Chapter 2
"Professor Moore, your wife passed away. As your... friend, isn't it only right for me to come and pay my respects?" I said, biting down hard on the word "friend" so he'd know what I meant.
Lance's expression soured even more.
The anxiety in his eyes gave way to annoyance and impatience.
"Gabriela, please, let me explain. It's not what you think," he said, his voice strained.
"Then what is it, huh?" I pressed, my tone sharp.
"Tell me, who's the woman in the photo? And who's that kid? Where have you been for the past three years?" I demanded.
My voice rose uncontrollably, drawing the attention of several students passing by.
Lance's frown deepened. He grabbed my arm, trying to drag me away.
"This isn't the place to talk. Let's go somewhere else," he muttered urgently.
Just then, a sharp, piercing voice interrupted us. "Lance! Why are you tangled up with this woman?"
Angela Bryant, a woman in her fifties, stormed over in all black, her eyes puffy and red from crying.
She shoved me aside and planted herself protectively in front of Lance, shooting me a look that was both judgmental and openly hostile.
"Who are you? Why are you clinging to my son-in-law?" Angela snapped.
I stumbled back a couple of steps, slamming into the cold wall behind me.
She said Lance was her son-in-law. The word slammed into me like a sledgehammer, leaving my heart reeling.
So this was the mother of Lance's so-called "deceased wife."
Lance's face turned deathly pale, and he rushed to support Angela, his movements frantic.
"Angela, please calm down. She's just a colleague I used to work with," Lance said quickly.
"Colleague?" Angela scoffed, her disbelief obvious.
She sized me up from head to toe, her gaze laced with contempt.
She snapped, "What kind of 'colleague' gets all touchy-feely in public? You look shady to me!
"Chloe's barely cold in the ground, and you're already showing up at his door. What's your game?"
I was trembling all over with anger.
I was Lance's lawful wife, the woman he married openly and honorably. Yet in Angela's eyes, I was a shameless homewrecker.
Lance grabbed her arm, his voice urgent as he tried to explain. "Angela, you've got it all wrong.
"She really is just a colleague. Let's talk about this at home, okay?"
He couldn't bring himself to look at me, his gaze avoiding mine.
But Angela wasn't about to let it go. She jabbed her finger right in my face, her voice dripping with venom. "I don't care what you two are to each other!
"I'm warning you, stay away from Lance! He's married to my daughter. He's Kason's dad! Don't even think about wrecking their family!"
I scoffed, letting out a cold laugh. "His family?
"Sorry, but you're mistaken, ma'am. I'm Lance's wife.
"We've been married for five years legally, with all the paperwork. Our marriage is protected by law."
"And your daughter..." I paused, letting the words hang, my gaze shifting coldly to Lance. "She was nothing."
My words exploded in the silent hallway, echoing off the walls.
Angela froze, staring at me in utter disbelief, her gaze flicking between Lance and me, stunned.
Lance's face was drained of all color.
He closed his eyes, as if it took everything he had to speak, his exhaustion written all over his face.
"Angela, let's go home," Lance murmured, his voice barely audible.
Angela finally snapped, going absolutely wild as she lunged straight at me.
"Liar! You slut! You're the one chasing after Lance!" she shrieked.
Her nails were out, aiming right for my face.
Lance quickly wrapped his arms around her, restraining her tightly, refusing to let her lash out.
"Please, Angela, calm down!" Lance pleaded, his voice strained.
"How do you expect me to calm down?" Angela cried out, her voice breaking as tears streamed down her face.
"Chloe's barely gone, and this shameless witch is already here! Lance, tell me she's making it all up. Please, tell me none of it's true!" Angela cried, her voice raw with grief and fury.
Lance held her tight, his body stiff as a board, not saying a single word.
His silence said it all.
Angela was in utter despair, pounding on Lance's back as she sobbed uncontrollably, gasping for air between her cries.
"My poor Chloe... your death was so tragic..." she wailed, her voice cracking with grief.
Jefferson walked over, carrying Kason. His face darkened as he took in the chaos.
He passed Kason to Elina, who was standing behind him, then turned to Lance, his voice low and steady. "Lance, get Angela home to rest."
Then he looked at me, his eyes full of mixed emotions. "Um... Ms. Freeman, can we talk?"
I looked at Jefferson, the respected elder who had watched Lance and me grow together.
At our wedding, he had taken my hand and given Lance heartfelt advice.
"Lance, Gabriela is a wonderful woman. You must treat her well," he had said.
Those words lingered, but nothing was as it once was.
I followed Jefferson to his office.
He handed me a cup of hot coffee and sighed deeply.
"Ms. Freeman, I know this is really hard for you to accept right now," he said gently.
I held the cup in my hands, but my fingertips were still cold.
"Mr. Huffman, did you know about this all along?" I asked, my voice barely above a whisper.