Chapter 36
Definitely Revenge
Carter’s POV
The first bottle of beer only increased the pounding in my head. It felt like I was drowning with no means to come out.
I uncapped the second bottle and was about to drink it when someone joined me.
“How’re you doing, man?” He asked and I fell back on my seat.
“Not too good, Ryan. I feel like shit,” I sighed and he picked the other bottle of beer to join me.
“What’s going on, man?” He asked.
“It’s Veronica…” I said and the way his expression changed immediately told me I wouldn’t like what he was about to say.
“That one? I thought she was out of your life for good?” He hissed.
“Ryan please,” I groaned. “I know that you were against our relationship from the start but I promise you that she is not the kind of person you think she is.”
“Oh please, spare me that. It is rather too late to defend her after she forced her way into your life years ago. You should be
happy that she is finally letting you go, just like you have always wanted,” he said.
I was tired of arguing. How could I even defend a woman who was pregnant for another man? A married man at that!
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“Are you going to tell me what happened!” He asked and I took another gulp of the drink.
I set the bottle down with a heavy sigh, staring at the condensation pooling around its base. “Ryan, she’s pregnant.”
Ryan blinked, his expression unreadable for a moment before a faint. smirk tugged at his lips. “Pregnant? And you’re worried because…?”
“It’s not mine.” I said flatly, my voice barely above a whisper.
That wiped the smirk off his face. He leaned back in his chair, eyes narrowing as the weight of my words sank in. “What the hell are you saying. Carter?”
I ran a hand through my hair, the frustration boiling inside me threatening to spill over. “I mean, she’s been sleeping with someone else. And apparently, she’s carrying his child.”
Ryan let out a low whistle, shaking his head. “Damn. Just when I thought she couldn’t surprise me anymore.”
“I found out today,” I continued, ignoring his jab. “From the man’s wife. She came to me, told me everything, showed me proof. Veronica’s been staying at her husband’s house. Meshach Peyton’s house.”
Ryan’s brow furrowed. “Meshach Peyton? The billionaire? The one we have been struggling to partner with?”
“Yeah,” I said bitterly, draining the rest of my beer. “That Meshach Peyton.”
Ryan let out a humorless laugh, leaning forward to rest his elbows on the table. “Man, that’s messy. And Veronica’s got some nerve, dragging you into this kind of chaos.”
I didn’t respond, my mind racing through everything the woman had told
- me. My world felt like it was collapsing, each revelation a new blow I wasn’t prepared to handle.
“So, what now?” Ryan asked after a moment of silence. “You going to confront her? Or are you seriously considering teaming up with Peyton’s wife for some twisted revenge plot?”
“I don’t know,” I admitted, my voice strained. “I just… I need to talk to her. I need answers.”
“Answers?” Ryan echoed, raising an eyebrow. “You think she’s going to give you answers. Carter? She’s been lying to you this whole time. She’s not going to suddenly come clean because you ask nicely.”
“What the hell do you want me to do, Ryan?” I snapped, slamming the bottle down on the table. “March over there and start screaming accusations? Drag her name through the mud like Peyton’s wife wants me
to?”
Ryan held up his hands in a gesture of surrender. “Hey, I’m not saying that. But you’ve got to think this through, man. You can’t let her or this situation control you.”
I leaned back in my chair, closing my eyes and taking a deep breath. He was right–I couldn’t let my emotions drive me. But the thought of facing Veronica, of hearing her admit to everything, felt like more than I could handle.
Ryan’s voice softened. “Look, I know this is a lot to deal with. But you’ve got to be smart about this. Don’t let her drag you down with her.”
I nodded, though I wasn’t sure I fully agreed. Smart or not, I needed closure. I needed to know why.
“Thanks, Ryan.” I said quietly. “I’ll figure it out.”
“So what about Meghan?” He asked and I couldn’t even say a word.
“Heard she’s pregnant with your kid and your engagement is what…”
“Can we not talk about her right now? I’m devastated!” I groaned and he
chuckled.
“I’m sorry but don’t you think that is quite rich coming from you? I mean. I know you married Veronica against your will but if we’re talking
cheating, you cheated first. She just did worse, possibly to get back at you!” He said and I glared at him.
“Can you not say that?” I hissed. “What happened with me was different!”
“Different?” He snorted. “How so? You’re going to say that she seduced you? Oh, come on, Carter!”
I clenched my fists, my jaw tightening as Ryan’s words hit home. “I didn’t love her. Ryan. What happened with Meghan wasn’t about love–it was about…” I hesitated, searching for the right words but coming up short. “It was a mistake. One I’m trying to fix.”
Ryan leaned back, arms crossed over his chest, clearly unimpressed. “And Veronica? You think she wasn’t trying to fill some void too? Doesn’t excuse what she did, Carter, but maybe it’s not as black–and–white as your
want it to be.”
“Stop defending her,” I snapped. “You’ve hated her since the beginning, and now you’re suddenly playing devil’s advocate?”
Ryan shrugged, taking a long drink from his beer. “I’m not defending her. I’m just saying you’re not exactly standing on moral high ground here. And if you’re going to confront her, you better be ready to hear some hard truths.”
I exhaled sharply, the weight of his words settling on me like a lead blanket. Maybe he was right. Maybe Veronica’s betrayal wasn’t as simple as I wanted to make it out to be. But that didn’t change the fact that she’d
lied, that she’d torn apart what little trust we had left.
“Do you still love her?” Ryan asked suddenly, his tone softer, almost hesitant.
The question caught me off guard, and I stared at him, unsure how to respond. Did I? Could I, after everything that had happened?
“I… I don’t know,” I admitted, the words tasting bitter on my tongue. “Maybe I did once. But now… I don’t even know who she is anymore.”
Ryan nodded, as if he’d expected that answer. “Then maybe it’s time to figure out who you are without her. You’ve been so hung up on Veronica. Maybe this is your chance to start over.
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Start over. The words hung in the air, both terrifying and strangely liberating. Could I really do that? Could I walk away from the wreckage of my marriage and build something new?
“I’ll think about it,” I said finally, though the thought felt more like a distant dream than a tangible plan.
Ryan gave me a small, encouraging smile. “That’s all I’m asking, man. Just think about it. And in the meantime, maybe lay off the beer. You’re going to need a clear head for whatever comes next.”
I let out a weak laugh, raising my nearly empty bottle in a mock toast. “You’re probably right.”
“Or… we could just get some revenge,” he said and I frowned. “Oh, come on, Carter! What kind of man would you be if Veronica could cheat on someone like you and even get pregnant. Do you know what people would say?” He said.
I glared at him.
“Okay, you are fucking confusing me. Do you want me to get revenge or
start over? Pick a fucking side!”
“I want you to teach that dumb bitch a lesson and start your life over with Meghan,” he said.
I must be drunk now because there was no way I was considering this.
“So what’s the plan?” I asked.
“Thought you’d never ask,” he smirked.
