The Price of Betrayal novel Chapter 9

When it became clear I wouldn't back down, panic finally broke through their entitled facades.

They turned on Ashley like wolves.

"This is all your fault! You spread lies without even checking the facts!"

"You're the real homewrecker! Now we're all going down because of you!"

"Had the nerve to parade around as Mrs. Walker. Pathetic!"

"We're in this mess because we tried sucking up to you! You should pay every cent!"

"Don't even think about asking us to help with that $940 million. That's your problem!"

Ashley finally snapped, her designer mask cracking completely. "You hypocritical vultures!"

"Don't act innocent. You were all desperate to please someone with power. You pushed me to make a scene!"

"When you thought I was Mrs. Walker, you were practically kissing my feet. Now look at you - running like rats from a sinking ship!"

"You were born to be bootlickers. And you're going down with me!"

The argument might have turned violent if the officers hadn't intervened.

When things calmed down, the excuses started flowing.

Everyone claimed innocence. It was always someone else who broke things, someone else who threw punches.

Then the officers played the school's security footage. Crystal clear video of their mob mentality in action. That shut them up fast.

The consequences came down hard and precise. Each person would pay according to their participation.

Some called their husbands in tears, scrambling to liquidate assets and empty retirement accounts to stay out of jail. They left broken but free.

Others found their marriages couldn't survive the scandal. Their husbands sent divorce papers instead of help.

Those who couldn't pay faced arrest.

Ashley bore the heaviest burden.

She'd caused the most damage, encouraged the most violence.

Her share of the debt was crushing. In desperation, she turned to Jack.

"Please, Jack! Help me, for Tyler's sake! I could never pay this off in ten lifetimes!"

"What happens to our son if I go to prison?"

Tears streaked her expensive makeup as she begged.

Jack hesitated, then tried appealing to me. "Honey, maybe we could be lenient? For old times' sake?"

I met his eyes with glacial contempt. "Seriously? You think you have any right to ask me for mercy?"

"The thought of our years together makes me sick now. Every moment was a lie."

"The divorce papers are ready. We're done."

I turned to the officer. "Add charges for Ashley encouraging her son to torture my daughter. Don't forget the wire incident."