Chapter 3

3

Exactly three minutes after the post went viral, my phone started exploding with texts from Caleb.

"Rhea Barrett, I never realized how manipulative and evil you were until now!"

"Is this your way of getting my attention because I don't want you? You're a pathetic clown."

"Let me tell you something. Even if you stripped naked in front of me, I wouldn't look at you."

"Delete that post right now. If anything happens to Melody's career, I will make you pay a thousand times over."

It was way too late for threats. I had already hit rock bottom.

If he thought I would just shut up and take it, he was dead wrong.

I called him back, my eyes cold. "You want me to clear the air? Fine. Sign the divorce papers, and I'll disappear for good."

Caleb let out a chilling laugh on the other end. "I should have known. Women like you only care about money. You're so obsessed with divorce because you want half my assets."

It was almost funny. If he had actually looked at the papers, he would have seen I wasn't asking for a penny more than what was legally mine.

"I spent ten years on you and this house. I gave up everything. I've earned that money," I said, my voice trembling with anger.

"You? What did you give this house? You're just a mediocre woman who schemed her way into my bed. Stop dreaming."

"Melody is the only one who has supported me as I climbed to the top. The fans are right―you're the intruder who ruined everything."

I gripped the phone so hard my knuckles turned white.

I thought we had at least ten years of history, but to him, I was just a roadblock to his happiness.

No matter how thick my skin was, that insult cut deep.

I forced back the tears and took a deep breath. "Fine. My life is all about money, and I'm worthless. Let's stop wasting time. I'll walk away with nothing. Is that enough?"

But Caleb wasn't done with me yet.

"Don't act like you're taking the high road to get my sympathy. Every day that post hurts Melody's career is a day I'll make your life a living hell."

"I'm giving you forty-eight hours. If that post isn't explained away by tomorrow night, I'll tell the whole world how you crawled into my bed to trap me ten years ago."

The line went dead, leaving my head spinning.

"Crawled into his bed? Me, the mistress?"

I had chased Caleb like a pathetic puppy, but I had never done anything so shameless.

I didn't even have to guess who told him that lie.

I laughed at the absurdity of it all.

But a small part of me wondered… if he ever found out the truth, would he regret saying these things?