CAUGHT IN THE MIDDLE

Chapter 2 : Divorce

"Are we talking about the same Mason? Sweet, charming Mason?" Audrey questioned. She couldn't believe he will break my heart and neither could I.

"He said he's in love with someone else"

"He's an asshole, a confused scumbag," she ranted.

This was all I needed, someone to tell me it wasn't my fault he didn't love me.

"You're incredible honey, don't doubt yourself because some lunatic can't see your worth, you're very much enough, beautiful and smart too"

My eyes were glossy. Hell, I've cried so much this week I didn't think I had any tears left.

I will manage to keep the news away from Lily. Mason and I hardly saw each other. He never comes home and when he does, he heads out at the next minute. I've told our daughter he had a big contract and needed to be at work all the time. I didn't have much going on. I was a housewife, so I spent most of my time at home or having tea with friends or shopping.

Mason funds my account and even if I wanted a job he would never have let me work. Now that there's so much tension between us, I needed something to do to distract myself and I had nothing.

I was currently seated with my best friend at our favorite vintage bar.

"I don't know what I’ll do without you" I said, and she took my hands in hers and smiled.

" Suzzy, you're great, you don't need anyone but yourself, stop feeling sorry for yourself. It doesn't suit you", she used her thumb to wipe the teardrop on my cheeks.

"You're the absolute best".

"I know sweetie" she lifted her whiskey shot before downing the entire content.

We left the bar at 8pm and I got home and met Lily sitting at the front pouch waiting for me.

As I approached her I was greeted by a furious teenage girl,

"What the hell mom!"

"That's no way to talk to your mother" I scolded but the looks in her eyes told me she wasn't having it.

"You think I'm still a child and you are obligated to keep important stuff from me because you're trying to protect me? I'm f*****g 16 not I don't need protection."

I shook my head, she had no idea what she was saying, she gets everything she needs and suddenly thinks she doesn't need protection? She doesn't know I'm doing this because I don't want her to end up like me. Broken and used, left to fend for herself at 12. Moving from foster home to Foster home till I turned 16. I had to pick pockets on the streets to afford food, had to clean out stinky toilets and wait tables at bars filled with ancient misogynistic men. I had to endure abuse and work as a s*x worker to pay for college. She has no idea what life outside of her pretty bubble world was really like.

"Do not raise your voice at me young woman. You're barely 16, you need protecting. I don't care your age, you're still my child. By the way I have no idea what you're talking about"

Her eyes dilated and I could tell she was suppressing words.

"There's news flying around school that my mother is a hooker and I'm a bastard child" Her voice cracked but she was quick to hide it.

"What!" I was stunned beyond words

"There's prove mom, if you deny it, you’ll only be causing more damage"

"Who started this rumor?" I questioned hoping my voice was stern enough and didn't give her any clue of how I was really feeling inside.

"It's not a rumour there are pictures, pasted around school, mom your nude is on every wall in my school, I'm sure it is on the news too. What do you think that'll do to me? To my social life. You just ruined my chances of being class president and prom queen" She went on, ravaging with anger.

" Lily, listen to me" I said trying to calm her

" You want to tell me, you never slept with men for money? You never lived in the streets"

" Do not say what you don't know", I hissed, my frustrations growing, I'd had enough of her sassy mouth. She didn't stop;

"You told me my grandparents died in a plane crash on their way to Greece for Christmas vacation. You lied to me my entire life. My grandparents were druggies and you never owned any pretty dress or Cinderella shoes, you’ve lied about everything about yourself. You're living a lie, who knows what else you're lying about."

" Your father and I are separated" I broke the news and saw her jaw tighten and saw the terror in her eyes.

"You're what-t-t" she stuttered trying to grasp what I've just said.

" I hate you mom, I hate you so much"

She sobbed and ran into the house. I heard her room door bang shut.

My knees gave up and I was leaning on the floor crying hard. What was happening to me. I thought those years were over. My life these past few years have been good. Why was it all crumbling, why am I destined for failure. God what sort of life is this?

I sat on the floor in front of Lily's door all night begging for her to open the door.

Now the media and the whole world is talking about 'The wife of Mason Pearson' . They don't even recognize me by my own name. I didn't know when I dozed off on the floor. I was awoken by Mason's presence.

"What are you doing?"

I rubbed my eyes

"Lily and I got in a fight and she doesn't want to talk to me" I responded standing up and facing him.

" I saw the news"

Of course he did. Last thing I needed was another lecture on how much of a liar I was.

"I figured you would have"

He stood tall in his monochrome suit, still fresh even after a work day. His grey eyes stared at me.

"Why didn't you tell me about what you did? You hid all of it for so long? How did you keep up with all the lying?"

" You're one to judge? You've been having affairs while we're married and coming to feed me a bullshit story that we fell out of Love?" I was yelling now, not caring whether my daughter could hear.

"You're always so secretive and guarded, that's the reason I couldn't love you, I couldn't trust you Susan!" He barked, his voice matching my own.

" And you were too much of a coward to speak up? Did you ever ask? I'm not sorry I kept it from you because you don't deserve to share that side of me"

" The whole world knows now so what difference does it make?" He mocked.

I felt burning in my chest.

"I can't believe I was ever in love with you, I gave up everything, my career, my friends everything that mattered to me because I wanted to please you"

" You didn't give up anything because you had nothing, I paid part of your bills in college and I've sustained you till this point. You have never earned a dime for yourself since we met. I made you who you are and you're worthless without me".

I didn't know when my hands landed on his cheeks with a resounding slap that I'm very sure Lily heard. His palm was glued to his cheeks where the slap landed as he glanced at me horrified.

"How dare you? I've been quiet for years, I thought this was what marriage was about. The woman does everything to please the man. You're not going to cause me any more pain you piece of s**t"

" We're getting divorced" He found his voice.

His words had no effect on me. I had expected it sooner than later, so I wasn't shocked.

"What's going on here?" Lily opened the doors.