Chapter 26
Abigail
Conrad grabbed my wrist, his grip tight. “Come on,” he said, pulling me along, “We’re leaving.”
+25 BONUS
He paused only long enough to nod curtly at his brother. “Goodbye, Alexandler.” He didn’t acknowledge Daniel. We walked past Alexander and his assistant and into the parding lot, Conrad not letting go of me till we reached the car. The drive home was suffocating Conrad’s knucides were white on the steering wheel, his jaw set in that stubborn way of his, as though sheer silence could erase the fact he had left me on my own in the hospital. I didn’t bother speaking. What could I say that hadn’t already been said?
What could I say that hadn’t already been ignored? Every plea, every argument, every desperate attempt to make him see me instead of her. And yet, here we were again. The ache in my cliest burned hotter with every mile we traveled, and by the time we pulled into the driveway, I’d already made my decision. No more hoping. No more second chances.
As soon as the car came to a stop, I got out without waiting for him. Conrad called my name, but I ignored him, walking into the house and straight to the bedroom I’d been forced to take when Conrad gave Susanna the master bedroom. The door clicked shut behind me, muffling the sound of his footsteps as he tried to follow me. I wished he wouldn’t. I needed this moment to myself.
I didn’t hesitate. I threw open the closet doors and yanked out my suitcases, laying them flat on the bed and began pulling my neatly folded clothes from the wardrobe. Each piece I packed felt like another nail in the coffin.
The door swung open behind me, and I didn’t need to turn around to know who it was. His presence filled the room, his voice sharp with confusion. “What are you doing, Abigail?”
I kept folding clothes, refusing to look at him. “What does it look like I’m doing?”
Abigail, stop this,” he said, stepping closer. “You can’t be serious.”
That made me pause. I turned to face him, meeting his bewildered gaze with all the anger and exhaustion I’d been holding back. It felt like there was fire burning in my veins, “Have you already forgotten what I said, Conrad? It’s over. I’m done. I’ll have the divorce papers ready soon.”
For a moment, he just stared at me, stunned. His face twisted in shock, then something like desperation. Then he stepped forward and wrapped his arms around me, pulling me into a hug I couldn’t bring myself to return. My body stayed stiff, my hands falling limply to my sides. I refused to give in to the comfort he thought he could offer. “Abigail,” he said softly, his breath brushing against my ear. “Why are you doing this? This is our home. I’ve never even thought about divorcing you.
“Your words mean nothing to me anymore,” I snapped, wrenching myself out of his grasp. “You promised me, Conrad. You promised I’d be your priority, and yet here we are again. You’ve broken that promise over and over again Why does Susanna always show up in our marriage?” My voice broke, the pain cutting through the anger. I’m tired, Conrad. I’m disgusted. I can’t do this anymore.
“I’ll fix it,” he said quickly, his hands raised as if to placate me. “I swear, it won’t happen again.”
”
broken
I laughed bitterly, shaking my head. “How many times have you said that? And how many times have you that promise? Too many times, Conrad. Your broken promises don’t mean anything anymore.” His expression hardened, the desperation in his eyes giving way to frustration. “Susanna’s situation was urgent,” he said, his voice rising. “What was I supposed to do? Alexander can’t handle these things–he’s a cripple! I was just going to check on her. All I wanted to do was help.”
That word–cripple–made me soap. My arms folded tightly across my chest, my voice icy as I replied, “Urgent?
Chapter 26
So urgent that you didn’t even have time to tell her husband? The man who should’ve been the one at her side? The man you left in the dark so you could play the hero?“” stepped closer to him, my voice shaking with ernotion. “Do you hear yourself, Conrad? You’re being fake even toward your own brother. How can you stand there and justify this?”
He flinched, his She has her sister. She has her husband now. But you every time she balts you, you willingly fall for it. Every single time. And I’m left standing here, always second, always waiting.”
*** Dashine across his face, but I didn’t stop. I wasn’t done. “Susanna doesn’t need you, Conrad.
Conrad’s expression darkened, anger replacing guilt. His voice thundered through the room. “How can you say that? Is it because you’re in love with someone else?” He stepped closer, his words cutting like a blade, sharp and cruel. “That assistant–Daniel? Did you sleep with him? Is that why he promised to get you shares?”
The room fell silent, his accusation hanging in the air like poison. My hand moved before I even realized it. The sharp crack of the slap echoed in the room, the sting flashing through through my palm as Conrad’s head snapped to the side. His cheek reddened instantly, but I didn’t feel any satisfaction. Only burning anger and the ache of betrayal. How could he say that?
“How dare you?” I hissed, my voice trembling with fury. “After everything–after all the times you’ve chosen Susanna over me, after all the nights I’ve spent alone, waiting for you to care about us–you have the audacity to accuse me of being unfaithful?”
He didn’t respond, his chest rising and falling with the force of his breaths. His eyes were wide with shock. I turned back to my suitcase, shoving the last of my things inside. My hands shook as I zipped it closed.
“You can go play the hero for Susanna as much as you want. But don’t expect me to be here waiting when you come back.”
