“First things first. I don’t want a divorce.”
Her eyes widen.
“I don’t want it. I want my wife back. I want my life back.”
She takes a shaky breath and releases it.
“But I also know that’s not going to happen just because I want it.”
She sets her coffee cup down.
Her hands are shaking. She’s still hurting. It doesn’t take a genius to figure that out. We’rebothhurting. The only difference is that she’s never caused me or anyone else pain. I am the reason she’s suffering, that we both are.
I clear my throat. “My lawyer will reach out to Katya. You will get half of everything. No contest.”
Her eyes snap up to mine. I see shock in them. It makes me feel worse. She thought I’d fight her demands. She thought I’d want to keep it all, give her nothing.
Is that how she sees me? Is that what six years of marriage have taught her about me?
“And…your father is okay with that?”
Now, I smile, and it’snothollow. It’s full because every time I turn down a meeting with my father and ignore his calls, I feel good. I feel healthy. Living for his acceptance and working to earn his praise has, as Huxley puts it, “fucked me up but good.” Well, I’m working toun-fuckmyself.
“My father can go fuck himself.”
Her eyebrows go up.
I grin. “Yep. I actually told him that when he brought in Ronald to talk about the divorce.”
“Your lawyer?”
“Not mine, baby. I have someone else, someone not connected to the Winter family at all.”
She nods slowly, like she’s having trouble processing what I’m saying. “And”—she swallows—"you’re giving me half of everything?”
“Yes. The house, the shares, everything.”
I see guilt swarm her. I know Mia. She doesn’t have a mercenary bone in her body. She only asked for this because she didn’t think she’d ever get it, and she wanted to screw with me and my family. She did it because she was angry, lashing out.
“You deserve it, Mia. I built the company while we were dating and married. You were there for me every step of the way. I could not have done what I did with Winter Financial if you hadn’t been there to hold my hand when I felt weak and?—”
“She’sbeen holding your hand for the past two years,” she cuts me off, her voice thin, frail. “Maybe you should give her some of it.”
I want to touch her. Hold her. Comfort her. But I know she won’t accept it, not now. I’m going to have to earn those rights.
How stupid was I to have lost them when I’d had them—and more—with this remarkable woman?
“I want to tell you about Diana. Is that okay?”
A crease forms between her eyebrows, but she nods, giving me permission.
“Diana and I…you know we grew up together. A lot like you and Katya, in that she became part of our family after her parents passed, although she was much older than you were when yours did.”
I know she knows some of this already, but I need to lay the groundwork—tell her what I felt, why I did what I did. I’ve practiced it all fucking evening with Hux, every word, every breath, praying that when I finally say it to her, she’ll still give me a chance. One I’m ready to fall on my knees for.
“She left for California, and she just sort of dissipated from our lives.” I stop because I see distress in her eyes. “Baby?”
She gives me a half shrug. “Go on.”
