SWNOVELS Chapter My CEO 404
404 Rage Unleashed (Jayden)
+25 BONUS
The jet touches down smoothly, but there's nothing smooth about the way my heart is pounding. I grab my briefcase, every muscle in my body coiled with tension. The envelope with those damning photos is stuffed inside. All I want are answers.
As I step off the jet, I storm over to the car waiting for me.
"Get out," I snap at the driver, tossing my briefcase onto the back seat. My voice is sharp enough to cut through metal. "I'll drive myself."
"Ah, Mr. Brennan...I can't-"
I pull his door open and drag him out by the shirt collar. "I said get out."
I get into the driver's seat, slamming the door hard enough that it echoes across the tarmac. The engine roars to life as I hit the gas, the tires screeching in protest.
The rage that's been simmering in my veins now boils over. Betrayal, disbelief, gut-wrenching jealousy. The thoughts crash into each other, making my chest tighten, my knuckles white as I grip the wheel.
I can't process it-Lance and Winona, Phillip and Winona. It's a blur, a storm I can't make sense of.
How could she do this? How could he? My best friend. The man I trusted above anyone else. Why would he ever think this was okay?
I gave her that hall pass, thinking I could handle it. Thinking I was strong enough, that I could bear the weight of whatever she needed. But I never thought... never in my wildest nightmares did I picture this. My best friend, Lance, and Winona tangled up in something I can't unsee, can't unfeel.
And Phillip, as if she could ever think that would be okay.
I push the car to its limits as I leave the city, the speedometer needle climbing dangerously high. The road to the estate blurs past me. My mind is laser-focused, spiraling between anger and devastation. Then I'm here, still speeding along the estate driveway. Past the estate. I'm not stopping untill get to the cottage. I want answers, I need answers.
When the cottage comes into view, my pulse rockets. A figure is there, walking casually toward the front steps. Tall, familiar-Lance. What the fuck is he doing here? Is he seeing her behind my back? Islam the brakes, jerking the wheel hard, sending the car skidding to a stop. The tires squeal, gravel
spraying out in a cloud. Without a second's hesitation, throw the car into park and lunge out, my chest heaving, rage crashing over me in waves.
"Lance!" I roar, the name tearing from my throat.
He turns, eyes wide, completely taken off guard. But I don't give him time to process anything. In two strides, I'm on him, my fists flying. I connect with his jaw, the force of the blow sending him stumbling backward. +25 BONUS
"You bastard!" I scream, voice raw, cracking with fury. You think you can screw my wife and get away with it? I trusted your
Lance stumbles, his hands flying up defensively, but I'm relentless. I shove him back against the porch railing, rage coursing through me. His eyes are wild, and he struggles to make sense of the attack, but I'm too far gone. "Jayden, what the hell?" he manages, his voice thick with shock and pain.
I'm not listening. My fists are a blur, landing blow after blow, the force of my anger manifesting in each hit. I can't stop. The betrayal cuts too deep, and I feel like I'm drowning in this raw, primal need to make him hurt as much as I'm hurting. "You were my best friend!" I shout, my voice strangled. "And you went behind my back? With her?!" My fist smashes into his shoulder, and he's trying to push me away, but I shove him again, my grip iron tight.
He finally finds his voice, his words coming out choked. "I didn't... you're not... Jayden, stop!"
But I can't. I don't want to hear excuses, don't want to hear anything but the crack of my fist against his jaw, the sound of my fury echoing into the quiet night. My vision blurs with rage and unshed tears Igave her that damn hall pass. I told her I wouldn't hold it against her. But seeing it, feeling it-the images of Winona with Lance flash before me, and it's like a dagger twisting deeper.
Lance manages to get his arms up, trying to block me. "Jayden, listen to me!" he shouts, his voice desperate.
But I'm not listening. Not yet. My fist comes down again, and this time he deflects it, grabbing my arm and trying to hold me back. The betrayal still burns, scorching every rational thought from my mind.
"You don't get to explain!" I spit out, my chest heaving. "You're a liar, a backstabber! How long, huh? How long were you both sneaking around? You're here, you probably still are."
"Jayden, for fuck's sake!" Lance yells back, finally shoving me off him, stumbling away. He's bloodied and bruised, his eyes wide with a mix of confusion and horror. "You're not making sense!"
I don't care if I'm making sense. I don't care about anything except the image burned into my brain, the image of the two people I trusted most in the world ripping my heart out. The fire inside me doesn't wane; if anything, it roars brighter. Her voice in my head.
She's no good for you. She'll hurt you. You'll see I'm right, Son.
What if, what if she is right? What if she's been right all along?
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