He Threatened My Brother, I Ruined His Party

Chapter 2

I fished a box of condoms out of my bag and tossed it right in front of them.

"Don't just chase a quick thrill. Knock someone up, and it'll be bad news for everyone."

The two of them froze solid, their faces shifting through so many shades of shock and embarrassment that they looked like a spilled paint box.

That morning, Caleb had come into the bedroom to grab some clothes, and his eyes locked immediately on the divorce agreement sitting on the table. His face turned sour in an instant.

"You're actually serious about divorcing me?"

I sat at the vanity, fastening a pair of earrings as I shot back coldly, "Dead serious."

"Divorce isn't some offhand comment you can just throw out. One small move ripples through everything..."

For once, he was making an effort to reason with me, trying to appeal to both my head and my heart like he never had before.

"I thought about it all night. This is a decision I've thought through from every angle."

I signed my name on the dotted line and slid the papers over to him.

*****

I'd expected a few people to call and beg me not to go through with it, but I never thought there'd be dozens. I didn't answer a single one.

Caleb has always hated inconveniencing other people, so this flood of calls told me everything. My divorce demand had knocked him completely off balance.

Not long after, my daughter showed up at the beauty salon where I was, clutching the divorce agreement in her hand.

"Darling, you don't have to worry about me, okay? Mom's tougher than you think."

Sabrina let out a sharp, mocking snort. "Worry about you? Please. I only feel sorry for Dad."

"What?"

I never in a million years thought those words would come out of her mouth.

"Dad's been a total workhorse for this family, slaving away every day to make money, and his health's been getting worse and worse. What about you? You live a cushy, spoiled life, only care about shopping and pampering yourself. What even makes you think you have the right to divorce him?"

My eyes flew wide in disbelief, and a sharp, stabbing pain sliced through my chest like someone had stabbed me right in the chest over and over.

"Dad built this company from nothing! Do you have any idea how hard he worked to get it where it is today? If you divorce him, you'll take half his fortune for sure, and the company will collapse. Is money really that important to you?"

I dug my nails hard into the palm of my hand, and the sharp jolt snapped me back to my senses.

"So you don't care that your dad's been seeing Ariana?"

"Of course I care! That's exactly why I don't want you two to divorce! If you split up, he's definitely going to marry her. My former best friend becoming my stepmom? Everyone I know will laugh me out of town!"

My own daughter, the girl I'd raised for eighteen years, was just as selfish as Caleb.

"If you dare go through with this divorce, I'll kill myself. I swear I will."

Sabrina ripped the divorce agreement to shreds right in front of my face, then stormed out, slamming the door behind her hard.

When I got home that evening, to my surprise, Caleb was in the kitchen wearing an apron, cooking dinner.

His lasagna had always been my absolute favorite. I'd begged him to make it for me so many times before, but he always brushed me off, saying he was too busy.

That familiar savory aroma hit me, perfectly matching the scent locked in my memories. But for some reason I couldn't put my finger on, I had zero appetite for it now.

"Caleb, is the lasagna ready yet? I've been waiting so long my flowers have wilted!"

Ariana came barreling down the stairs like a cannonball, crashing straight into Caleb.

"Almost done!" His voice was so soft, it sounded like he was cooing at a fussy toddler.

I couldn't help a bitter laugh. Of course. I'd just been making a fool of myself, thinking this was for me.

Caleb turned his head and spotted me. He casually pushed Ariana away, as if nothing was amiss.

"Honey, I made extra. Wanna grab a plate and eat with us?"

"I don't like this."

I didn't even spare him a glance and headed straight up the stairs.

Later that night, Caleb stumbled into the room reeking of alcohol, and pinned me down onto the bed. His scorching breath hit my face.

"They say women are as hungry as wolves in their thirties and tigers in their forties. You don't miss me at all?"

I shoved him off me with all my strength, my voice ice-cold. "Don't touch me. You're disgusting.”

He flew into a rage and ripped my pajamas open with one violent yank. He fumbled around for ages and still got nowhere.

I couldn't hold back a scathing sneer. "Looks like you can't get it up anymore, huh?"