Chapter 50
I had never humiliated Derek like that before. Even on my birthday, when I was covered in cake and mascara–streaked tears, feeling completely broken, I tried to hold it together and only decided to leave when I truly couldn’t take it anymore.
It was Derek, chasing after me with Melody, insisting it was all just a joke, that finally made me say it:
‘Let’s break up…‘
Now, though?
I regret not realizing it earlier and not telling Derek and Melody to leave my life long ago.
Derek completely lost it.”
“Joanne, are you seriously doing this? You really wanna break up with me? What gives you the right to decide it’s over, huh? What did I do that makes you think you can walk away from this?”
It finally hit him.”
Over the past few weeks, I deliberately ignored him. No matter how loudly he flaunted himself on social media, I acted like I didn’t see a thing.”
No jealousy, no reaction. None of the old emotional spirals he was used to from me. Now, gripping my wrist, Derek demanded answers.
“You seeing someone else?” he asked, wild–eyed. “That’s it, isn’t it? That’s the only reason you’d suddenly dump me like this.” Of course, Melody jumped at the opportunity to shift blame, eager to throw gas on the fire.
“I knew it!” she gasped, dramatic like always. “No wonder you’ve been ghosting Derek! You’ve totally got someone new. And to think you kept crying about how he favored me more when really, you were the shady one this whole time.““” She kept going, her voice rising in self–righteous indignation.
“And Derek still defended you. He told everyone how sweet you were, how understanding. What a joke. stringing him along as your backup. You don’t even feel bad, do you?”
Turns out you were
Once she started, she couldn’t stop. It was like everything she’d been holding back came pouring out. “Derek told me everything. Back in college, you were always hanging all over other guys, being flirty, and never being clear about your feelings. People like you? You never change. You seriously don’t deserve someone like him.”
Melody’s words buzzed in my mind like static, drowning out everything else. Memories of college flashed through my mind, recalling how I organized club events and worked closely with other student leaders.
Derek understood that completely. He had told me repeatedly that he trusted me.”
And now?”
He was telling another story–something he never dared to say to me.
I had once believed the only issue between us was his emotional attachment to Melody. However, I now realize it was much clearer. Derek wasn’t just emotionally immature; he was rotten to the core.
I looked at him, cold and quiet, a smile tugging at the corner of my
mouth.
And just like that, Derek panicked. “That’s not what I said! I never said that about you, I swear!“}
Then, turning to Melody, he snapped, “Melody, shut up! Quit making crap up! You’re ruining everything between me and Joanne. When did I ever say she was messing around in college?“”
Melody quickly covered her mouth, eyes wide and silent.
But I wasn’t buying it. I’d seen it too many times before.
I raised my voice, steady and sharp. “Drop the act, Derek. Your little manipulations don’t work on me anymore.”
Then I pointed straight at the door. “Get out. Both of you.”
I pulled out my phone and held it up where they could both see it.
“Or I call the cops.”
Derek saw I wasn’t bluffing. He didn’t even try to pull the ‘we have history‘ card this time.
He just threw one last punch on his way out.”
“You’ll regret this, Joanne. One day, you’ll come crawling back. And when that day comes, I won’t forgive you.“W
Derek stormed out without looking back, showing no concern that Melody was still standing there in my bathrobe, clearly without anything underneath.
The door slammed so hard the frame shook.%
I turned to her and said calmly, “Your Derek just left. Shouldn’t you be going, too?”
60.0
1:35 AM
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Melody’s face twisted into something unrecognizable.”
The tears dried. The act disappeared.
And just like that, she spat out her venom.
“Joanne, don’t you get it? You’re a total failure. You couldn’t even keep your man. Watching your own boyfriend protect another woman day after day, didn’t that feel pathetic?”
Melody sneered, chin raised high, as if she’d just won something.
“As long as I’m around, Derek’s never gonna look at you the same way again.”
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And right then, at that moment, I saw her for who she really was.
Not sweet. Not confused. Not family.
Just bitter. Petty. And unbelievably smug.
And honestly?”
I just smiled. Cold. Clear. Done.
