“Stuart, what are you talking about?” she gasped.
Stuart said sharply, “I’m talking about the AFFAIR. The one you and Martin have been having while I’ve been lying here, helpless.”
“Stuart, please,” Martin stepped forward, hands raised. “Let’s discuss this privately —”
“Privately?” Stuart laughed bitterly. “Like how you two kept your affair private? How you sneaked around behind my back while I was fighting to recover?”
Angelina’s face went pale. “Stuart, I… I don’t know what you’re talking about.”
“Don’t,” Stuart snapped. “Don’t insult me by lying. I saw you. Both of you. You disgust me.”
Martin turned on Angelina. “You told me he’d never find out!”
Angelina glared at him. “Oh, so now it’s my fault?”
“It’s both your faults!” Stuart roared, making everyone jump. “My wife and my brother. The two people I trusted most in this world!”
The two of them started shouting at each other, their voices overlapping, but Stuart wasn’t listening. He turned to the butler.
“Bob, show them the door.”
Bob nodded and stepped forward.
“Stuart, please!” Angelina begged, tears streaming down her face. “Don’t do this. We can fix this. I love you!”
“Love me?” Stuart’s voice cracked with hurt. “You don’t even know what love is. Love isn’t betrayal. Love isn’t lies. Love would have stayed true, especially when things got hard.”
“Please, just one chance… I love you, Stuart. Please…”
“No, Angelina,” Stuart said coldly. “You love the lifestyle. But as of tonight, that’s over. You’re both out of this house. And my life. GET OUT!”
As the door slammed behind them, Stuart turned back to the guests, who were still in shock. He raised his glass.
“Let’s not let a couple of liars ruin the evening,” he said, his voice lighter now. “Tonight, we’re celebrating my freedom.”