Chapter 4
I stared at his freaked out face and felt this bitter smile creep across my lips.
For a second, I could see my parents’ heartbroken faces from years ago:
“Honey, he’s not good for you! You’re gonna suffer with him!”
Back then, drunk on love, I thought they were just shallow and money-obsessed.
I was ready to cut them off completely just to throw myself at this guy I thought was so amazing.
Ten years later.
They were right about everything.
Right after we finished at city hall, some middle-aged guy in a suit came walking up all friendly.
One of David’s colleagues from the research institute.
Professor Blackwell! What a coincidence! What brings you and your wife to city hall?”
David was quick on his feet. He put his arm around my shoulders all casual, flashing that fake charming smile:
Just helping Rachel take care of some paperwork.”
You know how it is-anything my wife needs doing is important.”
lis loud voice and the warmth of his hand on my shoulder made me sick.
knew what mattered most to him-keeping up appearances.
le was using me as his cover.
ust as he was about to keep up the act-
A familiar figure caught my eye.
Emma, with her huge belly, was looking our way, putting on this worried expression.
knew exactly why she was here. She wanted to see if we’d actually gotten divorced. She was scared I’d keep going after her
nan.
David’s arm around me went totally stiff.
His colleague’s eyes kept bouncing between Emma’s big belly and me, looking confused as hell.
My phone buzzed at just the right moment.
“Sorry, important call.”
I shook off David’s stiff arm, brushed off the warning in his eyes, and walked off.
Chapter 4
This time, I wasn’t gonna turn back. And I sure as hell wasn’t covering up for his precious good name anymore.
I answered the phone. Mom’s familiar voice came through:
“Honey, yesterday was your birthday. How come you didn’t even call home? I gave you some money, go buy yourself something nice…”
I took a deep breath and cut her off:
“I’m divorcing David.”
Dead silence on the other end.
A few seconds later, Mom’s voice shot up:
“You divorced him? Good for you!”
‘Just wait! I’m gonna set you up right now! My daughter’s so amazing-there’s tons of great guys lined up!”
Before I could even respond, I heard her excited voice calling out:
‘Jim, Rachel finally got divorced!”
Before I knew it, my phone was blowing up with messages.
‘rom my best friend Helen.
Your mom just called me!! FINALLY you’re free from that nightmare! On my way to pick you up bestie!]
OMG wait sending you some prime catches rn, literally pick ANY of them, they’re all 10s with $$$]
opened it to a screen full of gorgeous guys with different styles-yachts, private jets, fancy offices in the background…
was still scrolling through the “prime catches” photos when someone grabbed my wrist hard!
avid’s face was dark as hell as he snatched my phone away.
He leaned in close, his voice super low:
Rachel, don’t embarrass me here. Help me smooth this over!”
The whispers around us were getting louder:
Isn’t that the famous psychologist Professor Blackwell? I thought he and his wife were so happy together?”
‘Who’s that pregnant girl? She’s crying…”
David’s temple was twitching:
‘Emma’s young and innocent. You have to protect her!”
“Innocent?”
I yanked my hand back, my voice quiet but cutting through all the noise:
“David, we just filed for divorce. Her innocence isn’t my problem anymore-I’m about to be your ex-wife.”
The crowd went nuts!
“They just divorced? Then that belly…
“Famous psychology professor knocked up a student and forced his wife to divorce him?!”
“What a fake piece of shit!”
David’s carefully put-up front got torn to pieces in front of everyone. He looked like absolute shit.
Right then, there was this awful scream from the edge of the crowd:
“David!”
His parents, who should’ve left already, were standing just a few feet away.
His mom was white as a sheet. His dad’s eyes rolled back and he went down!
“Dad!” David rushed over, totally panicked.
His mom grabbed David’s arm, demanding answers
“Whose baby is that?”
“Mom, why are you asking that now? We need to help Dad!”
His dodgy non-answer killed the last bit of hope in his mom’s eyes.
She stared at her son-the one she’d been so proud of-in total disbelief, all the color draining from her face.
“We were teachers our whole lives. How’d we end up raising someone like you….”
Right then.
Another sharp scream rang out:
“The pregnant girl’s bleeding!”
David spun around to see Emma clutching her belly, curling up in pain….
