I scoffed, taking a step back into my mother’s hold, her arms still around me almost protectively. “Think about fucking what, Dad? How I should keep sacrificing my happiness for a man who never even loved me? Who never respected me?I am more than somebody’s fucking wife.”
“Rosenna, language,” my father warned sharply.
“Language?” I repeated, incredulously. “Honestly, out of everything I just said, that’s what you’re concerned about? Not the fact that I’m standing here telling you my marriage is a disaster—no, you’re worried about my tone?”
His gaze remained stone cold. “Disaster or not, marriage is about sacrifice and commitment. You sound childish and unreasonable.”
“Unreasonable? Do you even hear yourself? I’m telling you that I. AM. MISERABLE. What part of ’my marriage was all a fucking lie’ don’t you understand?”
“You’re making a foolish decision that will ruin your reputation—”
“At this point, I’m ready and willing to have my reputation tarnished if it means getting away from this family.”
For a moment a look of hurt flashed across his face, but as quick as it came, it vanished, his eyes narrowing.
Suddenly the front door opened again, and as if we were all a part of some fucked-up soap opera, Gavin Johnson, the man of the fucking hour, walked in.
Whereas an hour ago his expression had been one of arrogance, now he looked ashamed, defeated. His eyes found mine after he stepped into the dining room. Oddly enough, a feeling of hesitation washed over me as his hand held the divorce papers that we’d only just argued over.
“Gavin, your wife has been unreasonable all afternoon,” Nancy sneered.
He glanced over at his mother. His eyes silently glazed over Grace and her son and then over to Beckham, who crossed his arms.
He let out a dejected sigh as he placed the papers on the dining room table with a sigh.
“She’s not my wife anymore.”
My eyes widened.He actually signed them.
There were no arguments, accusations, or threats to combat it.He just signed it. Even though it took a private investigator, the betrayal of his best friend, multiple infidelities, and five years of an unhappy marriage, he actually signed the papers that would finally free me from him.
Nancy looked like she was ready to explode. “You are a damn fool, and you—” she said, pointing over to me “—are awhore.”
“Nancy, that’s enough,” my father said, finally showing me some compassion.
Nancy shook her head. “No, no, it all makes sense now. She acquires a new client, and only a few months later, she divorces my son. She’s lost all of her values and morals because she’s been spreading her legs forhim.”
Gavin’s father stepped in.
“Honey, please calm down—”
I winced as Beckham’s voice cut off Patrick’s.“So what if she has?”he asked, his tone almost lazy, as if the accusation was more of a nuisance than a threat.
Nancy’s eyes narrowed further, almost as if she wasn’t expecting her accusing words to be true.
Beckham continued shamelessly with a rather nonchalant shrug, “It’s not like she was getting anything worthwhile from your son anyway.”
“You bastard—” said Nancy.
But it was Gavin who cut her off.
“Her affair isn’t the reason she’s leaving.” He sighed.“She’s leaving because of mine.”
Nancy and Grace froze, almost like two deer in headlights.
“Your what?” Patrick asked.
Looking over to his father, Gavin continued, “My affairs... my children are the reason she’s leaving... For years, I haven’t played my role as a husband. Not when I’ve been manipulating her to fund my role as a father... I tried to hold onto you, Rosenna...” He glanced my way, finally looking the most honest and truthful I’d ever seen him throughout our entire relationship. “I tried to force you to realize you needed me when in reality... I’m the one who needed you this entire time.”
