No More Forgiveness Tokens

He'd used soda can tabs as replacement rings just to get through the ceremony with me.

That night, I got so mad I kicked him out of bed.

"Dave, you're seriously the worst. I'm writing you into my grudge journal."

Instead of getting upset, he laughed.

"Write whatever you want. I'll win you back every time."

I knew he'd misunderstood what the diary really meant, but I didn't explain. I just gave a vague nod.

Dave was probably thinking about our newlywed days. For once, a rare smile showed up on his usually cold face.

"See? Told you I'd win you back eventually. So quit holding grudges. Here."

He handed me another property deed, then casually pulled me into his arms.

"It's a new downtown development. I saved one just for you to mess around with. PR already handled the videos, and next month I'll help you get back into the industry, okay?"

The staff outside the door peeked in, their faces full of envy.

But I stayed stiff and blank.

"Whatever you want."

When neither kindness nor pressure worked on me, his expression darkened.

"Are you seriously still fighting me over this?"

I looked up at him calmly.

"No. How would I dare, Mr. Tarrett?"

My tone instantly set him off.

"Bianca, I was the one who filmed those videos, and I'm the reason Maggie ever got her hands on the camera. If you're angry, take it out on me. Got it?"

A heavy pressure slammed against my chest.

For Maggie, he would do anything.

Even lower himself in front of me.

Even sacrifice himself for her.

Suddenly, I felt drained.

I didn't want to keep fighting them anymore.

So I answered quietly,

"I understand."

When I didn't argue like he expected, Dave stared at me with clenched teeth for a long moment before slamming the door on his way out.

***

The next day, Dave texted me and told me to come to the golf course.

I was about to refuse when another message popped up right after.

[Come over. Count it as a forgiveness token.]

I looked at those words and realized this would be the last one.

So I went anyway.

The second I stepped onto the private golf course, I realized Dave wasn't there.

Then someone slammed a kick to my back, sending me face-first onto the ground.

Maggie's voice floated over, cold and smug.

"Stop looking for him. I'm the one who called you here."

Two bodyguards grabbed me before I could move.

Then the golf clubs came down on my leg. Hard. Again and again.

Blood sprayed across the grass. Pain ripped through me so badly I screamed.

Fighting through it, I shouted, "Maggie, are you actually insane?!"

She gave me a fake-sweet smile, poison practically dripping from her eyes.

"Why? Everyone already hates you, but Dave still won't divorce you. He even said he wants to make it up to you and help you come back. So tell me. Why?!"

Dave treated her like a queen.

Apparently, one little comment meant to brush me aside was enough for her to lose her mind like this.

I looked at her coldly. "I was never competing with you."

Guess that satisfied her ego for a second, because she let out this smug little snort.

"But I still can't stand looking at you. You're some big international supermodel, right? Then let's see how you seduce Dave after I ruin one of your legs."

Her eyes dropped to the blood soaking through my pant leg, disgust flashing across her face.

Then she noticed a golf ball nearby.

A weird smile curled across her lips.

"Take off her pants!"

Her voice turned sharp.

"Too bad the egg challenge didn't happen last time. Lucky for us, there's a golf ball right here. Bianca, trust me—you're gonna have the time of your life today."

Rolling the golf ball around in her hand, she ordered the bodyguards to strip me.

I fought like crazy, screaming until my throat felt shredded raw.

Maggie just giggled next to my ear. She grabbed my face, her fake nails scraping bloody lines across my skin.