"You idiot, did you hear what everyone’s saying?" Jessica’s voice sliced through the low hum of conversation around us, sharp and deliberate. The cruel edge in her tone made my stomach churn, and the smirk on her lips only deepened the sting of her words.
"Do you really think dragging Scott to an event like this is going to help you hold on to being his wife?" she sneered, her voice thick with mockery.
She paused, letting her words settle in the air, the smirk on her face widening as if she were savoring the impact of each syllable. “Everyone here thinks you don’t deserve him. So, what are you going to do about that, huh?”
That was the final straw.
My patience snapped, and tears welled up in my eyes. I shoved her away—not hard, just enough to put some space between us. I didn’t want her so close to me.
But somehow, Jessica stumbled and fell to the ground, her graceful composure faltering just enough to make her look vulnerable. Her brows knit together slightly, as though she were trying to mask the pain.
“Jessica!” one of her friends cried, rushing to her side.
She turned her anger on me, shoving me hard enough that I stumbled back.
“You’re insane!” she spat. “Jessica was only trying to help you calm down, and this is how you repay her? Turns out you’re not just dumb—you’re downright vicious!”
I wasn’t expecting the push and lost my balance. My hip collided with the sharp edge of the coffee table, and I let out a gasp as pain shot through my stomach. Before I could steady myself, I felt something warm trickling down my leg. A wave of panic surged through me as I realized what was happening.
Just then, a familiar voice cut through the commotion. “What the hell is going on here?”
Through my tears, I looked up to see Scott. Relief and humiliation crashed over me in equal measure.
“Scott, I…” I began, my voice trembling.
But before I could say anything more, Jessica’s friend jumped in, her finger pointed accusingly at me.
“Look at Jessica!” she cried. “Your wife pushed her! Jessica was just trying to help, and this is how she gets treated?”
She turned on Scott with indignation. “What were you even thinking, bringing her here? You know this is Jessica’s first event since coming back. Are you trying to humiliate her by letting this fool ruin the night?”