“Hm? Nothing. I was just-”
“Why the hell are you still in here? Leave. I want to sleep, and I can’t, with you standing in the corner like a fucking freak.”
“Okay. Do you need anything or-”
“Get the fuck out, Theodore! Are you stupid!?”
Fuck my fucking life. What the fuck is wrong with her?! Where did we go wrong? When did she turn into such a cruel, heartless bitch?
Surely I must have done something, right? We used to love each other…
Or maybe we didn’t.
Maybe it was only ever me who fell in love, and all I was to her was something to claim. It’s essentially what my father and stepmother said. I was just a wallet with a nice face. I defended her because my money shouldn’t matter. Her family is wealthy.Why would she need mine?But over the years, we’ve only ever used mine.
I didn’t put up much of an argument because she’s my wife. What’s mine is hers and all that. I’ve only kept one thing from her: my trust fund.
I no longer love my wife, and she doesn’t love me. So, I question again: Why stay?
About four months ago, my sister-in-law, Stephanie, a divorce lawyer at one of the top firms in the country, approached me. She promised that if I ever needed her assistance, she would do so happily.
Stephanie has always hated Elizabeth, and it would please her to no limit to be the one who represented me for our divorce. I denied her offer then, but it’s time. I haven't been happy since that first year of marriage. Beth is abusive; emotionally, verbally, and, as of the past few years, physically. And no, I may not be the best husband in the world, but I deserve more than this.
Over the years, I would entertain the idea of divorce, but now, with Scarlett in my life and happiness once again blossoming inside, it’s the only solution.
After cleaning up the kitchen and the rest of the house until I spot my glimmering reflection, I pull my phone out of my pocket and send off two texts.
One to Stephanie.
One to Scarlett.
Once those are delivered, I do one last sweep of the house, making sure nothing incriminating is lying around for when she wakes, take my keys off the mantle, and leave.
It’s time I take my life back. Stephanie will help, but it’s Scarlett who’s going to take me home.
Beth
By now, the smell of food should be what stirs me awake. But instead, it’s my gurgling stomach starving for something to eat.
My darling husband is usually on top of his duties, but there isn’t a sound to be heard in the silence.
Wiping the sleep from my eyes, I push my blonde hair away from my face and sit up in bed. My bones are still creaky from the flight. They twinge with aches as I stand to my feet. I’ll ask Theodore to rub them out for me tonight. It’s the least he could do since I came home to a mess.Speaking of Theodore….
“Where is he?” I’m pretty sure I heard the door slam an hour into my nap, but it’s dark outside now. He should be home.
Tiny glows of orange are my only source of light in the pitch blackness of my home. Unfortunately, since we’re surrounded by nothing but trees, and Theodore has yet to install those floodlights around our property as I asked, I’m forced to rely on those little beams until I hit a switch.
Unlike when I walked in this morning, the kitchen is spotless. So at least he’s good for something.
“Theodore?!” I call, flipping on all the sitting room lights before walking out the back door. Sometimes, he likes to stand out in the field, staring up at all the stars. He talks to his mom that way, looking for her in the sky.
He and I may not have the best relationship. Shit, ninety-nine percent of the time, I’m pretty sure we hate each other. But he’s the reason I forced us to buy this home. It has the best view of the stars, away from all the people and city lights.
It’s a nice night out. If he were to be home, this is where he’d be.
The dinging of my phone draws my attention away from the sky. I glance down at the message, but something catches my stare instead.
Did he go on a bike ride? I wonder, staring at the fresh tracks in the mud.
