Chapter 8 The Hotel Room #2
"Enough." Reiner roared, his voice echoing off the high ceilings. He stepped between Joan and Macey, shielding her sister with his body. "I will not let you scream at her anymore. Look at yourself, Joan. You are acting out of control."
"Because you are letting them destroy our lives!" Joan shouted, her throat raw. "Twelve years, Reiner. You are throwing away twelve years of marriage for two women who are using you."
"You threw it away when you lied about our child," Reiner said. "And you threw it away when you walked into this room."
Joan stared at him. The pain in her chest was so intense she felt like she couldn't catch her breath.
Reiner wasn't listening. He had decided she was guilty, and every piece of fake evidence was just confirming what he wanted to believe.
He was choosing the lie because blaming her was easier than admitting he had failed her.
Moments later, two paramedics rushed in with medical bags. "Who called for an ambulance?" the lead paramedic asked.
"Yes," Joan said, stepping back, her voice shaking. "He’s on the bed. He needs help."
While the paramedics rushed over to check Graham’s pulse, Reiner turned and walked out of the suite into the carpeted hallway. He looked exhausted, his shoulders slumped under his coat.
Joan followed him into the corridor, her heart breaking into pieces. "Reiner, please. Don't do this."
Reiner stopped near the elevators, keeping his back to her.
Macey followed him into the corridor. While he stared at the closed elevator doors, she placed both hands on his shoulders and turned him toward her.
"Oh, Reiner," Macey cooed, her eyes wide and full of false comfort. "I am so sorry. You don't deserve this."
Before Reiner could respond, Macey stood on her tiptoes. She wrapped her arms around his neck and pressed her lips firmly against his.
Joan froze in the middle of the hallway. Her breath caught in her throat.
She watched her husband. She watched to see him instantly shove Macey away. She waited for the quick, fierce rejection that should have come naturally to a man who loved his wife.
But Reiner didn't push her away instantly.
For one long, terrible beat—a single second that stretched out like an eternity—Reiner froze. He didn't pull back. He let Macey’s lips stay on his.
It was only a second. Then Reiner seemed to snap back to reality. He grabbed Macey’s wrists and pushed her away, stepping back with a look of surprise and confusion on his face. "Macey, no. Don't do that."
"I'm sorry," Macey whispered smoothly, putting a hand over her mouth, though her eyes flashed with satisfaction as she looked past Reiner’s shoulder at Joan. "I just... I hate seeing you in so much pain."
The hesitation was brief, but for Joan, it was enough. It was the final drop that broke the dam.
Joan didn't scream. She didn't cry out. A strange, icy quiet settled over her. The panic and despair clawing at her throat vanished, replaced by absolute clarity.
She looked at Reiner. Really looked at him.
This was the man who had let her sisters invade their home. This was the man who had ignored her warnings, given away her authority at work, believed a fake medical record over her word, and kicked her out of her own house. And now, he had hesitated when her sister kissed him.
He hadn't protected her. He was never going to protect her.
Joan walked down the hallway until she was standing right in front of Reiner. She didn't look at Macey at all. She kept her eyes fixed on her husband's face.
Reiner looked at her, guilt sharpening his expression. "Joan, I didn't—"
Joan raised her left hand, cutting him off.
Joan gripped her platinum wedding ring—the band she had worn through twelve years of promises, sleepless nights, and shared ambition.
She slid the band over her knuckle.
"Joan, what are you doing?" Reiner asked. Panic flickered in his gray eyes.
Joan didn't answer. She took his right hand, lifted it, and placed the cold circle of platinum firmly into his palm. She closed his fingers over it.
"You chose them," Joan said. Her voice was steady now, precise and flat. "You chose the easiest lie over the woman who built your life with you."
"Joan, stop," Reiner said, his hand trembling as he held the ring. "We need to handle this professionally. The company—"
"There is no 'we' anymore, Reiner," Joan said.
She turned on her heel and walked toward the building’s service stairs, refusing to wait for the elevator.
"Joan." Reiner called out, stepping after her.
Two hotel security guards stepped out of the elevator bay, having been alerted to the disturbance on the floor.
Reiner stopped. He looked at the guards, then at the wedding ring in his palm. The wall of pride snapped back into place. He turned to the head of security, his voice clipped and formal.
"This woman is on administrative leave from Loft International," Reiner said, pointing toward the stairwell door as it swung shut behind Joan.
"She is not permitted back into the penthouse under any circumstances until the internal investigation is finished.
Make sure building security at the residence is notified immediately. "
"Yes, Mr. Loft," the guard replied, taking notes on his tablet.
Macey stepped up beside Reiner, slipping her arm through his. "You did the right thing, Reiner," she whispered. "We're here for you now."
Reiner didn't answer her. He didn't pull his arm away, but he didn't look at her either. He just stared down at the small silver band resting in his palm, feeling the cold metal press against his skin as the heavy door to the stairwell clicked shut, locking Joan out for good.