Chapter 37 (1)
Abigail
#25 BONUS
Without a word to Susanna, Tturned away and walked Isack toward my room. I didn’t need to look at her to know her sharp gaze followed me until I was out of sight, brimming with that contempt she wore like armor.
As I pushed my bedroom door shut behind me, Marceline’s words came rushing back, relentless and sharp: ” Abigail’s back here now, in her husband’s home. It’s time you returned to yours.”
I let out an annoyed breath and sank onto the edge of my bed. Marceline thought I was back for good. That much was clear. And why wouldn’t she? Here I was, back under is roof…. pretending.
This was survival. I was here because I had to be, not because I wanted to. But Marceline didn’t know that, and I could only imagine what sort of hope she was building; in lig mind. For all her coldness and pride, she seemed to favor me recently, and the idea of giving her false hope now felt like a betrayal.
I couldn’t let this go on. I had to stop this pretense before it went too far.
Reaching for my phone, I scrolled through my contacts and found Roxy’s name. I couldn’t delay talking to her anymore. The line rang a few times before she picked up, her voice bright and cheerful.
“Hey, Abigail!”
In the background, I could hear music and the muffled sounds of children laughing–or maybe shrieking, Either way, it was loud..
“I’m sorry,” I said quickly, suddenly feeling guilty for calling at a bad time. “I didn’t mean to interrupt-” “Oh, don’t worry about it,” Roxy interrupted, her tone breezy. “I’m just at my nephew’s birthday party. What’s up? Everything okay?”
I hadn’t decided how I wanted to word my questions, but the words spilled out before I could stop them. “Yes, I just wanted to ask you something. Do you think my job and the house you’ve let me stay in will be affected if I finalize the divorce?”
Roxy’s cheerful demeanor vanished instantly, replaced by a seriousness that made me appreciate how she could switch her demeanor depending on the situation
“I don’t think so,” she said carefully, her voice quieter now, as if she’d stepped away from the noise. “The house is assigned under my title and office, so it’s not tied to Conrad directly. As for the job, the only way that could be affected is if someone higher than me decided to terminate you, and honestly, Abigail, there aren’t many people higher than me. I manage my own department, remember?”
Her words brought a wave of relief that nearly buckled my knees.
“Thank you,” I said softly, gripping the phone tightly.
“Of course,” Roxy replied, her tone warming again. “Good on you for double checking before you go through with your plans.”
Before I could respond, a child’s piercing scream erupted from somewhere on her end, followed by the sound of something crashing
Roxy sighed deeply. “I’d better go check on that. Good luck with everything, okay? Call me if you need anything. “Sure thing. Thank you,” I repeated, and the line went dead
For a moment, I sat perfectly still, Setting the phone down, I took a steadying breath. I needed to act now. The
Chapter 37 (1)
longer I stayed here, the more complicated everything would become.
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I opened my handbag and reached for the divorce papers. They weren’t heavy just a few sheets of paper stapled neatly together but as I picked them up, they felt as hefty as a rock. My hands trembled slightly as I held them, staring at the bold letters across the top: Petition for Divorce.
Conrad hadn’t gone to work today. I’d heard him earlier, retreating to his study with that measured stride of his. He’d be there now, no doubt poring over spreadsheets or drafting emails, completely unaware of what I was bringing to him.
All I had to do was walk up to him, place these papers on his desk, and tell him it was over.
Easy.
I almost couldn’t believe I wasn’t actually doing it. The Abigail of just a few months ago wouldn’t have ever dared to even think of taking such a step. But I knew better now.
Life was too short to waste in a marriage that was shakier with every day that passed, and I was too young to spend all that was left of my youth to spend with a man who would not stand up for me, even when I begged him
- to.
Conrad didn’t love me. I didn’t think he did. Maybe he never had. He had made his choices clear when he’d let Susanna waltz into our marriage like she had every right to be there. He’d moved her into our bedroom, into our lives, and had barely spared me a glance as he did it.
