“Oh, really?” she sneers, taking a slow step closer. “Then you’re an even bigger idiot than I initially thought you were,” she snickers. “You see, my dear, my ex-husband is the kind of man every woman would kill to have. Girls like you? They just keep his bed warm at night until he’s ready to settle down with someone better. Someone more... in his league.”
I bite back the words clawing their way up my throat—nasty, spiteful words that would only drag me down to her cruel and petty level. The thing is, Jason has never given me a reason to believe he’s using me. He’s been nothing but patient, kind, and respectful. He knows what I’ve been through and would never willingly hurt me. That I’m certain of. This is just Elena, doing what she does best—planting seeds of doubt and hoping they’ll take root. But I’m not taking the bait. Not this time.
“Do you really expect me to believe a word that comes out of your lying mouth?”
Now it’s my turn to step closer, my expression sharp and unyielding.“Jason has already admitted how he feels about me. That he’s had these feelings for a long time now.” I hold her gaze, refusing to back down. “So whatever delusions you’re clinging to about him, let them go, Elena. Because there is nothing, absolutely nothing, you can say that would ever make me walk away from him.”
A flicker of white-hot anger flashes across Elena’s face, but it vanishes as quickly as it appears. She straightens her spine, slipping her armour back into place. “Such a young, naïve little girl,” she scoffs bitterly. ‘Of course you’d fall for every word he feeds you. You’re too fucking smitten, it’s making you act stupid!” Her voice hardens. “Jason has a talent for sweet talking pretty little tarts like you. He’ll feed you what you want to hear as long as he gets what he wants in the end.”
“I don’t believe you! Jason is nothing like that.”
“And how long have you really known him? A few months? A year?” She huffs out a dry, humourless laugh. “Get real, sweetheart! You haven’t known him long enough to know the things I do. When it comes to real relationships, the kind that really matter, he doesn’t settle for girls like you. Clueless, fragile, little playthings who think they know what they want. He chooses women like me: refined, driven, self-assured women who aren’t just desirable, but strong and fearless too.”
My fists curl at my sides, teeth clenched as her words cut into me.
“That’s exactly why he marriedme,”she says with a cold smirk.“I was everything he needed. The one he saw a shiny future with.” She tilts her head, eyes narrowing as she delivers her final blow.“And just so we’re clear: if I hadn’t cheated on him, we’d still be together. He’d still be in love with me. Still building an incredible life with me and our son. And you? You’djust be another nobody, lusting after him like a sad, pathetic, desperate little whore!”
As she speaks the words ‘sad’ and ‘pathetic,’ it’s not her voice I hear—it’s Dean’s, just before he grabbed me and struck me across the face.‘You’re so sad and pathetic sometimes, Mila.’The memory hits me like a blow, and something inside finally snaps. I lunge at her, and we instantly crash to the ground together. My hands grip her hair as I straddle her, the world narrowing to the sound of her screams and the frantic struggle between us. She swipes at me, yelling for me to get the fuck off her. But I don’t budge, not with the adrenaline pumping through my veins.
We’re caught in the rush when the door suddenly bangs open. Jason and Chris appear in the doorway, rushing straight towards us. Within moments, Jason has me pulled off Elena, while Chris tries to steady her, helping a very disheveled Elena back to her feet.
“What the fuck is going on here!” Jason barks, his arm wrapping tightly around my torso as he glares at his ex-wife.
Elena, partially hidden behind Chris’s solid frame, points at me angrily. “She just attacked me, Jason! She’s aggressive and a complete loose cannon. I want her out of here—now!”
I let out a cold, bitter laugh. “You’re fucking insane, you know that! Why don’t you tell him what you just told me. Tell him how you think he’s only using me. That I’m a sad, pathetic, desperate little whore!” I shout her words right back at her.
“You what?!” Jason yells.
It’s Chris who speaks up next, silencing us all with a piercing whistle. “For Christ’s sake! We’re at a kid’s fucking birthday party—yourkid’s birthday party.” He glares between Jason and Elena. “If you want to fuck this up for him, by all means, continue this shitshow. But otherwise, everyone stop this, right now! There’s a time and place for this, and right now is not it!”
“You know what?” I turn to face Jason. “I think I’m just going to go.”
“Yeah, I think that’s a good idea,’ Elena snarls.
Jason tightens his hold on me, shooting daggers at his ex. “Elena, enough! If you don’t stop, you’re the one I’ll be kicking out of my house.” He glances back at me, gently cupping my cheeks. “And you,” he says firmly. “You’re not going anywhere. You’re staying right here with me and Jake, you got that? Don’t worry about her. If she even thinks about saying another word to you”—he throws Elena a warning look—“she’s out.”
I look back at Elena just as she rolls her eyes.
“Whatever,” she hisses. “Just get her away from me, or I’ll have no problem calling the cops.” She smoothes down her hair and quickly fixes her costume before storming off and out of the garage.
Chris glances between Jason and me, a tired expression on his face. “Well, I guess I’ll be seeing you guys outside.”
Jason and I nod simultaneously before Jason says, “Thanks for your help, man. I’m sorry about that.”
Chris shakes his head, brushing it off like it’s no big deal. “Nah. It’s all good. We all know she’s batshit crazy.” He flashes me a wink before walking out the door, leaving Jason and me alone in the room.
“Are you okay?” Jason asks, worry written across his face.
I nod. “Yeah, I’ll be fine. I’m a lot tougher than she thinks. I just hate that I lost it, especially here at Jake’s party.”
His hands glide along my arms in a comforting gesture, and I relax a little. “This isn’t your fault. She cornered you and provoked you. That’s on Elena, not you. Whatever she said, don’t let it sink in. It’s all lies. Just bullshit meant to drive a wedge between us. She’s always been good at that—her and her little mind games.”
“Oh, I know. I knew the more she rambled, the more she was lying. But it wasn’t even what she said about you that made me snap. It was what she called me that triggered a memory of that night with Dean. And I just… lost it.”
Jason pulls me into his arms, and I instantly melt into his warmth. “I’m so sorry. I’ll talk to her. I’ll make sure this never happens again.”
I lean back to meet his gaze and manage a small smile. “It’s okay. I don’t think anything you say will ever stop her. I just need to learn to tune her out… and maybe keep as much distance from her as possible.”
