He Laughed at My Tears, Now He Cries Alone Chapter 02

He Laughed at My Tears, Now He Cries Alone Chapter 02

I whipped my head toward Derek.

His expression didn’t change. He just let out a soft sigh.

“Derek, what does he mean?”

My voice was trembling.

The thing I feared most was happening.

That my three years of devotion had all been a joke.

“It means exactly what he said.”

His tone was casual, as if he were discussing the weather.

“Claire, you’re from some town no one’s ever heard of.”

“You’re capable, I’ll give you that.”

“But your background, your name… it’s not enough to stand beside me.”

“The Lawsons have a certain standing in New York. You’re not fit to marry into this family.”

“I didn’t want to spell it out, so I kept you around.”

One of his friends gestured toward Tiffany with his chin.

“The woman who’s actually going to marry Derek is standing right here.”

“The Lawsons and the Vances are announcing the engagement soon.”

“That’s why Derek is letting Tiffany have her fun with you.”

My mind went blank.

I’d thought he might change. I never imagined the whole thing was a scam from the very beginning.

So my love was just another tool for him to use.

He used me to win his inheritance battle, stepping over his father’s other sons to secure his place as heir.

And now, it was my turn to be discarded.

I stared at him. When I spoke, my voice was unrecognizable.

“Is that true?”

The faint smile playing on his lips was a knife in my gut.

“Yes.”

In that moment, the last piece of my heart shattered.

I could only laugh.

At him.

At myself.

I reached for my phone to make a call, but Tiffany lunged and snatched it from my hand.

“The half hour isn’t up yet. No calls.”

“I’m already being generous.”

“I’m letting you stay by Derek’s side. You should be willing to pay a small price for that, don’t you think?”

“A woman like you—a homewrecker—is bound to have everyone see what she’s got sooner or later.”

If I’d been wearing a robe, I would have stood up and ripped that smirk off her face.

Seeing the cold fury in my eyes, she only laughed harder.

“What? Angry?”

“The angrier you get, the faster the bubbles disappear.”

“And they can hardly wait.”

As if on cue, the men behind her burst into laughter.

There was nothing I could do. I could only clench my fists, sinking deeper into the water.

Suddenly, two cockroaches dropped into the tub with a splash.

A scream tore from my throat.

The men at the door only grew more excited.

I looked at Derek, my voice raw.

“Derek, I’m begging you. One last time.”

“Make them leave.”

“Just hand me the robe.”