I give you some advice?”
I nod.
“Stop letting your mother dictate your life or who you care about,” she says. “You pretend to be independent, but at the end of the day, you care too much about what she says. I’m not sure if it’s because you want to make up for what your father did to her, or she conditioned you to be that way.”
I want to protest, but unfortunately, she got some of it right. My mother knows how to guilt trip me into doing stuff. Leyla doesn’t know much about my relationship with Mom. Things haven’t been the same since she began insulting my wife. Do I expect that she’ll change once I divorce?
It doesn’t matter. Things between us broke and sometimes it feels like it’s beyond repair.
“Duly noted,” I say coldly, because adding this to the pile of issues I have to comb through isn’t worth it. Instead, I refocus the conversation. “Signing the divorce papers is the most sensible thing to do.”
She studies me for several minutes. My heart is beating because I know ending us is the right thing to do, but what will happen after this?
It’ll be over. I’ll lose her forever. My insides pang because what is going to be left of me?
My heart aches more than it has since the moment we called it quits. Everything ahead of me looks dark. She’s my light. How am I supposed to live after this? I’ll end up right here begging her to take me back.
Not if I’m in Baker’s Creek, far away from her. I’ll stop coming back to her.
Is this the answer to my prayers?
There’s a house with a good foundation where I can live. It’s the only way to save myself or at least the pieces I have left of me.
If I stay here, I’m going to hate seeing her with someone new. My kids will get used to him, and one day she might claim that since I don’t spend enough time with them, maybe she should take them with her, which would be for the best.
“So, according to you, if I don’t sign today, I have to move with you and your brothers, right?” she confirms, and I nod. “Okay, then I’ll sign when you give me the exact amount that you will be receiving.”
“What are you talking about?” I ask, confused.
“The last time you asked me to sign, you said you’d give me anything I want,” she clarifies. “I want that. Whatever your father is leaving you.”
“Are you paying attention?” I question, upset. Is she playing with me? “I don’t get that until the eighteen months are over.”
She smiles, stands up, and heads to the door, opening it. “I don’t think I believe you. This is too…convenient.”
“Leyla, don’t be like this,” I beg her.
“Visiting hours are over.” She points toward the hallway. “Your invitation has been revoked.”
“We have to finish this conversation. You can’t just leave me hanging,” I insist.
“Well, figure out how you’ll solve this because I’m not going, and I won’t sign unless I’m ready or you give me the exact amount I requested.”
Since when did she become this infuriating, maddening, and obstinate woman? She was so easy to get along with, understanding, and sensitive.
You broke her, asshole.
“This isn’t a game,” I raise my voice, trying to grab her attention and shake some sense into her.
She glares at me and scolds me with that soft, angry voice I hate. “Never talk to me like that, Pierce Aldridge.”
“Well, don’t leave me hanging,” I protest.
“You left me hanging for years,” she retorts. “As always, everything has to be done Pierce’s way, doesn’t it? Figure out how to get out of this mess. I might not give you the divorce or go with you. What if this is a scam your mother created so I’d finally leave her little boy alone?”
“Don’t be like that,” I say, trying to calm the fuck down.
She smirks, “Well, you know what they say…you harvest what you plant. Text me when you’re ready to pick up the kids. If not, I can drop them off on Friday.”
I leave because there’s no point in continuing this conversation. Once I step on the elevator, I receive a text from Nyx and scream, “Fuck!”
We might be able to tweak some stipulations, but I should start packing my shit and make sure my brothers are on board. Shit, can this get any worse?
Chapter Eighteen
Pierce
I plan on fighting the will. However, that evening while I’m on the phone with my