He hadn’t even been the one to make sure she left with all her things today. I had every right to walk away. Was I nervous? Maybe, but it was the kind of nervousness you got just before you got on a stage and gave the performance of a lifetime.
Taking a deep breath, I made my legs move. One step. Then another. Each one felt heavier than the last, but I kept going. When I reached Conrad’s study, I paused outside the door, my heart pounding so loudly I was sure he’d hear it through the wood. This was it. No more delays. No more excuses.
Squaring my shoulders, I knocked.
“Come in,” came Conrad’s voice. It was curt, the way he always was when he was working and didn’t like to be interrupted. I pushed the door open and stepped inside. He was seated at his desk, his eyes fixed on the laptop screen in front of him. Papers were scattered across the surface, and a cold cup of coffee sat at the edge dangerously.
He glanced up as I entered, and a smile shaped his lips as he noticed it was me. “Abigail, do you need something?”
I stepped closer until I stood directly across from his desk. I need to talk to you,” I said, my voice steadier than I expected.
Conrad squinted at his laptop. “Sure thing. Let me just wrap this up.”
“Of course,” I sank into the chair opposite him. In a few minutes, he was done and he shut his laptop before. looking at me with a small grin.
“So, what did you want to talk about?”
I didn’t answer right away. Slowly, I placed the divorce papers on his desk, sliding them toward him until the rested directly in front of him.
Conrad frowned and looked down at the papers. His eyes scanned the first page, and his expression hardened.
“What’s this?” he asked, though his tone suggested he already knew.
T
Chapter 37 (1) 37(1)
My throat felt dry, but I forced the words out. “It’s over, Conrad,” I said quietly. “I’m filing for divorce.”
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Chapter 27 (21
Chapter 37 (2)
Abigall
+25 пониз
For the first time, 1 saw something shift in his expression something that looked almost like shock. Conrad stood slowly, pushing his chair back with a scrape that set my nerves on edge.
“Stop joking around,” he said, his voice low and tense. “Were not getting divorced.”
I met his gaze, my voice steady despite the panic drumming in my chest. “Have you ever known me to make that kind of joke?”
For a moment, his eyes burned with anger, but he quickly asked I, exhaling sharply through his nose. His jaw tightened, and he pinched the bridge of his nose as if trying to regain control.
“What brought this on?” he asked, his tone softer now, almost placating, Before I could answer, he continued, “Is it… is it all this mess with Susanna? Look, I know I’ve made mistakes–big ones–but I’ve been better, haven’t I? I’m trying, Abigail‘
I shook my head, cutting him off gently. “Conrad, if I thought there was a chance to save this marriage, I wouldn’t be standing here with those papers.”
His brows knit together, and for a second, I saw a flicker of desperation in his eyes. “And you think this is all we can do?” he asked, his voice low but dangerous.
“I don’t think,” I said firmly. “I know. This isn’t easy for me, but it’s what’s best for me.”
He took a step closer. “Best for you?” he echoed, his voice rising slightly. “What about us? What about fighting for us? Why are you giving up so easily?”
“This isn’t easy,” I said, my voice calm but firm. “I fought for us, Conrad. But you… you didn’t fight for me. Not when it mattered. And now, there’s nothing left to save.”
His eyes darkened, his calm slipping as he snatched the papers off the desk. He held them in front of me, shaking them violently as if the force alone could make me go against my decision.
“These?” he spat, his voice laced with fury, “This is what you want? A piece of paper to tear everything apart?”
His anger rattled me. I could feel my hands trembling, though I clasped them together tightly to keep him from seeing it. I forced myself to meet his blazing gaze.
“Yes,” I said evenly. “It’s what I want. There’s nothing left of our marriage, Conrad. It’s time we went our separate ways.”
He stared at me, his chest rising and falling with rapid breaths. His grip on the papers tightened, the edges. crumpling in his hands. For a moment, I thought he might bear them apart right then and there.
