While My Husband Cheated, I Married His Powerful Brother

The room was still buzzing from the recording.

Xiomara’s hands were shaking and her face was pale. But she was not done.

She lunged toward Professor Sterling. Her fingers dug into his sleeve.

"Professor, please," she said. Her voice was high. Desperate. "She made that recording. She faked it. She’s been planning this for weeks. She wanted to destroy me."

Professor Sterling’s face was hard. He did not pull away. But he did not comfort her either.

Xiomara’s eyes darted to Veyra. Her expression shifted. She dropped her voice. Made it very small and so pitiful.

"Please," she said. "Why are you doing this to me? What did I ever do to you?"

Veyra stared at her.

"You insulted my husband," she said. "You called him names. You mocked him. And now you’re pretending to be the victim."

Xiomara shook her head. "I didn’t mean it. I was angry. I was upset. You were attacking me."

"I was defending myself."

Xiomara turned to Wesley. Her voice was loud. "She’s using you. She’s using your power to bully me. You’re a gang leader. You can make anyone disappear. She knows that. She’s using you."

Wesley’s expression did not change.

Xiomara’s eyes were wet. Her voice cracked.

"Please," she said. "I’m begging you. Don’t let her do this to me."

She dropped to her knees.

The sound of her knees hitting the floor was loud in the quiet room.

She looked up at Veyra. Her face was streaked with tears.

"I’m sorry," she said. "I’m sorry for everything. I was wrong. I was jealous. I was petty. Please forgive me."

Veyra looked down at her.

"Get up," she said.

Xiomara did not move.

"I said get up."

Xiomara stayed on her knees.

Veyra’s voice was flat. "You’re not sorry. You’re just scared."

Professor Sterling’s face was pale. His hands were shaking.

He looked at Xiomara. Then at Veyra. Then at Wesley.

He was trapped.

He had come here to defend Xiomara. He had believed her lies. He had humiliated himself in front of Wesley Wynn.

If he admitted he was wrong, he would lose face. If he continued to defend her, he would look like a fool.

He made his choice.

He stepped forward. His voice was cold.

"Xiomara is not lying," he said. "The recording is fabricated. I’ve seen these tactics before. She’s trying to manipulate the situation."

Veyra’s eyebrows rose. "You’re siding with her?"

"I’m stating the very truth here."

Xiomara’s face lit up so fast and she immediately grabbed his arm from her kneeling position.

"Thank you, Professor," she said. "Thank you for believing me."

Her smile was triumphant.

Veyra looked at Professor Sterling.

"You’re really going to do this," she said. "You’re going to stand there and pretend she’s innocent."

Professor Sterling’s face was red. "I’m standing up for the truth."

"The truth?" Veyra laughed. "You don’t know the truth. You’ve never known the truth."

She turned to Xiomara and repeated once again.

"Get up," she said.

Xiomara did not move at all.

"I said get up to your feet." Veyra repeated but Xiomara stayed on her knees and her face was smug.

Veyra moved.

Her hand shot out and it connected with Xiomara’s cheek.

The slap was so loud and sharp. Xiomara’s head snapped to the side and she fell to the floor.

The room went silent.

Xiomara lay on the ground. Her hand was on her cheek. Her eyes were wide.

She looked at Veyra. Then at Professor Sterling. Then at Wesley.

Professor Sterling’s face was red. His voice was loud.

"Madam!" he shouted. "You cannot—"

Veyra ignored him.

She stepped over Xiomara and she walked toward Wesley.

Her voice was calm. "I need a gun."

Wesley blinked. "Excuse me?"

"I need a gun. Right now."

Wesley looked at Dorian and Dorian nodded.

Wesley reached into his jacket. He pulled out the same pistol he had shown Veyra earlier. The Desert Eagle. Black. Heavy.

He handed it to her.

"Safety’s on," he said.

Veyra took it. Her fingers wrapped around the grip. She disengaged the safety.

She turned.

Xiomara was still on the floor. Her eyes were wide now and her mouth was open.

Veyra walked toward her and ahe stopped in front of her. She looked down.

She pressed the muzzle against Xiomara’s forehead.