Total pages in book: 44
Estimated words: 40554 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 203(@200wpm)___ 162(@250wpm)___ 135(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 40554 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 203(@200wpm)___ 162(@250wpm)___ 135(@300wpm)
"And why is that important?"
"It means I can obtain an annulment. It's proof we never consummated our marriage, and let's not forget about abandonment."
"Abandonment?"
"I haven't seen you in years. I think they can check off abandonment." I don't know what you need to get an annulment, but it's not happening either.
"How can I abandon my wife if I've been supporting her all these years? I've taken care of your schooling, housing, food, and all the things you use when you slide that credit card."
Her lips press into a firm line. I've pissed her off more. Good, that makes two of us. I was promised Truly would be mine.
"Money." A humorless laugh leaves her, making me ache to hear one of her real ones. Truly has the kind of laugh that warms you. I've missed it. Hell, I've missed her. "Right, always about money." We stare at each other. I shuffle through possibilities.
I’m usually good at scrambling when needed. To be able to come up with a plan quickly.
"It's a moot point. We're not getting divorced. I assume you have finished your classes?" She was set to graduate. I had been alerted she'd turned in all of her work early, but the graduation ceremony was still happening, or so I'd thought. It seems my wife was in a hurry to get back here to divorce me.
"I'm done with school, and it's not a moot point."
"Is there someone else?" I don't know how that would be possible, but it shouldn't have been possible for her to be standing here either. I was to be alerted when she left campus. Not only did she leave it, but she also got on a plane. Her passport had to have been run.
I shouldn't have asked the question. It will change nothing.
"I hope there is someone else."
I take in a slow, deep breath, trying to rein my temper back in. "Are you planning to have an affair?"
"We're getting a divorce or an annulment. Your choice.”
"We have a contract."
"You can't bind me to you forever!" She throws her hands up.
"Watch me," I growl back at her, not recognizing my own voice. "You belong to me. That deal is done."
"Deal?" she scoffs, her cheeks starting to pinken. The same way they would when she'd stay out in her garden for too long. "I'll pay you back. I didn't know it was you footing the bill."
There is no way her parents are in on this. She is trying to change the terms.
"And how are you going to do that?" I will myself to relax and try to shove myself back into the role of CEO. If she wants a new deal, so be it.
Let the negotiations begin.
Chapter Three
TRULY
Why is he doing this to me? As if the money he spent on me is that much in the grand scheme of things, but hell, what do I know? I have been fairly sheltered and never did have to worry about the cost of things. When I needed anything, he was right—I’d simply swipe the card.
All right, maybe I’m not so innocent in all of this. We used each other. Whatever. It doesn’t negate the fact that before this I thought we were friends. That he would keep some form of contact with me.
I had a giant crush on him that I never managed to hide well. My face would always flush a cherry red when he was near.
Blake was always friendly and polite to me, but he did keep his distance. That's why I was ecstatic when I learned about the marriage. I was never one hundred percent sure he didn't see me as more of a little sister type. That he only tolerated me because he was forced to be around me by our parents.
I'm sure I was awkward as hell. That's what happens when you're in all-girls schools. I didn't know the first thing about having a crush or fully understanding it back then. But now I realize that was all it was. Only an infatuation. I don't know this Blake that stands in front of me today.
These stupid love feelings I harbor for him are only remnants of that. That I'm romanticizing our encounters in the past, and they were purely platonic. Why else would he have stayed away from me? He didn't see me that way. That's what makes this all the more frustrating. Why is he insisting that we stay married?
I take a breath and step forward, taking one of the seats in front of his desk. "We can do a payment plan. I have already started searching for a job."
"Where?" His questions and responses are so cold and direct.
"Random places." I shrug it off. Yeah, my prospects aren't great. I've always loved history, and it's what I majored in. I naïvely believed that marrying Blake would naturally lead me to become a wife and mother, which is why I indulged in pursuing a history degree. I should have done something more practical like business.