Not for the first time, I wished that I could kick Ben in the balls for the pain he had put my family through. He had betrayed each of us.
“It sounds like you will have an excellent support system if you allow them to help you.” Max interrupted and guided us back on topic.
“We will.” My father said. His voice was gruff with emotion as he observed how much of Ben’s betrayal Kyle carried on his shoulders.
Max nodded and patted my hand. “It was a pleasure to meet you and your family, Melanie.” His lips pulled into another oneof his sexy smiles, “You’re ex is a fool. Someone will be in to get some blood shortly, and when the results are in, I will be back.”
I nodded and thanked him for his time and then settled back into my pillow with a small sigh.
Griffin watched Max leave with a little scowl, and Kyle snorted.
“Subtle.” He mumbled, and Griffin turned his scowl on him.
“Idiot,” Griffin grumbled, and Kyle flipped him off.
“Boys.” My mother chastised. They both froze with sheepish grins.
“Sorry, Mom.”
“Sorry, Mrs. Walsh.”
My dad's eyes met mine, and we shared an exasperated look over their antics, but, as I watched the men who had moved mountains to be by my side, bicker with each other, I felt a weight lift off my chest.
When I looked at my father again, it was with a renewed faith in my own resilience.
A quiet confidence that I could survive this.
That I was strong.
And I was not alone.
32-Ben
It had been two days since I agreed to sign the divorce papers, and I still hadn’t wrapped my head around the idea of it. I knew that Frank planned on setting up a meeting with Mel’s lawyer soon, which would force her to come back from North Dakota. I paced aimlessly through the massive house I’d insisted on and looked at the doors that led to empty rooms she’d wanted to fill with children.
I should’ve given her those kids. Then she would have to give me a second chance.
I cursed myself for not having thought far enough past the tip of my own dick these past few years.
Will she keep this house? Bring another man into it?
I froze at the thought of another man pushing my wife against these walls or laying her out on the kitchen island, like I’d done so many times.
How the fuck was I supposed to just let her go?
CALL INCOMING: JACK, PI.
What the hell does he want?
“This is Benjamin Landon.”
“Mr. Landon, this is Jack. You wanted updates if anything urgent happened. As you know from last week’s report-”
I haven’t read last week’s report yet.
“Mrs. Landon went to a local clinic, but nothing seemed abnormal about it. However, a few minutes ago an ambulance was called to her parents’ address and Mrs. Landon was taken to the hospital.”
“What? What the fuck happened?” I snapped.
