The Slap That End 18 Years novel Chapter 10

10 /11

**Inside the Fading Emerald Shadows Quiet Storms by Livia T. Rynn**

**Chapter 10**

Standing on the terrace, Joseph appeared almost ghostly, his face drained of color, a stark contrast against the vibrant night sky.

“You heard everything…” He stumbled forward, his hand reaching out for mine, desperation etched across his features. “Lucy, I was drunk. It was just bar talk. It didn’t mean anything.”

“Bar talk?” I took a step back, feeling the sharp night breeze tug at my dress, a reminder of the chill between us. “But you went ahead and tried it the very next day.”

“That’s not what I meant…” His voice faltered, a weak defense against the weight of my words.

“Joseph,” I interjected, my fingers brushing against my cheek as I steadied myself. “Don’t even attempt to deny it. You’re only making this more humiliating.”

He stood there, a statue of guilt, completely frozen in place.

I locked my gaze onto his, my heart racing with a mix of anger and hurt. “Aren’t you the one who always insists that talking behind people’s backs is wrong? Look at you. Betting on your own fiancée’s worth behind her back. How utterly pathetic is that?”

Instantly, Joseph’s complexion shifted to an ashen hue, the moonlight casting shadows that deepened the lines of regret etched on his face.

In the soft glow of the night, he managed a weak smile, but it crumbled as quickly as it formed. His arms fell uselessly to his sides, defeated.

The gentle breeze stirred the curtains on the terrace, creating a ghostly dance around us. His suit, once sharp and sophisticated, now appeared dull and gray under the moon’s gaze, as if he were a statue slowly succumbing to time.

His lips quivered as he whispered, “I was wrong…”

“I was wondering at the time…” I took a step closer, my heels crunching against the gravel as I approached his shadow. “What were you thinking? That I would just quietly forgive you? Or like Yvonne said…”

“That I’d come crawling back like a puppy with just a few sweet words?” I finished for him, my voice laced with bitterness.

Joseph’s eyes widened, bloodshot and pleading, as they met mine.

I held his gaze, unwavering. “It doesn’t matter anymore. I don’t care who you are or what you think. None of it matters to me now. Why should I waste my feelings on someone who feels like a stranger?”

“That’s not true…” He reached for me, but halted when he caught the mocking glint in my eyes.

“See?” I offered a faint smile, one that didn’t reach my heart. “You still won’t admit it. You never truly respected me.”

Joseph swallowed hard, his throat constricting. “If that night… If I hadn’t made that bet, will…”

“No,” I cut him off, my voice firm. “You had doubts about us, didn’t you? There was a moment when you thought marrying me would be mundane. Then Yvonne came along, igniting something in you that I never could.”