Set me free Chapter 2

Isabelle stood frozen between us, looking back and forth from me to Julian, the very picture of someone caught in the middle.

She was a great actress.

If I hadn't died once, if my wandering soul hadn't witnessed her kicking over my tombstone with a look of pure disgust, I would never have known the twisted jealousy that festered beneath her cool, confident exterior.

This was the first time I'd ever seen her look so helpless.

And even though I wasn't the one who caused it, everyone in the room turned on me because of her.

Alex shoved his chair back and stormed over. "Lena, don't take it too far!" he snapped. "We already said it was a joke. You're just trying to make a scene. Can't you take a joke?"

How ironic. They were the ones who made the joke. I was the victim. And yet, somehow, I was the one who couldn't take it.

Alex had always had a sharp tongue, his words dripping with sarcasm. I used to think it was just his personality, that he was like that with everyone, so I tried to ignore it.

Later, I realized he was only like that with me. As Julian's wife, I had never truly been accepted by his friends.

I ignored Alex's barking and kept my eyes locked on Julian.

Seeing that I wasn't backing down, Julian finally realized I was serious. A cold, humorless laugh escaped his lips. He grabbed Isabelle’s arm and pulled her into his arms.

He stared at me, his eyes burning with a vengeful fire. "Fine," he said, his voice dripping with venom. "You said it. Don't regret it. Pack your things. We'll get the divorce papers tomorrow."

Then, in front of everyone, he lowered his head and kissed her.

It was a rough, possessive kiss, fueled by anger. The sound of their lips, of their tongues tangling, filled the room. The soft lighting overhead created a dramatic scene: the woman's pliant body bent backward, the man's large, strong hand cupping the back of her delicate neck. It was like something out of a movie.

I saw Isabelle make a weak show of pushing against his chest, then her hands crept up and wrapped around his neck.

Someone gasped. Then came the excited clicks of phone cameras.

I was standing closest to them. I saw every intimate, unspoken detail.

My pale lips trembled. I wanted to say something, but I didn't know what. A soft, vulnerable part of me had been shattered. Something precious that I had hidden deep inside.

The moment Julian kissed someone else, right in front of me, it broke. Quietly. Silently.

I squeezed my eyes shut, my face a numb mask, and walked out of the room.