My Husband's Mistress is Our Son's Teacher - Chapter 8: Chapter 8

Ryan showed up trying to play peacemaker, offering what he clearly thought was some grand gesture. "Let's handle this like adults," he said with that infuriating holier-than-thou tone. "Whatever's going on between you and Ethan - water under the bridge. We've got years together, and no matter what, you'll always be James' mother. I won't let you walk away with nothing."
He sounded so damn magnanimous, like he was granting me some huge concession. His offer? A house and a million bucks. More than his initial lowball, sure, but still chump change compared to what was rightfully mine.
But money wasn't the point.
"Cut the act, Ryan," I said, keeping my voice steady. "You're not being generous - you're panicking. You're not actually upset about me and Ethan, are you? This isn't about betrayal. You're scared shitless we might join forces and take your precious company out from under you."
His face clouded over, but I wasn't done.
"Stop treating me like some clueless trophy wife. Do you even understand community property laws? This company? I was right there with you building it from the ground up. And don't bother trying to hide assets now - that ship has sailed."
Ryan's fist clenched, and for a second I thought he might actually swing at me.
I nodded toward the security camera. "Go ahead. Give me that one free shot. Just remember - that's assault, and it'll look fantastic in court."
He froze, rage twisting his features before he forced himself to back down. "What do you want, Nicole? Company shares? You've never run a business in your life. Take the money and walk away - you'd never manage half as well as I do. Do you have any idea how hard this is?"
There it was - the classic "you're just a housewife" dismissal.
Conveniently forgetting we graduated from the same Ivy League school. Sure, I'd put my career on hold for the family, but that didn't erase my MBA.
"You think I can't run a company?" I smirked. "Fine. I'll just hand my shares to Ethan. That would make him majority shareholder, wouldn't it?"
Ryan's eyes turned to slits. "Nicole, I know I messed up, but don't let Ethan play you. He's just using you to take me down. Without me, that company crashes and burns!"
I casually tucked my hair behind my ear. "Your pissing contest with Ethan? Not my problem. Here's my offer: two downtown properties and five million cash."
"You're out of your mind!" he exploded. "Forget it. I'm not signing any divorce papers!"
"Your call," I shrugged. "But how long do you think your little side piece will wait around playing mistress?"
Ryan's face twisted in disgust. "Nicole, what happened to you? After all these years... there must still be something between us. Why are you doing this? If not for yourself, think about James."
"James will be just fine with two parents who aren't at each other's throats."
Ryan stormed out, slamming the door hard enough to rattle the frames.
I immediately sent the recording to Ethan - a little reminder of exactly where he stood in Ryan's world.
Ethan called before I could set my phone down, sighing heavily. "Nicole, you're really not giving me room to second-guess this, are you?"
I laughed. "Don't blame me, Ethan. Ryan's the one backing you into a corner."
"...Point taken."
Annie Jo came crawling out of the woodwork soon after, ready to play the wounded innocent.
She wasn't the brash, trashy type - oh no. Annie specialized in delicate victimhood, all sugar-coated barbs. "Mrs. Harris - oh, I suppose I should start calling you Ms. Shaw now. If I've caused you any pain, I'm truly sorry. But Ryan and I... what we have is real."
She stood there trembling like some fragile hothouse flower, all wide eyes and quivering lips.
So I decked her.
The slap cracked through the room, snapping her head sideways.
"Nicole!" she shrieked, clutching her cheek, shock giving way to fury. "How dare you!"
"You stuck your face in my space," I said calmly. "Don't act surprised when it gets hit. What, you thought I'd play nice? Go cry to Ryan. Better yet, go public - tell everyone how you screwed a married man and got slapped for it. See how many people rally behind homewreckers."
Annie's eyes burned with pure venom, but she turned on her heel and stalked out, humiliation radiating off her in waves.
I settled back with my tea, feeling lighter than I had in years.
No more swallowing my anger. No more playing nice. If some bitch needed slapping, I'd slap her. Life's too short to give myself an ulcer over trash like that.