Unhinge - Calia Read Page 0,101

flower in my backyard. I could sketch out the roses and calla lilies. That was the only thing I was going to miss about this place. I had poured so much love and care into that backyard. I tried to tell myself that wherever I went, I could plant and grow a brand-new garden and would have Evelyn next to me. I would teach her everything I’d learned about flowers.

I patted my belly, my hand forming soothing circles. She kicked and I smiled. I was giving her a better life.

Quickly I packed up another box and taped the top of it. This one was filled with pots and pans and was too heavy for me to pick up. I slid it on the floor over to the corner and took a deep breath. I looked around the almost bare kitchen. In probably an hour, the entire room would be packed and I would officially be done. It was bittersweet to see the house empty, but also exciting; I was starting a new life with Sinclair and our baby. I looked down at my swollen stomach and lovingly rubbed it again.

And it was then that the front door opened. My head shot up just as Wes walked through. He brought in the smell of rain and a cold gush of air. Goosebumps formed on my skin.

“What are you doing here?”

He slammed the door behind him and walked into the room, a dead look in his eyes.

I leaned against the doorjamb, watching him carefully.

“I’ve done some thinking….”

“About?” Fear trickled up and down my spine.

He snorted loudly and began flipping through the documents. I reached for the folder but he jerked it away. “Wes,” I said a little too urgently. “Give it to me.”

When he got to the last page, my vision blurred. It was all downhill from here.

Wes looked up at me, his face composed. But his eyes…they were two dark pools of hate.

Suddenly my tongue felt too big for my mouth. I needed to calm him down before things got out of control.

So I said the truth: “Wes, you just signed the papers. There’s no going back.”

He laughed as if I’d told him a joke. “We’re done?” Wes gestured to my stomach. “I’d hardly say we’re done.”

“I’m leaving,” I said more to myself, an affirmation that this was the right plan, the right path.

Wes picked up the papers and stepped toward me. I didn’t move, although I was dying to get as far away from him as possible. When he was standing right in front of me he raised those sheets of paper and tore them in half, then let them flutter to the floor.

Wes smirked and stared down at me. He was too calm and composed. Right now he was fractured ice. All too soon he was going to break apart. I couldn’t stop shaking.

“You’ve been planning this for a while. That shocks me. But nothing should really shock me about you anymore, should it?”

“Wes—”

“You’re so ready to start your new life and leave me behind, aren’t you?”

Panic made my blood freeze, because his eyes were dead. Cold. Void of any emotions. He could hurt, or worse, kill me, and not feel a thing. I had to get out of there. Out of the corner of my eye I glanced at the door just a few steps away.

“Why are you looking at me like that?” He advanced slowly. “Why are you looking at me like I’m the bad guy in this? I’m just stating the truth.”

“You’re not making sense,” I whisper.

“I’m making perfect sense, Victoria.”

With small steps, I inched closer toward the mudroom. My purse was on the counter right next to the doorway. I could grab for it as I ran out the door.

Wes mirrored my movements, slowly stalking me like I was his prey. “Why do you look so upset, Victoria? Why does everyone get so torn up over the truth? Huh? Why does everyone think it will hurt them? I say, give me the truth. Let me have it all!”

He extended his arms and I was afraid that when he lowered them back down, they’d make contact with my body.

“Wes.” I held out my hand in front of me. “You’re angry. And I get that…” I smiled and tried to take a deep breath. “But let’s be practical about this and not yell.”

“I’m yelling and it’s your fault! You’ve brought me to this point, because everything begins and ends with you, doesn’t it?”

There was no way for