She Cured Him, I Cured Myself

Isiah froze, his eyes bulging as he ground his teeth. "Just because I can't perform, you want a divorce? Floria, have you lost your mind?"

Ignoring the doubt in his stare, I nodded casually and swept all the medicine from the table into the trash bin.

"I'm doing just fine. I just don't want to play widow at my age." I shrugged. "What's the issue? Didn't you receive the divorce agreement?"

His expression hardened, humiliation fueling his rage. "You want a divorce? On what grounds?"

He clamped down on my wrist. "You said you didn't mind, that you'd stick by me until I was cured. Now you're bailing? How can you be so shallow?"

He pressed closer, his fury seeming all too real, but I wasn't in the mood for his games today. I wrenched free and glared. "Yeah, I'm shallow. So go find someone who's not."

My eyes narrowed, flicking mockingly to the pocket where he'd stashed the photo. "Someone like Zoe."

His brows knit tight. After a long silence, he let out a chuckle, his tone softening like he was coaxing a child. "So, you're jealous, huh? Zoe and I are just colleagues, nothing more. Leaving you hanging today was my bad. I promise, I'll cooperate fully with the treatment from now on."

He reached for my damp, chilled jacket, trying to peel it off. I slapped his hand away, snatching my bag and heading for the bedroom with a cold laugh. "Cooperate? With what? You all kicked me out of the group chat. Why keep up the charade?"

He blocked the doorway, eyes wide with feigned innocence. "That never happened. Those idiots were just talking trash. I did it to keep you from getting the wrong idea, so..."

Zoe's call cut him off in mid-sentence. His face twisted in worry as he muttered, "Zoe's got some trouble. I need to handle it."

He changed his shoes and bolted out of the house. See? His lies always caught up to him.

I leaned against the doorframe, a wry hum escaping me. "Go on, then. You two sort out those needs of yours."

The jab hit home, and he whirled back, fury erupting. "Do you have to be so vicious, Floria?"

I didn't bother replying, and it was like punching cotton. He slammed the door on his way out, frustration echoing in the empty villa.

The once-cozy home felt barren now. I flashed back to the early days, pouring my family's fortune into the hospital to fuel his doctor dreams.

I'd supported him quietly from the shadows, even hiring Zoe at his insistence. And this was my reward. Inviting the wolf inside.

I lowered my gaze and dialed a real estate agent. "Hello, I have a house for urgent sale."

The next day, I went to the hospital to clear out my office, craving a real break. But as I lugged my box toward the exit, Zoe blocked my path, thrusting a bag at me with a saccharine smile.

"Floria, I heard you're still treating Isiah's issue. He goes all night when I wear this lingerie, so I got you a set," she said, her eyes gleaming with brazen triumph.

I snatched the lingerie and crammed it into her mouth. "Wear it yourself. I'm divorcing him. You can have the trash."

She choked, coughing wildly. "Floria, I didn't mean any harm. Are you just embarrassed by how cheap my gift is?"

Isiah came rushing over, his face thunderous. He backhanded me across the cheek. "Floria! Apologize to her now!"

Zoe's eyes flashed with cunning before she softened into the victim role, cooing at him. "It's fine, Isiah. She's probably just too high-class for something so inexpensive."

Isiah glared at me, his fury building. "Being snooty doesn't give you the right to shove it in her face. Bow and apologize to her immediately!"

The commotion drew a crowd, all of them whispering and pointing at me accusingly.

I bit down hard, staring at Isiah in disbelief as he twisted the truth. Raising my voice, I shot back, "Apologize? Did you ever think about us while you were sneaking around behind my back?"

"Shut up!" He clamped a hand over my lips, eyeing the crowd. "Are you deranged? Keep slandering Zoe, and I'll have you suspended."

"No need. I quit." I shoved his hand off and turned to leave.