Chapter 8
Life got better day by day, and my account even landed two sponsored posts.
Watching that five-figure income hit my bank account, I couldn’t help tearing up a little.
At least this life wasn’t wasted-I was finally more than just some useless parasite waiting to die.
If I faced setbacks again this time, at least I’d have real skills to fall back on.
Maybe the universe didn’t want me getting too comfortable, because just as I was editing videos at home, Marcus suddenly called saying Derek had been
irrested.
freaked out and rushed to the law firm.
The moment I saw Marcus, I grabbed him and asked, “Wasn’t he on a business trip? How did he get arrested?”
Marcus looked frustrated. “Yeah, he went to negotiate a partnership deal with Nora. Somehow they both got drunk and ended up sleeping together. Now Nora’s laiming he raped her.”
My head was spinning and I went completely numb.
Is Nora insane? There’s no way Derek would rape her!”
Marcus was equally speechless and took a deep breath.
That woman’s always been trouble. If she could go overseas for a hundred grand back then, she can definitely try to take Derek down with her now that she
an’t have him.”
How could you guys keep working with someone like that?”
Sorry, I got greedy wanting access to her connections.”
thought it over, feeling like all this recent growth had actually made me smarter. I whispered a few words to Marcus.
wo days later, Nora couldn’t contain herself anymore and called to meet me at the park.
I was a beautiful sunny day.
[ora sat on a bench in heels and a business suit, tilting her head at an angle.
he looked at me with a hint of madness in her eyes.
sadora, you came.”
sat down next to her.
Yeah.”
Turn off that camera in your pocket. It’s illegal.”
silently pulled out the device and set it on the bench.
he glanced at me smugly.
And your phone too. Turn off the recording.”
obediently complied again.
Jora looked me up and down. “You really are… different now. No wonder Derek won’t divorce you this time.”
The words “this time” made my eyelid twitch.
The next second, she said, “So tell me, what will it take for you to let him go? Whatever your conditions are, I’ll agree to them.”
he had it completely backwards, like she was the actual wife.
1 looked at her blankly. “I don’t want to divorce Derek,”
Nora cut me off, “If you don’t divorce him, he’ll go to prison!”
“Rape cases are impossible to prove either way, and I have physical evidence of what he did to me. It’s a slam dunk.”
“Isadora Morrison, don’t use your ignorance to challenge my expertise. I’m only asking once-will you divorce him or not?”
Instead I jumped up furiously, glaring at her. “I believe in Derek! He would never touch another woman, he would never rape you. You’re definitely framing
him!”
Angry tears streamed down my face as I turned red, looking completely disheveled.
Nora stood up with a cold laugh and shoved me.
Yeah, I am framing him. So what?”
I already told you, I’m the one who’s supposed to spend his whole life with him. All the money he makes should be mine. I should be part of his bright future.”
But Derek wouldn’t listen. He called me crazy, said I was delusional.”
Hahaha, I knew him first! We were married in our past life! Why doesn’t he want me now?”
Nora’s features twisted as she smiled, speaking each word clearly. “So I’m going to destroy him and drag him to hell.”
And you too-you should both die together!”
the raised her hand to grab my throat but I knocked it away.
hen I slapped her hard across the face.
Keep dreaming, you psycho. Let’s see who sends who to hell.”
Not far away, a car that had been parked for a while opened its doors and several police officers got out.
omeone retrieved a listening device from under the bench.
Marcus grinned at Nora. “Counselor Sullivan, deliberately framing someone is a serious crime for a practicing lawyer. You’re screwed.”
‘d thought of this move back at the law firm-installing equipment in all the monitored areas of the park.
ust waiting for Nora to get cocky and incriminate herself.
he truth finally came out, and Nora would pay the price for it.
is they put her in the car, she was still screaming at me. “Isadora Morrison, why won’t you get divorced? This is all your fault-”
reaking the law as a lawyer, Nora had her license revoked.
ince Derek and I refused to sign a settlement, she also faced prison time.
>erek was released the day Nora got arrested.
Hotel surveillance footage revealed the truth too-Nora admitted she’d created the physical evidence herself. Derek had been passed out drunk, completely inable and unwilling to do anything.
Walking out of the police station, Derek looked at me. “Isadora’s really gotten stronger. You handled this beautifully.”
felt pretty badass myself-managing to methodically get my husband out of jail.
After organizing the whole story and posting it online, I made another killing in engagement.
While I was counting money until my hands shook, Derek was having an emo moment in bed.
He was buried under the covers pouting like a child. “I’m dirty now.”
I was responding to comments, distracted. “Mmhmm.”
You mist Hunk I’m disgusting now.”
“Then look at me.*
“Okay.”
I held up my phone and turned in a different direction.
Derek grabbed my face and kissed me.
Isadora, try brushing me off again and see what happens.”
Shit, my money tree was mad. Better kiss some ass.
