Chapter 15
“Sharon, I’ve explained this to you a hundred times. There’s nothing between me and Kelly–not the way you think. Can you stop being so paranoid?”
Sharon’s tone was flat. “Whatever you and Kelly have going on has nothing to do with me. I’ve already signed the divorce papers. When do we go file them?”
“Divorce?” Carter’s lips curled into a cold smile. “Sharon, for the past five years, you’ve been a full–time housewife. You haven’t worked. After divorcing me, what could you possibly do out there? You won’t even be able to support yourself.
“And you can forget about Theo. You won’t get custody. Even if you go to court, you’ve got no job, no income. There’s no chance. Sharon, a smart woman knows when to stop. Push too hard, and it’ll only backfire.”
A chill spread through her chest.
So that was what her years of devotion amounted to–not gratitude, but leverage. A weakness to be used against her.
Even Theo, the child she’d raised since birth, only looked at her now with resentment and frustration.
She had failed–completely.
Sharon locked eyes with Carter. “No job, no income? But before I had Theo, I had a good job. I made decent money. You were the one who said you didn’t trust a stranger, a nanny, to take care of Theo. You asked me to quit and stay home.”
Carter’s brows pinched slightly. “The salary you made… what good would that have done? It was better for you to focus on raising Theo.”
She clenched her fists. “Right. I don’t have your talent for raking in money by the truckload. But what I made was enough to support myself. At the very least, I wouldn’t have to endure your family calling me a leech. I wouldn’t have to listen to your friends mocking me as some dependent housewife who lives off you.”
How pathetic.
She’d given up her career, her independence—everything–for the sake of this family, for their child.
And in the end, she was the one being looked down on.
Carter’s expression darkened. “So you care that much about what people think? Besides, Nate and the others—they didn’t mean any harm.”
No harm?
If Kelly at least knew how to conceal her contempt, then Nate wore his on his face like a badge of honor.
And Carter had the nerve to say they had no malice?
Was he blind?
Sharon let out a faint smile. “If you’re so high–minded and unconcerned with others‘ opinions, then why get upset over something I said to Kelly? Besides, I didn’t mean her any harm. I was just joking with her. No need to take it so seriously, Mr. Biggs.”
The expression on Carter’s face gradually turned blank.
“Sharon, are you really going to keep acting like this?”
“There’s a certain threshold of pain,‘ she thought, ‘once you cross, you just go numb.
All those words that used to pierce her heart? Now they didn’t even sting.
Her gaze was steady in a way it had never been before.
Chapter 15
+25 BONUS
“Carter, this divorce is happening. I’m not backing down.”
For a second, he faltered. But only for a second. Then his usual composure returned.
“Just remember what you said today. Don’t come crawling back, begging me later.”
She gave a sharp laugh. “Don’t worry. That day will never come.”
He looked down at her, his voice low and frosted. “You should know better than to make absolute statements. It’s always wise to leave yourself an escape route.”
Sharon lifted her chin and looked him straight in the eye.
“You’re right,” she said with a smile. “But you will never be my escape route.”
Chapter 16
+25 BONUS
Chapter 16
