Open Marriage, Broken Promises: When Love Turns to Ashes novel Chapter 25

All those days and nights were chances she gave him.

She told herself that men like to play around, and once they're done, they'll come back.

But deep down, she knew he wasn't coming back. He was just using the excuse of "playing around" to live out his fantasy of having multiple women.

He expected her to stay loyal while he wallowed in filth.

Emily closed her eyes, and when she opened them again, they were clear.

She pushed James away firmly. "I'll send you the divorce papers. Let's not see each other again."

With that, she walked toward the car parked by the roadside.

She opened the car door, paused for a moment, and said, "James, I'm not like you. Alex and I have always been completely innocent. Instead of questioning me, maybe you should ask your ‘good friend' what really happened that night."

She didn't want to hide the truth anymore. She wanted him to feel the guilt.

Only then could she maximize the benefits of the divorce.

James froze.

Emily had never lied to him.

If what she said was true, then that night, she...

He trembled violently, fumbling with his phone, misdialing several times.

Finally, he got through to Michael.

At first, Michael tried to dodge the question, but after being threatened, he spilled everything.

"I was the one who took those photos..."

"Your wife had already been through hell before she even got there."

"James, you can't blame me. I thought you were behind what happened to her, so I sent her to Alex to keep him from going to the police."

James' phone slipped from his hand and hit the ground.

In the dim light of the night, the autumn wind howled.

He had abandoned her on a deserted street...

James punched himself in the face, hard.

You idiot! You idiot!

He was such a damn idiot!

How could he have put her in danger like that?

His cheek swelled instantly, and tears blurred his vision.

"Emily, I'm sorry. Emily..."

He buried his face in his hands and let out a heart-wrenching sob.

"He's been standing downstairs for two months. Aren't you going to go see him?"

Susan slurped her instant noodles and kicked Emily, who was engrossed in work.

Emily didn't even look up. "He's just feeling guilty."

"Isn't guilt good? Maybe he'll treat you even better after this."

Emily closed her laptop and shot her a look. "Whose side are you on? Aren't you supposed to be Alex's strategist?"

Susan rubbed her nose. "Honestly, I wish you'd take them both."

She said it with complete sincerity.

After all, if Emily took both, Susan wouldn't have to worry about funding.

Emily walked to the window and looked down at the figure below.

In the dark night, he stood under the streetlight, staring straight up at her.

His eyes were bright, brighter than the light above him.

Emily pulled the curtains shut. "Too bad. I don't want either of them."

Susan sighed. "You really are a heartless woman."

She wrapped an arm around Emily's shoulders. "Tomorrow, the new mall in Lincoln Park is opening. We're rolling out the first batch of AI companions for testing. You should go and help out."

Emily was the project lead.

This launch was a big deal. She had to be there in person to make sure every customer was happy.

Emily nodded. "I know. Don't worry. You're gonna crush it."

Susan laughed. "I like the sound of that."

---

A deafening explosion.

Flames roared to life, swallowing up the mall.

Screams.

Pure panic.

"Fire! Help!"

"Mommy! Where are you?!"

Emily froze. She hadn't thought Lily would go this far.

Her team was trembling. "What do we do, Emily?"

"Keep everyone calm."

She lit up her phone, fingers flying across the screen.

Thank God the mall owner had given her the building's floor plans yesterday.

And even better—she had fed them into the AI.

She grabbed a megaphone and shouted, "Everybody, listen up! Stay where you are! Don't push, don't run! We don't need a stampede!"

But no one was listening. Everyone was rushing for the exits.

The screams kept coming.

Emily spoke again, louder this time. "We're on the second floor. Running in the dark is a bad idea. One wrong step, and you're done for!"

That got their attention. The chaos stilled for a moment.

Then, desperate voices rose.

"What do we do? What do we do?"

"I can't die! My family needs me!"

"Same! I haven't even had my first boyfriend yet!"

The hysteria was rising again.

Emily banged on the megaphone, sending out a sharp screech of feedback.

"Listen up! There's a service door on the east side! The construction scaffolding is still there—we can use it to climb down!"