He Wants An Open Marriage? Done!

Richard’s eyes narrowed as he stared at the television screen, where news anchors continued to dissect the scandal.

"There has to be a way to prove it once and for all," he said, his index finger tapping against his lips in deep thought.

Roxanne kept her eyes fixed on the moving images on the screen. Even though the public had already realized Cara was a liar, Roxanne needed to hear the ultimate truth directly from Cara’s own mouth. A sudden spark ignited in her mind, and she turned toward Richard, her eyes gleaming.

"We could offer our help to Cara," she suggested smoothly, reaching to her side to pull out her phone. "I am going to call her right now."

Richard reached over and touched her wrist, his warm hand bringing her movement to a halt as he shook his head. "I am not sure that is a wise decision," he warned, his voice laced with caution. "Cara is backed into a corner now, and a desperate person can be unpredictable," he added, meeting her gaze.

Roxanne pressed her lips into a thin line as she considered his words. He had a valid point. A desperate enemy was always unpredictable. Yet, she looked back at him, a faint spark of defiance in her eyes.

"What is the worst thing she can possibly do to me over a phone call?" she asked.

Richard looked from Roxanne to the news ticker on the screen, then back to her resolute face. He let out a quiet sigh. "Nothing, I suppose," he admitted.

"Exactly," Roxanne said.

Without wasting another second, she swiped the screen, dialing Cara’s direct number. She tapped the speakerphone icon and set the device down on the table between them. The sharp ringing tone filled the quiet room.

Roxanne drummed her fingers against her thigh, her heart beating a steady rhythm against her ribs as she waited. The line rang three times before connecting with a harsh click.

"What the hell are you calling me for?" Cara snapped instantly. Her voice sounded thin, bitter, and completely strained over the small speaker. "I know you are calling to gloat, but I would advise you to keep your mouth shut, because this is very, very far from over!"

A short laugh escaped Roxanne’s lips, and she shook her head in disbelief. "From where I am sitting, it looks like everything is very, very over," she replied, her tone mocking.

Beside her, Richard leaned back into the soft cushions of the sofa, a satisfied smile touching his lips as he listened to the exchange.

Cara scoffed loudly over the line, her irritation palpable through the line. "Whatever. I do not care what you think. I am leaving for Italy anyway. I have no desire to stay in this city for another minute," she said.

Her voice sounded breathless, punctuated by the distinct rustle of luggage zippers and clothes being thrown around as if she were packing in a frenzy. "But do not celebrate just yet, because I will be back for my man."

Roxanne glanced at Richard, rolling her eyes in amusement. "Well, I actually called because I want to hear you say the truth to me," she said, her voice steady. "I know you are not pregnant, and I was hoping you would finally have the courage to come clean."

Cara let out a dry laugh that lacked any real warmth. "I know you are dying to hear me say it," she mocked, her tone rising. "But I am never going to give you that satisfaction. That is the one thing you can never take away from me. Whether it is a truth or a lie, it belongs to me."

Roxanne smiled softly. She had not expected Cara to hand over her secret on a silver platter anyway. She took a deep breath, resting her shoulder against the leather backrest.

"You just gave me the answer either way," she pointed out calmly. "And guess what? I am looking at the television right now, and the reporters just announced that Saints Laboratory does not even exist in the official registry. It is completely clear that you fabricated every single detail."

"Those useless people!" Cara spat, her words sounding like they were being forced out through tightly clenched teeth. "I need to hang up now."

"That might be a wise choice. In fact, that trip to Italy is a great idea, because the police are probably on their way to your apartment right now," Roxanne said smoothly.

"What do you mean by that?" Cara snapped, her voice spiking with sudden fear.

"The hospital boards have announced that they are filing official lawsuits against you," Roxanne explained, her tone light and conversational. "The hospitals have already announced that they are taking legal action against you. Do you really think the authorities will simply ignore forged medical documents? What were you even thinking when you pulled a stunt like that?"

"Nonsense! I am not going to any jail!" Cara shrieked over the speaker. "My father won’t let them take me! Margaret won’t either. She’ll explain everything!"

Roxanne gave a quiet nod, her tone turning gentle and coaxing. "And what exactly was the misunderstanding, Cara?" she pressed softly.

Silence fell over the line for a moment.

The sound of Cara’s shallow breathing came through the speaker, growing more ragged by the second. Then, her composure completely shattered.

"I am not pregnant! There! You win!" Cara snapped, her voice cracking under the sheer weight of her defeat. "I only said I was because I refused to let you have Richard without a fight," she confessed, her words coming out in a rush. "Tell him I am sorry."

Richard let out a long breath through his nose and shook his head, his face a mask of indifference.

"I am sure he hears your apology, but I am afraid it is much too late for that," Roxanne said calmly.

The words had barely left her mouth when the sharp, blaring wail of police sirens echoed through the speaker from Cara’s end of the line. The piercing sound grew louder and louder, cutting through the distance between them.

Cara gasped loudly over the phone, the sound raw with terror. "They are outside my building!" she cried, her voice trembling violently with shock. "They are actually here! I need to hide!"

"I have one final confession for you, Cara," Roxanne said softly.

"What now? Don’t tell me you are not pregnant either!" Cara panicked, her frantic footsteps echoing across her hardwood floor.

"I was the person who leaked the initial story to the media this morning," Roxanne revealed, her tone cool and collected. "They simply did the rest of the work for me. Do you see why you should have accepted my offer when I came to you earlier?"

"You dirty little—"

"Goodbye, Cara," Roxanne interrupted smoothly.

She tapped the red icon, cutting off the rant before another word could cross the line. She set the phone down on the glass table, satisfaction settling in her gut.

She turned to look at Richard. "Your name is clear. Finally."

"Finally," Richard repeated softly, a deep sense of relief washing over his features. "She will face the full consequences of her actions now. After everything she has done, I have nothing left to say about her."

Roxanne chuckled softly, feeling the lingering tightness in her chest melt away as the warm feeling of complete victory filled the room.

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