My Husband Wanted a Divorce. The Comments Told Me Why Chapter 14

My Husband Wanted a Divorce. The Comments Told Me Why Chapter 14

After being pricked by the Thornvine once, I felt the same addictive pull. I wanted to prick myself again with the thorns.

But I had strong willpower and was able to resist.

I thought of someone. The comments had said Summer had the succubus condition. I wondered if it was connected to the Thornvine plant.

That weekend, I left The Ridge and called her.

“Ms. Chase, this is Stella Rhodes. Do you have time to meet? There’s something I’d like to talk to you about.”

She sounded a little surprised but agreed quickly. “Sure! I live near Coast Road. There’s an outdoor cafe nearby called The Lookout with a great ocean view. I’ll send you the address?”

“That sounds perfect. I’ll see you in two hours.”

[Stella is asking Summer to meet. Is she going to start a fight?]

[What did our female lead even do wrong?]

[If the ice queen wants to throw a tantrum, she should take it up with the male lead.]

[She can’t keep her man, so she’s going to take it out on the female lead?]

[Did you hear that? Summer just said she lives on Coast Road.]

[She’s probably living in Hunter’s villa on Coast Road, right?]

[Hunter hasn’t been staying at the Cole estate lately. He’s been staying there.]

[Stella has finally had enough. I can’t wait to see what happens.]

If the comments were expecting a fight, they’d be disappointed. My meeting with Summer had nothing to do with Hunter.

I didn’t let personal feelings interfere with my work. And my impression of Summer wasn’t what the comments described.

Their words affected my mood, but they didn’t control my judgment. I tried to stay rational.

At The Lookout Coffee, Summer approached. She was wearing a strapless crop top and shorts, her hair in loose waves.

It was a completely different look from the reserved, professional woman I’d seen at Cole Industries.

As she sat down, I caught a glimpse of fading marks on her collarbone, partially hidden by her hair. My chest tightened with a dull ache.

I told myself there had to be a misunderstanding. Those marks on Summer might not have anything to do with Hunter.

[Seeing those marks hurts, doesn’t it?]

[Summer has marks everywhere, not just her neck.]

[She might seem quiet and shy at work, but she’s wild in private.]

[Hunter is like any man. He loves that kind of contrast.]

[He finally got a taste of something good. Can you blame him?]

[Why else would he rush to Coast Road every day after work and spend all weekend inside that villa?]

[Everything he didn’t get from Stella, he’s getting from Summer.]

I wished I could block these annoying comments. Every single one was trying to start trouble.

I was the so-called “ice queen” in the comments, but I’d never actually done anything malicious. Why were they so mean to me?

Why were they so determined to turn me and Summer against each other?

I pushed those thoughts aside and introduced myself to Summer, explaining my work and my current research.

Her eyes went wide with admiration. “Wow, Stella, you’re a botanist? That’s so cool!”

I showed her a picture of Thornvine. “Summer, have you ever been pricked by the thorns of a plant like this?”

She grabbed my hand, her expression a mix of relief and desperation. “How did you know? Do you call it Thornvine?”

“That’s the code name we use in the lab.” I noticed the small scars on her fingertips. A dozen tiny pinhole marks.

She started telling her story. “About six months ago, I went hiking with some friends in a canyon. I saw a vine like that.”

“I didn’t know what it was, I just thought it looked pretty. So I wore gloves, dug it up, and took it home.”

“One time I was pruning it and forgot to wear my gardening gloves. I got pricked. You know what happened? A drop of pale blue blood came out.”

“And then I started feeling… some really uncomfortable symptoms.”

Summer grew more and more flustered as she talked.

I nodded knowingly. “How many times have you been pricked?”

“After the first time, it was like an addiction. I kept wanting to do it again and again. Maybe twelve or thirteen times total.”

“After the third time, my body started changing. I started turning into something like a succubus. The cravings became unbearable.”

She sighed and then leaned in. “I don’t want to be like this, Stella. Your lab is working on a cure, right? Can I help you test it?”