After He Humiliated Me I Sold Our Wedding House

Chapter 3

At the title company, I signed my name and pressed my thumbprint into the notary's book.

The buyer, Hank Brewer, had made his fortune in coal, and he put a $1,000,000 deposit into escrow without batting an eye.

"Ms. Sinclair, the rest of the money gets wired to you as soon as the deed's recorded. But I need to move in quick, so the place has to be empty in 2 days."

I held my phone and looked at the number on the escrow confirmation. "No problem. I'll be out today."

When I got back to the condo, some loud reality show was blaring in the living room. Madeline was lying on the couch, eating grapes Ethan had peeled for her.

I ignored her, dug two big cardboard boxes out of the storage closet, and started packing all my stuff. Clothes, books, and skincare all went in. I worked like a machine, fast and efficient.

Madeline sat up on the couch and shuffled over to me in her slippers. "Audrey, what are you doing?

"Is it because I'm staying here? Did I upset you?"

She kept backing away as she talked. When she reached a pile of clutter, her foot slid out, and she hit the floor hard. Her arm scraped the edge of a box and came away with a red welt.

Madeline clutched her arm and cried out in pain.

Just then, the front door opened. Ethan walked in carrying takeout, took one look at the scene, and dropped the bag on the floor.

He rushed over and shoved me away. I lost my balance, and my back slammed into the wall.

Ethan pulled Madeline behind him and rounded on me. "Audrey Sinclair, what the hell is this tantrum about?!

"Maddie's not well, and you're pulling dirty tricks like this to force her out?

"Do you even know her numbers got worse again at her checkup today?!"

I rubbed my sore shoulder. "I didn't touch her. She fell on her own."

"You're still making excuses?!" Ethan kicked over the box I'd just packed, and everything spilled across the floor.

An old photo album slid out. It held every picture we'd taken together during our four years of college.

Ethan didn't even look down. He stomped on the album, his leather shoe grinding a deep scratch into the plastic cover.

"You're trashing the place just to get my attention, aren't you? Well, let me tell you something. That little game doesn't work on me!"

I crouched down, grabbed the edge of the album, and yanked it out. I wiped the dust off the cover with my sleeve, tucked it into my suitcase, zipped it shut, and got to my feet.

Ethan watched me and gave a cold laugh. "What's this? You're packing a bag to threaten me?

"Fine. There's the door. Get out now!

"And don't expect me to come get you. Let's see how long you can keep up this drama!"

I wheeled my suitcase around the mess and headed for the front door without looking back.

Just as the door closed behind me, I heard Ethan's voice from inside. "Don't be scared, Maddie. She's just being a spoiled brat. Give it a couple of days, and she'll come crawling back with her tail between her legs."

I stood in the hallway with my suitcase. Outside, the sky had gone dark, and thunder rolled in the distance.

I called a moving company. "Come to Oakview Terrace. I've got some big stuff that needs moving."