Her hands gripped the steering wheel tightly as she tried to calm herself. âIâm about to get a divorce. Where will I go with my son then? Michael, I have no one else. That bastard didnât come home again tonight. I went over there to see which woman he was with. When will this all end? If my sister were still here, she wouldnât have let me go through this humiliation.â
The car moved slowly through the streets, the streetlights casting fleeting, fragmented shadows that flickered across their path.
A wave of irritation rose in Michaelâs chest, impossible to contain.
âStop the car,â he demanded.
Fiona glanced at him in confusion. âMichael?â
âI said, stop the car.â
Fiona quickly pulled over, her hands trembling slightly.
Michaelâs eyes, cold and piercing, turned to her. âYour sister protected you so much, she never taught you how to stand on your own. First, you relied on your sister. Then, you leaned on your husband. Now that heâs failing you, youâre turning to me. Whatâs your plan for the future? Will you wait until your son grows up to depend on him?â
Fiona shook her head desperately. âMichael, I didnât! You promised youâd take care of me!â
Michaelâs voice was sharp. âDidnât I help when he first hit you? Do you remember what you did after I helped? From now on, donât bring me your family problems. If you wonât divorce him, you deal with it yourself.â
Fiona quickly responded, âI will. I will divorce him this time.â
âEven if you do, donât expect me to treat you like your sister did. She protected you too much.â
Michael wanted Fiona to be strong, but the unease settled deep within her. What did he mean? Was he no longer going to take care of her? Had he really moved on to someone else?
âMichael, if I divorce, will you take care of me?â she asked.
He sighed, his hand resting on the car door handle. âAs long as you divorce, Iâll support whatever you choose. But after that⦠Youâre an adult; youâll have to make your own decisions.â
He stepped out of the car, leaving Fiona simmering with resentment. Even Michael, who had once loved Lacey so fiercely, seemed willing to move on for a younger woman.
After exiting the car, Michael went back to Flex Club to retrieve his own vehicle. Coincidentally, he bumped into Dulce and a group of friends.
His gaze never left her as she and a young man walked together, arms around each other, just as he used to with Lacey.
He sat in the car, hidden in the shadows, watching as the group emerged from the club.
They were all about the same age as Dulceâvibrant and carefree.
Michael couldnât help but feel like it was a waste of time to entertain Dulce.
He was too old for her, and the thought of dating her seemed utterly absurd.
A few days later, betrayal came in the form of his best friend.
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Message from Noah: Iâm sorry for the delay, dear readers. I had a few mishaps last week. I hope you liked the chapters that were pending. God loves you and Noah wishes you the best. (ÉOâ¿=)É â¥
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