“You can’t just walk away,” he said, his voice lower now, intense. “Not after everything we’ve been through. Not after everything I’ve done to fix this.”
I blinked, my composure threatening to crack. “What have you fixed, Conrad? You let Susanna walk into our lives like she had every right to be here. You let her take over our home, our marriage. And now you expect me to pretend that none of it happened?”
“She’s gone!” he shouted, slamming the papers back onto the desk. “She’s gone, Abigail. I sent her away, didn’t 1? What more do you want from me?”
1/3
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Chapter 37 (7
I flinched at his outburst, but I held my ground. “I want peace,” I said quietly. “And I can’t have that with you.”
“You’re running away,” he said bitterly. “That’s what this. You’re giving up.”
I shook my head. “No, Conrad, I’m finally choosing myself!
The words seemed to hit him like a physical blow. For a moment, he just stared at me, his anger simmering Just below the surface. He turned away to stare at the wall, his shoulders stiff and his hands clenched at his sides.
Several seconds passed before he turned back to me, his expression as sharp as a blade. There was something dangerous in his voice as he asked, “Is this really what you want, Abigail?”
I squared my shoulders, refusing to let the unease I felt show on my face. “Yes,” I said firmly.
regret.
For a moment, he simply stared at me, his eyes searching mine for something–hesitation, doubt, But there was none. I had made my decision, and I wouldn’t waver now.
He nodded stiffly, his jaw clenching so tightly I could see the muscle twitch. “Fine,” he said at last, his voice cold. “I’ll give you the divorce you so desperately want.”
Relief began to flood through me, loosening the knots in my chest. But then, just as quickly, his next words made
me freeze.
“But you’ll leave my house the same way you came in–with nothing.”
I blinked, stunned by the venom in his voice. My relief evaporated, replaced by a creeping shock. He took a step closer, as if he were stalking prey.
“What?” I managed to whisper, though my voice felt small even to my own ears.
“You heard me,” he said, his tone laced with what could only be malice. “No matter what clauses you’ve slipped into these little papers, you’ll walk out of here with nothing. No assets, no property, nothing that bears the Remington name.”
10
He was towering over me now, his presence suffocating. I stayed rooted to the spot, refusing to shrink away even as my pulse raced. Conrad’s his fingers reached out to trace the fabric of my blouse. “Even this,” he said, his voice dropping into a whisper. “If it was bought with Remington money, you’ll leave it behind too.”
My skin crawled at his touch, and my fists clenched at my sides. Shame burned in my chest, not because of his words but because of the sheer degradation in his tone. But refused to look away.
“Fine,” I said sharply, spitting the word out like a curse. “I’ve never been one to keep what belongs to someone else anyway.”
He smirked, but there was no humor in it. “I’m glad you think that way,” he said, straightening to his full height. “Because if you’re so insistent on leaving, there’s one more thing you’ll owe me.‘
I narrowed my eyes, my heart thundering in my chest. “And what’s that?”
“You’ll repay me for all the medical expenses I covered for your mother.”
The air left my lungs in a rush, and I felt like the ground beneath me had shifted. If I had not been sitting, my legs would have surely wobbled. “What?” I choked out.
“You heard me,” he said, his tone cutting. “Every dime I have spent keeping your mother alive. Every treatment, every hospital stay, every doctor’s visit. You’ll pay it all back.”
His words struck me like a slap. I stared at him, my mind racing to process the sheer cruelty of what he’d just said.
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Chapter 37 (2)
“My mother was dying.” I said, my voice trembling despite any efforts to keep it steady. “You… you offered to help. You said it didn’t matter how much it cost.”
“And now It does,” lie said simply. “You want out, Abigail? Fine. But
pay your way out.”
My breath hitched, and my hands clenched into fists at my sides. “You can’t be serious,” I said, my voice low and trembling with suppressed rage. Since when had Conrad been so cruel?
“Oh, I’m very serious,” he said, his smirk returning. “You thought you could just waltz out of here, divorce papers in hand, and walk away scot–free? Think again.
