Allison said bluntly, her eyes locked on his. "I was with someone, of course. But that's none of your business!"

"She had a body that turned heads," Allison continued, "and, well, let's just say she knew how to move between the sheets. Things got intense—hence the marks."

Colton choked back his fury. The words seemed to turn to ash in his mouth. Her nonchalant tone and lack of shame only fueled his anger.

"And you know what?" Allison said quietly, a thoughtful expression crossing her face before a smile curved her lips as she watched his anger. "He was worth it. Definitely one of the best—probably the best I've ever met. But don't lose any sleep over it. We're divorced, remember? You don't have to worry about your ex-wife."

Colton gritted his teeth, seething with rage he couldn't express. He couldn't lash out; deep down, he knew he'd brought Melany into their home, pushed for the divorce, and severed their last ties. He had no right to feel this way, yet the resentment gnawed at him.

"You have the nerve, Allison!" he finally snapped, bitterness lacing his voice. "You've been fooling me for three years, parading around like a perfect woman, while you were nothing but a cheat!"

The pain was deeper than he cared to admit.

"At least I waited until we decided to divorce," Allison retorted coldly. "Unlike you, I didn't bring anyone into our home while we were still married!" The hypocrisy was almost laughable. He had cheated while married, and now she dared to judge her own actions? It was like patching a sinking ship with illogical holes. But she always talked about her suffering instead of enduring it silently. "But looking at you now," she continued, "you have the heart of a womanizer, but no skills to take advantage of it. It must be tough."

Colton had never felt such rage. He couldn't believe how caustic he'd become. Melany, ever the opportunist, was at his side, gently rubbing his back, though her words were anything but reassuring.

"Don't be so upset, Colton," she murmured. "Poor Allison try to see things from her perspective. Without her parents and now with the divorce, she has no one to lean on. With no money and no connections, what else can she do but find a new benefactor? We should"

Before Melany finished, a loud crack—a slap—rang out. Allison hadn't held back. The slap echoed like thunder, silencing Melany, whose cheek instantly swelled, blood welling at the corner of her mouth. She couldn't believe Allison had hit her, and right in front of Colton.

"If you had half a brain, you'd know when to stop talking," Allison said firmly. "But I guess that's asking too much. If you keep talking, the whole town will hear you came back from abroad just to get into a married man's bed."

Allison looked at Melany, her expression cold, and took a photo with her phone. "'Courtroom Slap: Mistress Gets What's Coming!'—that would certainly liven up the headlines," she said.

Melany shrieked and covered her face. But when Allison turned the phone toward her, Melany's pulse slowed: the screen was black.

"Relax," Allison smirked. "I wouldn't let something that disgusting onto my phone. I like to keep things clean."

Just as Melany's tension eased, Allison's voice cut through again, smooth as glass. "But hey, don't worry. There are security cameras everywhere. They probably recorded the whole thing in perfect HD."

Melany's fear broke. "Shut up! Colton and I are innocent!" she blurted, her voice shaking. Anger bubbling, she turned to Colton, tears welling. "Even if he messed up, he has no right to ruin me like this! Slapping me is one thing, but threatening my reputation? That's out of line."

Colton, seeing Melany's tear-stained face, felt his heart soften. He glared at Allison, irritation rising. "If you have a problem, deal with me. Why are you bringing Melany into this? I honestly still don't know what my grandfather…"

"You act like a babe when people are watching, but behind closed doors…" Before he could finish, another loud slap echoed. Allison's slap sent him reeling, his cheek swelling instantly. Melany and Colton, with their swollen cheeks, looked oddly matched.

Colton froze. "You…"

"That was for all the nonsense between us," Allison interrupted, her tone eerily calm. She wiped her fingers carefully with a handkerchief. "Oh, and my best wishes to you both. Really. You deserve each other."

Colton's shock turned to fury. "Allison! Have you gone completely crazy?"