4
I looked at him and wanted to laugh in his
face.
“Gone means our kid is dead, Chad. Kaput.”
“Dead because you kicked me in the stomach protecting your precious mom from burning to a crisp.”
Chad look
Chad looked shell–shocked. Brittany jumped
in, quick as a viper.
“Don’t listen to her! She probably knocked off
someone else’s baby and is using this to get
an abortion so Chad doesn’t find out.”
I snorted, unable to stop myself.
“Wow, Brittany, you really think I’m that
dedicated?”
“I set the house on fire, almost got myself
killed, just to stage a miscarriage? Girl, your
delusion is showing.”
Brittany flushed red, starting to sob.
“Chad, she’s attacking me again! I don’t know
why she hates me so much…”
L
She tried to snuggle into Chad, but he didn’t
move. He just stared at my stomach.
I wasn’t in great shape, and we’d both wanted
this kid for a while.
He knew I wouldn’t intentionally hurt my own
baby, not even me.
“I didn’t mean to… I was just trying to punish
you, is all.”
“You shouldn’t have started the fire, you’re
always acting out, I lost control.”
“I am sorr…”
I shook my head.
“I don’t want to hear it, Chad. It’s too late.
“”
く
“If
you think I started the fire, lock me up and
investigate.
Chad bit his lip, sounding almost scared:
“I don’t know what’s going on. You’re weak,
go home and get some rest.”
Brittany’s head swiveled back and forth.
“Chad! She almost killed me!”
“If my parents were still here, they wouldn’t
let me be treated like this.”
“Mom, Dad, I miss you so much…”
Chad’s face hardened.
く
I knew Brittany’s parents had saved Chad’s
life back in the day.
They’d died heroes, leaving Brittany behind.
For years, Chad had drained our savings to
support Brittany, buying her cars, houses,
designer crap. I didn’t care.
But after his parents got rich, Brittany started
treating Chad like her personal ATM.
If her lightbulb went out, Chad had to fix it. Clogged toilet? Chad. Papercut? Chad took
her to the ER.
Every time I hinted that things were getting
weird, Brittany would start bawling, invoking
her dead parents.
L
I used to feel conflicted. Should I be making
him return this favor or not?
Now? I didn’t care.
Brittany’s parents saved him, not me.
If he wanted to project his guilt onto Brittany,
that was his problem.
They shouldn’t have dragged me into it,
making me the villain in their love story.
I was done.
“I’ll have my lawyer draw up the divorce
papers.”
“We’re done here.”
Brittany’s jaw dropped.
Chad, for the first time, pushed Brittany away
from him.
He grabbed my arm, his eyes wild.
“Say that again, I dare you!”
I stopped and stared right back at him, my
voice flat.
“We are getting a divorce.”
“And it’s not a negotiation.‘
وو
Chad’s face twisted. He squeezed my wrist,
his voice tight with anger.
“You’re delusional, you messed up. I should
L
be blaming you. You have no right to divorce
me!”
Then his voice softened, trying to manipulate
me again.
“I’ll talk to Brittany, get her to sign a
statement.”
“Don’t be crazy. What happened to the baby
wasn’t supposed to happen and I’m going to
protect you.”
