Dorian gave me the address to his apartment, and I keyed it into the GPS without a word.


    The car was silent except for the asional turn-by-turn from the navigation system.


    Neither of us spoke. Honestly, I was too embarrassed even to try.


    When we reached his building. Dorian didn''t get out right away. Instead, he turned to me.


    *


    29%


    "Ada, what exactly happened between you and Jude?" His voice was calm butced with concern. "I''ve been out of the country for years. All I knew was that you two got married."


    Topened my mouth and then closed it again.


    What was I supposed to tell him?


    That over thest three years, Jude had paraded woman after woman through our home?


    That my cancer hade back, and I had no idea how much time I had left.


    In the end, I just shook my head. "Dorian, it doesn''t matter anymore. I''m divorcing him. That''s all that counts.""


    And it was true. Divorce wasn''t just an option-it was inevitable. I had no intention of wasting the time I had left entangled in Jude''s mess.


    Dorian studied me for a long moment, then finally pulled out his phone."Alright. Add me. Text me your number."


    I did as he asked, watching as he walked into his building.


    Before disappearing inside, he messaged me on WhatsApp.


    Dorian: [Whatever you decide, I''m behind you. If he gives you trouble, just tell me. I''ll be there-anytime.]


    I stared at thosest few words, a strange ache blooming in my chest.


    Dorian had always been that way.


    Back in college, he knew I had a thing for Jude. Even when Jude barely


    acknowledged me, Dorian still chased after me, always showing up, always there,


    Everyone knew he liked me, but I pretended not to notice, keeping him at a distance.


    Still, he never gave up.


    When I finally started dating Jude, I remember hearing that Dorian had gotten drunk that night. One of his dormmates even called me, asking me to


    check in on him.


    I didn''t go. Thought it was inappropriate.


    Later, I got a text from a number i didn''t recognize: if you ever need anything, I''m here. Just tell me.)


    I didn''t find out it was from Dorian until after he graduated.


    He''d chased me for years, and I didn''t even haye his number.


    Thaye!


    I shook my head, trying to snap out of it. I needed to drive my brain was fried, and


    if I scratched Casey''s car, she''d have my head.


    Ingeded


    When I got home, I was hoping to find hey there, but the ce was empty,


    17:01 Thu, 8 May GO


    Still, I spotted a box of cream puffs on the table-definitely her doing. I smiled.


    She must''ve dropped by and rushed out again.


    Just thinking about her-and Dorian-brought a sudden sting to my eyes. Maybe I wasn''t such a failure after all.


    Sure, I''d chosen the wrong man, but my friends? They were good.


    I ended up eating the cream puffs and crashing on the couch.


    By the time I woke up the next morning, my neck was killing me. I stumbled into


    the bathroom to wash up, head tilted to one side.


    My phone buzzed as I brushed my teeth. Casey''s husky voice rang out over the speaker, urgent and full of static.


    "Ada, check the news. Right now. You went to the station yesterday? Is it true?" she asked.


    WhatsApp notifications exploded on my screen-one after another. My poor ears.


    I nced at the links she sent. They were all about Jude''s little scandal at the police station.


    Not only had someone snapped photos of him and Vivian, but there were also shots of me and Dorian.


    29%


    [Carson Family Scandal: CEO and Wife Arrive Separately with Their Alleged Lovers; ude Carson Allegedly Caught Cheating, Gets Beaten at Police Station; Public Image Shattered: The Fall of the "Devoted Husband"]


    Most of theizens seemed level-headed. After reading some breakdowns and receipts, it was clear to anyone with eyes that Jude had been cheating.


    Still, there were always trolls.


    [Maybe if the wife weren''t so bony and depressing, her man wouldn''t have strayed.]


    [Mrs. Carson showed up with her boy toy, too. Rich people really do y by their own rules.]


    He''s been trying to leave her for ages, but she''s clinging to his money. So pathetic.]


    started it, I had no idea-but somehow the narrative had twisted, and suddenly, I was the viin.


    on the other hand, had magically be some fearless, loye-driven heroine. mistresses could be role models, she was apparently top of the list. Reading some of thements, I could practically hear her voice behind them. The same smug, faux-innocent tone.


    I closed the browser.


    "Don''t worry about it," I told Casey. "It''s Jude''s scandal. It''ll hit the Carson family the hardest. Has nothing to do with me."


    And I believed that.


    Even when I got to the office and people stared at me like I was a walking tabloid headline, I didn''t flinch, I had work to do. Let them whisper.


    Better the dirtyundry got aired now no one could twist the story and make me the viin once the divorce papers were filed.


    Vivian strutted over to my deskter, practically glowing with self-importance.


    "Judy wants to see you. Upstairs. Hurry,"


    She said it like she owned the damn building.


    A few others chimed in, clearly on her side.


    Thu, 8 May


    10


    29%


    +15


    I got up and gave her a tight smile. "Appreciate it. With phones and WhatsApp these days, it must be tough having to run errands the old-fashioned way. Must be hard being an assistant."


    I didn''t wait for her reaction. I just headed upstairs.


    It wasn''t hard to guess what Jude wanted-probably to me me for the PR


    disaster.


    But instead of yelling, he told me to go home and change.


    "We''re going to Grandpa''s house," he said. "Don''t dress like a charity case."