once. "Why won't you just mind your business?"

Her eyes widened, hurt flashing across her face. "I'm trying to help you."

"Help me?" I scoffed. "By spreading lies? By trying to convince me that my husband is some kind of monster?"

"I didn't spread anything," she said. "I warned you. There's a difference."

"You warned me?" My laugh was sharp, bitter. "Or you created it? Did you make those photos, Hannah? Did you hire someone to follow my husband around and take pictures just so you could ruin my marriage?"

She stared at me like I'd slapped her. "What?"

"Dante told me everything," I said, the words tumbling out now, fueled by the anger that had been building all morning. "He said you're jealous. That you've always been. That you can't stand to see me happy with him."

"That's not true," she whispered, her face going pale. "Shailyn, that's not true at all."

"Then why are you doing this?" I demanded, my hands clenched into fists on my desk. "Are you a friend or a foe, Hannah? Because friends don't do things like this. Friends don't try to destroy the people they claim to care about."

"I didn't do anything," she said, her voice shaking now, tears starting to pool in her eyes. "I swear to you, I didn't do anything. Those photos are real. The scandal is real. And Dante is lying to you."

"Stop lying!" I said. "Why would you try to ruin my marriage? What did I ever do to you to deserve this?"

"I'm not," she said, tears spilling over now, running down her cheeks. "I'm trying to save you."

"From what?" I shot back, standing up now, my chair rolling backward with the force of my movement.

"From him," she said softly, her voice barely above a whisper but somehow cutting through all the noise around us.

I folded my arms across my chest, a defensive barrier between us. "You're unbelievable."

She took a shaky breath, wiping at her eyes with the back of her hand. "One day, all of this will make sense."

I frowned, my anger faltering slightly in the face of her strange certainty. "What will make sense?"

She wiped her cheek again, composing herself with visible effort. "Everything."

"That's not an answer," I said, frustrated by her vague cryptic statements.

"I know," she said calmly, her voice steadier now even as tears continued to slide down her face. "But I can't force you to see it. You have to see it for yourself."

Instead, she said quietly, almost gently, "He's filling your mind with lies."

I stiffened, my defenses slamming back into place. "You don't get to talk about my husband like that."

"He's manipulating you," she continued, her tone still gentle, almost pitying. "And I know you don't believe me now, but you will, soon." she said, her eyes locked on mine with an intensity that made me uncomfortable. 

"Very soon. The truth always comes out, Shailyn. Always."

I shook my head, breaking eye contact. "You sound insane."

She gave a sad smile, one that didn't reach her eyes. "I probably do. I know how I sound. But that doesn't make me wrong."

Silence stretched between us, thick and uncomfortable. 

"If you were really my friend," I said finally, my voice cold and final, "you'd stop. You'd respect my choices. You'd trust me to know what's best for my own life."

She nodded slowly, picking up her bag from her desk. "I can't."

"Why not?" I demanded.

"Because you matter to me," she said simply, shouldering her bag. "Because I made a promise to myself that I wouldn't stand by and watch you get hurt."

I scoffed, turning away from her. "You have a funny way of showing it. Some friend you are."

She stood there for a moment longer, and I could feel her eyes on me, I could feel her hesitation, like she wanted to say more but couldn't find the words.

Finally, she moved toward the elevator, but she paused before pressing the button, turning back one last time.

"I'm not your enemy, Shailyn," she said, her voice carrying across the quiet office.

"Sure feels like it," I replied without looking at her.

She paused, then said softly, each word weighted with meaning, "When the truth comes out, remember I tried. Remember that I was here, trying to protect you, even when you hated me for it."

I watched her walk away, her shoulders slumped with defeat, and felt my chest tight with irritation and confusion. 

What was she talking about?

I shook my head and turned back to my screen, forcing myself to focus on the code in front of me.

I won't believe her. She's just being a lot for someone who claims to be my friend. I won't allow a friend to question my trust for my husband.