Chapter 3

The hype around the livestream kept climbing, as the number of viewers shot past a million, pouring in nonstop.

Just then, out of the corner of my eye, I spotted Mario standing at the front door, clutching a grocery bag.

The moment I saw him, my heart skipped a beat—like I'd finally found someone I could lean on, and also like my every weakness was suddenly exposed.

"Mario..." I called out softly.

But before I could finish, Mario's voice—usually warm and magnetic—came out glacial and cold.

"Slut," he spat.

Camron instantly perked up, swinging the camera straight at Mario and me.

I was rooted to the spot, for a split second thinking I'd imagined it.

"You're disgusting," Mario spat.

I never would've guessed Mario—a guy who was always so soft-spoken and decent—would lash out like that.

My throat was tight, and I could barely get the words out as I asked, "Mario, do you have any idea what you're saying right now?"

After Camron and I split up, I was pretty much in a downward spiral for ages—until Mario showed up in my life.

He was always so gentle and understanding, knowing I'd been through heartbreak, always looking out for me and never making me feel neglected or mistreated.

I used to think, compared to someone like Camron, who turned cold the moment he started making money, Mario was the sensible one, someone who actually cared about me.

But now, it was as if he'd become a totally different person.

"I thought I'd struck gold, but turns out I just dragged a piece of trash up from the gutter. Can't believe I actually married someone like you," he sneered.

"Daphne, let's get divorced. From here on, you're on your own. You brought this on yourself—do enough bad things and it'll all come back to haunt you," he said coldly.

I knew Camron's lies might've messed with his head, and even though it hurt, I still reached out, hoping to hold Mario back. "Just calm down, Mario. I can explain everything."

But Mario dodged me like I was contagious, shooting me a look of pure loathing. "Don't even think about touching me, you dirty woman."

With that, he ripped off his wedding ring, hurled it to the floor, and stomped on it twice for good measure.

"People online are dragging your name through the mud, and you still dare to talk about explaining yourself to me?" Mario spat.

"I've spent plenty of money on you these past few years. When I draft the divorce agreement, you can bet I'll tally up every last cent. No way I'm letting a gold-digger like you get even a single penny more than you deserve," he sneered.

Mario turned to leave, and without thinking, I grabbed his sleeve. But he spun around and slapped me hard across the face.

I stood there, stunned, my face turned to the side from the blow, tears welling up in my eyes.

Camron excitedly pointed the camera right at my face, smirking. "Check out the homewrecker crying."

Camron couldn't help showing off to the chat, "Good thing my wife swooped in just in time and opened my eyes—otherwise I'd be as unlucky as that other guy, getting tricked into marrying a gold-digger."

Right then, Camron's phone started ringing—it was a call from Adelynn.

He answered immediately, sounding panicked. "Babe, I've been freaking out about you."

Adelynn was all fake tears on the line.

"Honey, Daphne's feeling down again and insisted on grabbing some drinks with a bunch of guys. You know I can't stand the smell of smoke or booze, and I didn't want you to worry, so I just went back to the villa in the suburbs to rest," she said, sounding oh-so concerned.

Camron jumped in, "It's all on me, babe. Want me to come get you right now?"

"No need, honey. The nanny just made me some nutritious soup, so I'm gonna nap for a bit after having it. I only called so you wouldn't worry. Once I'm feeling better tonight, I'll come home," Adelynn replied in her sweetest voice.

"Oh, and by the way, Daphne got burned by some guy again and she's pretty upset. Don't give her a hard time, okay, honey?" she added, still loaded with fake sympathy.

Hearing Adelynn's cute and playful tone, Camron couldn't help but go all soft inside. He sweet-talked her a bit more before finally ending the call.

The whole thing was livestreamed, and the chat went wild—everyone was calling Adelynn a total angel, the kind of woman you almost never find.

I curled my lips into a mocking grin. "Camron, wanna bet? I guarantee you Adelynn's not sitting pretty at home—she's shacked up at some hotel with another guy right now."

Camron nearly lost it, jaw tight with rage. "How could you spread such nasty rumors about Adelynn in front of everyone, Daphne? Seriously, how cruel can you get? She literally just stuck up for you!"

I stared Camron down, refusing to budge and taunted him even more. "If you really want to know who's lying, come with me to the hotel and see for yourself. What, you scared you'll chicken out?"

The chat was going absolutely wild—the comments were coming in hot, with everyone screaming for Camron to just go to the hotel, call me out for lying, and report me for spreading rumors so I'd end up in jail.

Camron scoffed. "Fine, let's do it. Daphne, once I prove you're making all this up, you'll be getting down on your knees and apologizing to Adelynn in front of everyone!"

We would see soon enough who ended up crawling back and begging for mercy.