Chapter 16
[Addison]
“Michael,” I take a small step back. “What is this about? Why are you home in the middle of the day?”
Sitting up a bit straighter, he uncrosses his legs and places his drink on the table beside him. It settles with a heavy–handed thunk. “Why shouldn’t I be here to greet my wife?” he emphasizes the last word. “You wanted to talk, let’s talk now. What is
this?”
Michael throws the divorce agreement onto the floor between us, the edges crumpled from where he gripped it so tightly. Even
lying curled on the ground I can see the imprint of his fingers.
“Isn’t it obvious?” I reply evenly and carefully. “It’s a divorce agreement, Michael. I drafted it myself last night.”
A silence stretches between us as we contemplate one another. Even though there are only a few feet between us, it feels like we are separated by an unpassable chasm of emotion and heartbreak. This man, my husband, has become somehow unknowable to
me.. Before Evelyn returned, I’d have sworn that I understood him better than I understood myself some days.
I thought I had his trust and love. I thought I knew him.
Seeing the unmistakable rage in his face, the lines of fury wrinkling his brow, I know I was wrong—we never really knew one
another at all.
“I can see that it is a divorce agreement,” he snaps with irritation as he raises a hand to move a strand of hair from my face. It’s a familiar gesture, one he’s done a thousand times before, but today it feels different backed by his anger and confusion. “What I don’t understand is why you would send this to me. Is this your way of trying to get my attention? I told you, I’m done with your
pettiness, Addy.”
“No,” I hide my shaking hands behind my back. I can’t let my reserve falter, no matter how difficult this confrontation is.
“Are you mad because I wasn’t able to visit you in the hospital?” His lip curls. “Evelyn needed me more, Addy. You should understand that. You are so much stronger and braver than she is. She’s all alone, she needs me.”
“And I don’t?” I ask, my voice catching. “Is that why you left me alone in that warehouse to die, Michael.?”
“I was going to come back for you!” he claims valiantly. “But Evelyn needed to go to the hospital. She needs me, Addy. You’re always fine. Look at you right now!”
Waving his hand up and down, he uses my miraculous survival as proof of his innocence.
“You left me to die, Michael. You had a choice and you left me to…
“A choice you forced me to make!” he scoffs, his anger returning full force. “You were behind the whole thing. Stop denying it, Addison. Both our son and Evelyn confirm it was all you.”
“And you believe them…over me. I’ve never lied to you a single day of the time we’ve known one another. Why would I be lying
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now?”
“I trust Evelyn. I trust our son.”
+25 Bonus
“Jayson is a child, Michael. And Evelyn…Evelyn isn’t as innocent as you think. I saw her making out with one of the kidnappers, Michael. And I know Evelyn was the one who involved our son in this mess! Evelyn…”
My hands hit the floor, the force of his slap knocking me to the ground. No matter how we’ve disagreed in the past, he’s never raised his voice and he has never, even once, raised his hand in anger.
But he did today both. For her.
“You hit me,” blinking back tears as I use the coffee table to help me stand.
“Addy, I’m a bit drunk and I didn’t mean it” Michael stumbles over his words as he steps forward to help me up. “It’s just that
you kept saying her name and I couldn’t control myself.”
Brushing away his hand, I find my footing as I touch my tender lip. Sucking in my breath, I glare up at him, a tear rolling down
my cheek as my mouth fills with the sweet tang of blood.
“Addison, you’re overreacting. This is all your fault.”
He tries to reach for me again, but I take another step back. “Don’t touch me. Never touch me again.”
His voice calls after me as I rush up the stairs. I refuse to spend another minute in this house with a man who doesn’t trust me,
doesn’t want me, and thinks he can treat me any way that he wants.
Grabbing my travel suitcase from the back of the closet, I begin pulling my clothing out of the closet as Michael storms into the
room. Getting between me and the closet, he puts his arms out wide to stop me.
“Get out of my way, Michael,” swerving around him, I grab another bundle of clothing. “I’m leaving. You can’t keep me here.”
He won’t budge. Pushing past him, I throw the bundle into the suitcase.
Michael snatches the next bundle of clothes from my fingers. “No, you’re not. You’re going to stay here. You’re going to rest.
When you wake up, you’ll be yourself again and everything will go back to the way it was before. You don’t have to be afraid,
Addy. I forgive you.”
“You forgive me? Are you insane, Michael?” I shake my head as I grab some underwear from our shared dresser. “I don’t want your forgiveness. I want you to sign the divorce papers and let me go.”
“Let you go! You’re staying here until you come to your senses!” He snarls, getting between me and the door.
Pulling my phone from my pocket, I hold it up for him to see. “This is harassment, Michael. Now let me go or I’ll call the police.”
“Addy,” he shakes his head. “Stop fooling yourself. I know this is just a game. You’ll never call the police because you are doing this to take the attention away from Evelyn. You should be ashamed of yourself Addy.”
Moving my thumb I press the button to dial.
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“New York City Police Department,” a deep voice calls out. “How can we be of…”
Michael snatches the phone from my hand. “My mistake, officer. Wrong number.”
+25 Bonus
“Michael, give me back my phone…” reaching forward, I attempt to grab my phone but Michael pushes me backward.
Rushing to my feet, the door slams in my face. A moment later the lock clicks into place followed by the sound of the heavy
antique desk in the hall being pushed to block my escape from the other side.
I’m trapped.
“Michael Stone,” I scream, shaking the door handle. “You can’t keep me here! Let me go!”
“You aren’t going anywhere, Addy,” Michael grunts, from the other side of the door as he struggles to regain his breath. “You are
going to stay in your room until you’re ready to see reason.”
