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“What do you want?” I demanded, stealing myself against the sharp pain that ran through me. It hurt to see her. So many years together, and Judy stole my husband and left me out in the cold. Worse, she’d shit all over my kids.

“To say sorry. I was confused. Lyle and I were having…”

“Stop right there. You and Lyle were fine. If you hadn’t been, you’d have told me. Don’t try bullshitting me,” I snapped angrily.

Shock showed briefly in Judy’s eyes.

“Honey, I didn’t tell you! Lyle and I—”

“Oh, shut up,” Cassian interrupted. Judy expressed real surprise this time. “You and Uncle Lyle were great. Uncle Lyle was so hurt by your selfishness. He loved you, and you betrayed both him and my mom. Whore!”

Judy flinched. A pained look crossed her expression.

“Cassian, that’s uncalled for.”

“Nope, that’s the damn truth,” Cassian said, crossing his arms.

Judy turned to me. Her face expressed shame and exaggerated contrition, but it was beyond fake. Anger rose as I grasped Judy was clearly planning to manipulate this and work it to her advantage.

“Can we go somewhere and talk?” she asked. Judy wrung her hands together. In the past, it meant a sign of distress, and one I’d fallen for. Not now.

“Nope.”

“What?” Judy reared back, not expecting that answer. She glanced around and saw the spectators, and her face changed. Grief rose as she reached out to me in beseechment.

“What would you like to discuss, Judy? How my husband bought you a fifty-thousand-dollar necklace and ignored our daughter’s sixth birthday. Or how you, my best friend, moved into my house, tossed all my belongings, and settled into my life. Perhaps explain how you talked Gerard into not giving me any alimony or child support.

“How about we discuss how my children and I were thrown onto the street with no clothing, no shoes, absolutely nothing but the clothes on our backs. Or how we went from a comfortable existence to struggling, all while you sailed around on a yacht. Let’s talk about you vacationing at the marital vacation homes and looking down on me like trash.

“Perhaps you’d like to explain how a friendship of over thirty-five years was thrown down the toilet so you could cheat on your husband with mine? Even worse, you knew Gerard was a wife-beating asshole. You, who put arnica cream on my bruises, cleansed my cuts, decided you wanted to fuck Gerard and steal what little I had in life.

“No? Then tell me that when I got the marital home back, everything that had belonged to my children had been thrown away. Yeah. You completely wiped them out and turned their rooms into guest bedrooms. These are the kids, you fuckin’ slut, that you held as babies, that you’re godmother to, and they treated you as a beloved aunt. Explain that?” I screamed at her.

Judy flinched and stepped back.

“Oh, I know why you’re here. Once Gerard was stripped of everything, you realised how fucked you were. Bitch, you left Lyle, who was your meal ticket, for Gerard. You had it good with him until Gerard flipped out and signed everything over to me. I still ain’t got a clue why the fucker did that, especially as Gerard beat the shit out of me only four days ago. But you’ve lost the big mansion, access to his fortune, the yacht, the vacation homes, and all the rest.

“Now you’ve come crawling, thinking I’m a pushover. Screw you! As I told Gerard, three quarters of the money is already gone. I shoved it into rock-solid trusts for the children. Even if Gerard claimed some back, and remember he signed of his own free will, he can’t regain the bulk. Unlike him and you, I moved instantly to protect my kids. Judy, I don’t give a fuck if you’re on your knees begging. That’s where trash like you belong!”

Hate crossed Judy’s face. She couldn’t have stopped it even if she’d tried.

“You sanctimonious cunt…”

“That’s you, Judy. I don’t understand why you cheated on Lyle and never will. Lyle was five times the man Gerard is. Kind, decent, and boy, did Lyle love you.”

“He hated you,” Judy shot back as if that would hurt.

“Yeah, and honestly, I don’t blame him. Lyle’s right, I was weak and pathetic. Not anymore. Your betrayal gave me the spine I lacked. Lyle would be proud of me. What happened to you, Judy? You had everything: the life women dreamed of, and you threw it away for Gerard. He’s less handsome than Lyle, not as wealthy, cruel, selfish, a wife-beater. What did Gerard have that Lyle didn’t? I pity you; I really do.”

“Shut up,” Judy hissed as tears sprang to her eyes. They were tears of someone who felt pity for themselves.

“Yeah, you don’t like that—being pitied. Get used to it, because you’re about to become the laughingstock of your little group. I don’t know what you expected today, but I bet this wasn’t it. I don’t care what you want, how sorry you claim to be; you’re dead to me. No, you can’t have the shit Gerard bought you; it’s now mine. And don’t bother asking me to drop the charges of breaking and entering, or burglary. It’s time you paid. And stay the fuck away from my kids and me. You’re nothing to us.”

Cassian started chuckling. “You’re so pathetic. Go away.”

“Shut up, Cassian, respect your elders!” Judy shot back.

“Nobody respects a cheap whore who sold her cunt for a fifty-k diamond necklace. You laughed at my mom, who’s laughing now? It ain’t you!” Cassian spat with sheer hate.