Plopping down on the sofa, throwing his head back, Raegan released a breath. It hasn't even been 24 hours, and yet his marriage was over. Completely over, all because of the one text message that appeared on his watch. Fuck. A groan was released as he reached up and placed a hand over his eyes. He didn't even need to know if his boys was there-he could tell by the fact that they were looking at him, waiting for him to say something. "I fucked up, y'all."

"Ya think?" Prescott snorted. "You knew fucking around with Candice was a bad idea, and now you've ended your marriage, god help her if Genevieve finds her."

That made Raegan groan once more. He knew how his wife was about him and her family and friends-she was very fucking loyal to the point that she'll kill anyone and actually get away with it. Sure, he made a joke that she listens to those true crime podcasts all the time, but after hearing horror stories about what Genevieve done to a couple people, the joke was starting to become real. "If Gen actually kills her, I'm not getting her out of jail." he said with a deep breath. "I know how crazy she is, and somehow finding Candice dead somewhere isn't helping me one bit, to be honest."

"What made you go after Candice in the first place?" Olivier asked. "I should've warned you about her, since I dated her before."

"...you didn't tell Rosie that, did you?"

"Yeah I told her. It was when me and Chrysèlie were on a break, and she dated some hot guy to make me jealous." thinking about his ex made him sigh, glad that she's back home in Montréal filming some soap opera somewhere and raising her child-away from him. "Surprisingly, Rosalie took it well."

"I don't think Genevieve is going to forgive me just like that. I think she really means that we're getting a divorce." Raegan mumbled. "I really don't wanna divorce her because of one mistake that I made. I want her, not...not Candice. She's just some little fling that was fun."

"And now?" Prescott asked, glad that he wasn't going to step in this mess of a relationship.

"Now...now I wanna prove to G that I love 'er." he said with a soft smile. "If I don't, then someone else will."

~

Two weeks went by without Raegan or Genevieve talking to each other. Raegan had opted for the spare guest room, and had avoided Candice with all his might, telling her that it was over. She kept texting and calling him, trying to talk to him. But he refused, until that one day she actually showed up at the front door, wearing a simple cashmere sweater, pants, boots and a Birkin bag. Her blonde hair were in curls, and she reached up and knocked.

Genevieve was the first to answer the door, her raven hair messed up. "May I help you?"

Candice blinked for a moment, looking at the petite woman in front of her, wearing Raegan's t-shirt. "I'm looking for Rae," she said confidently, which triggered Genevieve. "Is he here?"

"So you're the slut that's fucking my husband."

"Excuse me?"

"Oh, so the bitch is deaf too? Perfect. Lemme repeat myself; you're. The. Fucking. Slut. That's. Fucking. My. Husband." Genevieve repeated, not even moving to let her in the house. She was so angry that she wanted to reach out and strangle her, but she didn't want to, not yet.

Candice kept up with her smile before it fell. So she was the wife that everyone either loved or adored. She didn't think that the soon to be ex-Mrs. Ayers was beautiful, but dammit she was. "Why do you care?" she snapped. "He doesn't even love your boring ass anymore. He loves me. He told me so last night."

"Last night."

"Yeah."

"That's funny-he was here sleeping in the guest room last night, instead of out seeing your funky ass. Look at you, dressing so fucking cheaply, like it's from Target or something. Why would he want garbage when he has a diamond?"

"And who wants a felon for a wife?" Candice spat back. "I bet you have a record that no one knows, and yet somehow it's been kept secret for a long time. Why did he even marry you, I have no idea."

W....TF....is coming out of this chick's mouth?!

"Are you kidding me right now?" Geneveive asked, shocked. "You think I got a record? Bitch please. You're the one with a record. How's that husband and kids of yours you left back home? Oh right-you don't fucking remember because you're out here in Charleston fucking another woman's husband. Clearly, I'm the better woman than you."

"Better woman?"

"Yeah, I am, you dumb whore."

"Dumb whore!?"

"What the hell is all that noi-Candice," Olivier breathed the moment he came downstairs, wearing a robe this time in case Lily was at the door. But seeing one of his flings here, at his girlfriend's doorstep, no less, shocked him. "What are you doing here?"

"Olivier?" Candice asked, shocked that he was here. "I'm here to see Raegan. Though..." reaching up, she started twirling a strand of her hair. "We can go out to breakfast. I know this really good restaurant near the water, makes the best omelet that's out of this world. Then maybe we can go to my hotel and try the bed? Rumor has it that you're really good in bed."

"Are you fucking kidding me?!" Genevieve shouted, shocked and laughing at the same time. Was she really picking up another woman's man right in front of her? "He's taken-by one of my girlfriends. So buh-bye, bitch." and with that, she slammed the door in Candice's face, leaving her shocked.

Storming off into the kitchen, where the smell of spiked iced chicory coffee and spice raisin pancakes with rum raisin-cream cheese glaze filled the air, Genevieve snatched one of the coffees and plopped down at the table, steaming mad. Olivier came in after her, wishing Irena good morning and grabbing two of the coffees. "Are you going to be okay?" he asked.

"Honestly, Olivier...I'm not. And we got this damn party to go to soon, so I need to go shopping, to prove that I'm the baddest bitch in the room." Genevieve growled.

"Are you sure that you're just proving that you're the baddest bitch to yourself or to Candice?"

The question hung in the air between them as she thought about it. "Both," she answered automatically. "I know I'm a bad bitch. I want Lily and that slut know that I am."

He opened his mouth to say something else, but he closed it and nodded. Whatever happened between them is between them. This was not his fight, and he's going to stay out of it. "Are you sure you're not proving that you are to Raegan?" he asked finally before leaving.

Genevieve looked at his retreating backside, shocked for a moment. Was it for Raegan? Is that why she was hellbent on making sure everyone in that goddamned room two days from now know that Raegan Bennett Ayers was hers? Was she staking her claim? She didn't even know at this point. All she wanted to do was shut the damn rumors to rest for once, and maybe, just maybe, she can save her reputation and salvage her marriage.

Because deep down, she was still in love with Raegan, and she really didn't want a divorce, at all.