"Maureen, is this your way of getting back at me for not proposing to you today?"
"If you truly loved me, shouldn't you feel guilty? Shouldn't you step aside and wish me happiness when I've found someone better?"
I stared at the mouth moving in front of me, unable to believe this was the man I'd loved for years.
I felt nothing but shame for my own blindness.
Fury surged through me. I reached over and took Arnold's hand, lacing my fingers through his.
"You've already cheated and found your true love. Am I not allowed to move on?"
"Or is it that I sold my shares to Arnold instead of handing them over to your mistress for free, and now you're barking about it?"
Elwin, humiliated and enraged, raised his hand to slap me.
I sidestepped.
He stumbled, off-balance, and took Valerie down with him. They hit the floor face-first.
Arnold and I couldn't help it. Our eyes met, and we burst out laughing.
Everyone else wanted to laugh but didn't dare.
They could only point at me and hurl insults.
"Maureen, you shameless little tramp! You've got some nerve! Cross Mr. Gilbert, and you can forget about surviving in Bayview City!"