on'

I was doing on my laptop. My head snapped up, and ther

napping my lips shut before the words could escape. Her footsteps we

"What is this I hear on the news about y

r than to believe everything you see on TV," I said, returning my gaze to the laptop screen

rose, sharp and cutting. "Tina told me what happened! She told me you dra

se Tina had run to her like some helpless child. I scoffed.

xpect her to keep enduring it alone? Do you know h

t. For a flicker of a moment, guilt tried

nd disappointment, "I thought it was going to be good news. I thought maybe, just maybe, I'd be expecting a grandchild. On

flaring. "Is it my fault that I don't want to have anythi

this is your fault, Mother. You went out of your way and got me a wife I never asked for. Y

ed deep in the lines around her eyes. "I just wanted

on't you dare hide behind that word. You don't get to say you wanted me happy when you t

ther into this," she

y life. Just like you've always interfered. You kept my friends away from me when I was a boy, the same way you isolated Dad from his frien

g in my ears before the sting lit up my cheek. I clenched my jaw, forcing myself not to flinch. I'd expect

with your dad," she spat. "Don't you

pologize to Tina. For the way you've treated her. She has nothing to do with our godforsaken mother-son mess. Sh

it down, scoffing, letting the sneer shield me. "I don't care if she loves me. I'm not inter

eedling, my phone buzzed. An email notification.

r grand plans to separate me from Sarah have failed. She's coming back t

ou two broke up. You had a shouting match, Simon. You tol

now?" I asked dryly. "Not that it surprises me. Maybe I sh

"The whole house could

e apologized. We're giving our relationship another c

sked it, but I saw the tremor. "Do you ev

ard in my chest. "I know exactly what you blackmailed her w

r you want. But don't say I didn't warn you." She stormed o

grabbed my phone, and dialed Sarah. Straight to voicemail. Again. My frust

nction-rang. An acquaintance from M&K Law Firm. His words made my stomach clench.

oom. She froze, eyes wide, a travel bag at her side. Her han

&K Law Firm logo glinted on the corner. My pulse roared in my ears. Without thinking, I snatched it

ng with you?" Tina's v

No-what the hell is wrong with you? To think I had begun to feel some sort of rem

about our marriage on TV. And now you let me

u, I did it for you", Her face cr

Don't you dare say you did it for me. Don't you dare use that word. You sound just like my mother. The b

hold this marriage together despite your coldness, despite the way you belittled

to a sneer. "Don't give me those crocodile tears. You put yourself into this. Don't act like you we

y mind, smiling, radiant. Pretending. Foo

e wants out, it'll be me. If anyone's filing for div

eel and stormed out of the room, the sound of my own