Chapter 360

**Chapter 0360**

**Judy’s POV**

I stared in shock at the woman in front of me. My heart raced as she walked into view and our eyes met. Her blue eyes were wide, and I felt a wave of emotions wash over me.

Irene sat in front of me, her blond hair neatly braided down her back. She wore cozy pajamas, and her arms were wrapped around herself, showing a sense of vulnerability.

“Irene?” I asked, still surprised to see her there.

“What are you doing here?” she asked.

For a moment, she was quiet. She bit her lower lip, thinking carefully about her response. I looked down at the person sleeping on the pullout couch, wrapped in a blanket.

I grabbed the corner of the blanket and slowly pulled it back to see who was sleeping. My heart raced when I saw Matthew peacefully resting.

I let out a breath I didn’t realize I had been holding.

Gavin wasn’t cheating on me.

He left me because Matt and Irene were on their way. Slowly, everything started to make sense in my mind. He must have gone to pick them up from the airport this evening, and that was why he couldn’t be with me.

Guilt hit me hard, like a freight train. I realized I should have trusted him more. I shouldn’t have jumped to the conclusion that he was with another woman. What was wrong with me? When did I become this jealous person?

I felt a knot in my stomach as I thought about everything I had said to him.

I gently placed the blanket back over Matt and then looked up at Irene. She was staring down at the ground, lost in thought.

“When did you get here?” I asked her.

I spoke softly so I wouldn’t wake Matt.

“Last night,” she whispered, “I had to leave Silver Crescent. I didn’t know where else to go. So, I called my father, and he helped us get a…”

He picked us up at the airport and dropped us off before he had to leave for his job.

With that simple explanation, she confirmed what I had been wondering. He really wasn’t with another woman—he was with his kids. My heart felt a little lighter.

My chest felt tight as the weight of what I had learned hit me hard. I realized I had acted like a jealous fool, and it made me feel humiliated. I couldn’t believe I had broken into his suite just to catch a glimpse of the other woman in his life.

Irene sat on the edge of the bed, looking troubled. “You have that same look I had the other day,” she murmured. “It’s a mix of humiliation, hurt, and realization. It makes you feel dumb.”

Her words hung in the air as she reflected on her feelings. It was a tough moment for her, and she could tell that her emotions were shared by someone close to her.

I looked at her, narrowing my eyes. “What do you mean?” I asked, stepping closer. I understood why I felt this way, but I was confused about her feelings.

This was the first time I had confronted her like this.

I noticed tears on her cheeks. She was crying, and it made my heart ache for her. Even after everything that had happened between us in the last few months, I didn’t want to see her in pain. She was still Gavin’s daughter, someone I had cared about deeply.

I knew my friend was going through a tough time. She didn’t have many true friends, if any at all. Right now, she didn’t need an enemy; she needed someone to support her.

I sat down next to her on the bed and waited for her to say something.

I reached over and took Irene’s hand to get her attention.

“Irene, what happened?” I asked softly, wanting to show her I cared.

“I shouldn’t have accused you of seducing him,” she said, her voice filled with regret.

“I shouldn’t have believed him over you,” she whispered.

My heart sank as I looked at her face.

She was talking about Ethan… this was about Ethan.

—

Chapter 0860

+25 BONUS

My expression turned serious.

felt a wave of sadness wash over her at the thought of Ethan hurting Irene. At that moment, Irene seemed so fragile, almost like a small child who wanted to hide away. She was blaming herself for not noticing the warning signs earlier. But deep down, she knew it wasn’t entirely her fault.

I had to remind myself that this wasn’t her fault. Ethan was a master manipulator, and he would do whatever it took to get what he wanted.

Irene was a victim, just like I was.

“Irene,” I said, turning to face her completely.

“What did he do to you?”

“He used me,” she whispered. “He only wanted me to get close to my father…”

She understood.

“I’m sorry, Irene,” I whispered back.

Judy looked at me, her voice low and filled with uncertainty. “Did you know?” she asked. She wasn’t accusing me of anything, but I could sense her vulnerability.

I didn’t want to lie to her.

nodded slowly, understanding what I meant.

“Yes,” I whispered. “I knew.”

She acknowledged my words with a nod, accepting the truth of the situation. Her fiancé had been using her, and I was aware of it. Despite this realization, she didn’t seem angry. Instead, she appeared calm, processing everything quietly.

She was just confirming what she already knew.

“Why didn’t you tell me?” she asked quietly, looking down at her hands as she nervously fidgeted with them.

“I couldn’t…” I replied, equally softly. “I wanted to.”

I hesitated for a moment. “I couldn’t,” I finally said.

“Why not?” she asked.

I gulped, unsure of how much to share with her. I didn’t want to lie, not anymore. Now that she knew what Ethan was up to, I felt it was important to be honest.

She needed to know the whole truth about what he was capable of. It was important for her to understand everything.

—

**Today’s Bonus Offer**

**Get It Now!**

—

**Chapter 381**

**Chapter 361**