My Husband Wanted a Divorce. The Comments Told Me Why Chapter 15

My Husband Wanted a Divorce. The Comments Told Me Why Chapter 15

I explained the risks of being a test subject. Summer was adamant. She was willing to take those risks to be free of Thornvine’s control.

She also told me she wasn’t the only one. She was in an online support group for other people whose bodies had been mutated by Thornvine.

Some enjoyed their new condition. But most felt it affected their lives and wanted to be cured.

They’d been to countless doctors and tried countless treatments, with no success. She offered to ask the ones who wanted a cure if they would be willing to participate in the trials.

I said I would discuss it with my team. We would only reach out to her once we had developed a serum that was proven safe and free of side effects.

“In the meantime,” I told her, “get rid of that Thornvine plant in your home. Don’t let it prick you again.”

“I will,” she promised.

She pulled a small tin of homemade chocolate chip cookies from her bag. “I felt so bad about ruining your cakes the other day, Stella. I made these for you. Please try one.”

My heart warmed. This was the Summer I was getting to know. She didn’t have a bad bone in her body.

I took a bite of a cookie. It was buttery and sweet.

“These are delicious,” I told her.

Her eyes sparkled with delight. “Thank you!”

Then she glanced at her watch. “Oh! My boyfriend and I are supposed to go fishing. He’s almost here. Is it okay if I go?”

“Of course.” I waved goodbye and watched her leave.

She seemed so open and genuine. The way she mentioned her boyfriend didn’t feel like a provocation. It felt like she was talking about someone completely irrelevant to me.

Summer took a few steps, then turned back. She lowered her voice. “Actually… you do know my boyfriend.”

My breath caught in my throat.

She continued. “He’s Liam Bennett, the lawyer. He’s been helping me with my condition for the last six months.”

“And he’s Mr. Cole’s college roommate, actually. Mr. Cole got me the internship at Cole Industries.”

“Once I finish my three months here and have some experience on my resume, I’m going to take a job at a government-owned company.”

I felt dizzy. Her boyfriend was Liam. So the person who had been kissing her in the secretarial area that day… had been Liam?

The fog in my head started to clear.

Summer added, “Between you and me, after you asked me to throw away that cake, Mr. Cole saw me doing it.”

“He actually asked me for it. He took it back to his office and ate the whole thing himself.”

I smiled. “Thank you for telling me that, Summer. Go on. Don’t keep your boyfriend waiting.”

“Bye, Stella! I’ll be waiting for your call!” She waved and walked away.

[My brain is short circuiting.]

[Summer is way too honest. Why is she telling Stella all this?]

[Now the ice queen knows everything.]

[Summer is being naive. Sure, she’s dating Liam now, but who knows how long that will last?]

[She’s better off making sure there’s no chance for Stella and Hunter to get back together.]

[So she’s going to win? By “win,” do you mean she’s going to stay married to him?]

[Is the ice queen finally going to take center stage?]

[What do you mean “take center stage”? She’s already Mrs. Cole.]

[She and Hunter weren’t having problems because of Summer in the first place.]

[They have problems because they’re not compatible. Their marriage isn’t satisfying.]

[Would it really be healthy for Hunter to stay with her forever?]

[And hello? What about that lipstick on his neck?]

[Even if it wasn’t Summer, there’s probably someone else living in that beach villa.]

I was on my third cookie when I noticed a figure walking alone on the beach. It was Hunter. He hadn’t seen me.

I stood up and walked toward him.