Chapter 3

3

I was about to hang up when Quinn took the phone back. "Jade, I think there's a misunderstanding. If you're mad because of me, I apologize. I'll keep my distance from Landon. I'd hate for your long marriage to suffer because of me."

It was her classic move. She wasn't sorry; she was just playing the victim to make me look like the villain.

"Why are you apologizing to her?" Landon barked in the background. "I already explained. If she doesn't believe it, that's her problem. Talking to a petty person like her is a waste of breath."

He slammed the phone down before I could respond.

He didn't come home for several days. He didn't text me either. Usually, I would have been frantic, searching the city for him.

But this time, I was just tired. I didn't want to wait anymore.

I focused on my work at my own company, deciding to take a short vacation and then find a time to settle everything with Landon.

My assistant knocked on my office door. "Mrs. Hudson, FK Media has invited you to their gala. Do you want to attend?"

FK Media was a powerhouse in the entertainment industry. Landon loved networking, so he was guaranteed to be there.

"Yes," I said. "I'll go."

As expected, I ran into Landon and Quinn at the entrance.

He looked dashing in a white tuxedo. I couldn't help but stare for a moment.

I opened my mouth to speak, but the sneer on his face stopped me.

He looked me up and down with disdain. "What are you doing here? You should be at home."

Landon and I both ran our own businesses, but since the wedding, I had focused so much on him that I neglected my company. He had convinced himself I was just a useless housewife.

I kept my voice steady. "I actually came to see you. We need to resolve things."

"Resolve what? There's nothing to resolve. How long are you going to keep this act up? I was planning on coming home to surprise you today, and here you are making a scene."

"Our marriage is a business deal, at best. Stop acting like a brat before you make us both a laughingstock."

"Marrying someone like you was the biggest mistake of my life," he spat.

He kept glancing around, terrified that someone would realize we were together. It was pathetic.

"If it was such a mistake, why don't you just end it? Is it more fun to cheat while keeping me in reserve?"

My anger was finally starting to show. Quinn noticed my expression and tightened her grip on Landon's arm. "Landon, let's just go inside. We can talk after the show."

Suddenly, a man with a crazed look in his eyes charged toward us with a knife. He was aiming for Quinn.

"You bitch! You dumped me and moved on to this guy immediately? Die!"

My heart stopped. I reached out to pull Landon away. To my horror, Landon grabbed my arm and shoved me directly in front of Quinn.

The knife that was meant for her caught me instead, slicing deep into my forearm.

My strength vanished. I slumped to the ground, looking up at him. "Why?"

He looked frozen, his eyes wide. "I… I didn't mean to. I just… it was a reflex."

"I know I messed up, but it's not a major wound. Don't look at me like that. You saved Quinn's life. I'll make it up to you." Without another word, he led Quinn into the venue.

The attacker was tackled by security, screaming profanities. I sat on the pavement as blood soaked through my sleeve. Landon didn't even look back to see if I was okay.

The waves of hurt finally settled into a cold, hard calm. It was time to end this.