Chapter 5: Public Humiliation

Five

I took out my phone and snapped several photos.

The shutter sounds were loud and clear. The click echoed in the air, turning heads. Wendy suddenly pulled away from Derek, stepping back, looking flustered and lost, as if she’d just realized what she’d done.

She looked at me in panic, stammering:

"I forgot, I didn’t mean to, I—"

She couldn’t finish.

Because I was just watching her coldly.

"You don’t need to say a word. Let me handle this."

Derek cut her off in a deep voice, then turned to me, instantly regaining his usual calm, imposing attorney’s presence.

"Rachel, let’s talk about this at home. This is near your university—a lot of your students come through this park. Making a scene here would embarrass you, too. Besides..." he glanced at the mess, "is bullying a helpless woman really your style?"

I looked at him coldly, my voice steady.

"So you know my students come here. Then as my husband, hugging a widow in public—does that thrill you?"

Derek’s eyes narrowed, anger and shock mixing. After all, I’d always been gentle and composed in front of him.

He’d never seen me like this. Even I’d never seen myself like this.

"I should slap both of you right now, but I won’t take the blame for your mess."

I turned to Wendy, who was cleaning up in silence.

"Ms. Wendy, you’re not saying anything—so do you really have these intentions?"

She trembled, then after a few seconds, slowly lifted her chin and said loudly:

"Enough, stop fighting. It wasn’t her—I knocked it over myself, okay?"

She looked at Derek with red, aggrieved eyes:

"Derek, please take your wife and leave. Don’t ruin my business. I won’t serve you anymore, either. Please don’t come back!"

Customers started gathering.

"What happened? How did it get like this?"

"Miss Wendy, is someone bullying you? Who is it?"

"Hey, leave Miss Wendy alone! She’s the best thing in this park."

Unfriendly eyes turned on me. I could feel the judgment pressing in—the same way small towns close ranks around their favorites. Derek’s face darkened. He grabbed my hand and pulled me toward the parking lot.

I couldn’t break free and had to follow.

A student of mine passed by, holding a basketball, and greeted me with a smile.

"Hello, Professor Morgan!"

I nodded and smiled.

"Hello."