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Marshall beams as he serves me more food, endearingly calling me his dear with each helping.
Later, my brother eagerly took on dish duty, while my mother disappeared into the kitchen.
Marshall led me to the backyard for a breather.
I had to ask how he did it.
Marshall responded with a dismissive chuckle, “It doesn’t matter. “What matters is that you’re no longer upset, Sasha.”
He spoke as if Nina was a minor detail that could be easily overlooked.
Or as if the pain I was experiencing was a fleeting cloud that could be dispelled with a single, calm breath.
“Marshall, I won’t be able to have children in the future, and with your company growing so large, you’ll need someone to pass it on to.
“That’s okay, we can adopt. We’ll love them just like they’re our own.”
“However, will you cheat again?”
Marshall froze, his smile fading before deepening. “No, I won’t repeat my mistake with Nina.”
I remained silent as Marshall pulled me into his arms.
The next day, I had my brother drive me to the lawyer’s office. I gave Nina’s marriage certificate and the recordings of Marshall’s words to my attorney.
I packed my belongings and moved out. I returned to the old family home with my mother.
Marshall got the divorce papers and pursued me, demanding to know why I had broken my word.
While pruning my mother’s plants, I said calmly, “I’ve known for a while that you don’t love me; I thought maybe your love for the kids was genuine, but I was mistaken; you’ve only ever loved yourself.
“I did some digging. Nina made up stories to defeat your opponents! You blackmailed her with that. Why else would she confess to being the other woman and jeopardise her future?
“If you can do that to Nina, who helped you, you could do even worse to me, who couldn’t help you and couldn’t have children.
“Should I endure more heartache if I did not divorce you?”
“You!” Marshall was furious, looking like he wanted to strangle me. “Have you been playing me the whole time?!”
“Marshall, I am just claiming what is mine. If you don’t like it, I have no problem leaving you with nothing.” I watched his rage with an unsettling calm.
Deep down, I knew he wasn’t worth any more of my tears.
When the subject of money came up, Marshall became more relaxed.
He gave me one of those intense looks that could cut right through me, then he hit the road.
After a few days, my lawyer called to tell me that Marshall was ready to sign the papers.
I let out a huge sigh of relief; from now on, it would be all about me, living my life on my own terms.
I bet even my little angel, who was taken far too soon, would be smiling down at me.
Later, my brother eagerly took on dish duty, while my mother disappeared into the kitchen.
Marshall led me to the backyard for a breather.
I had to ask how he did it.
Marshall responded with a dismissive chuckle, “It doesn’t matter. “What matters is that you’re no longer upset, Sasha.”
He spoke as if Nina was a minor detail that could be easily overlooked.
Or as if the pain I was experiencing was a fleeting cloud that could be dispelled with a single, calm breath.
“Marshall, I won’t be able to have children in the future, and with your company growing so large, you’ll need someone to pass it on to.
“That’s okay, we can adopt. We’ll love them just like they’re our own.”
“However, will you cheat again?”
Marshall froze, his smile fading before deepening. “No, I won’t repeat my mistake with Nina.”
I remained silent as Marshall pulled me into his arms.
The next day, I had my brother drive me to the lawyer’s office. I gave Nina’s marriage certificate and the recordings of Marshall’s words to my attorney.
I packed my belongings and moved out. I returned to the old family home with my mother.
Marshall got the divorce papers and pursued me, demanding to know why I had broken my word.
While pruning my mother’s plants, I said calmly, “I’ve known for a while that you don’t love me; I thought maybe your love for the kids was genuine, but I was mistaken; you’ve only ever loved yourself.
“I did some digging. Nina made up stories to defeat your opponents! You blackmailed her with that. Why else would she confess to being the other woman and jeopardise her future?
“If you can do that to Nina, who helped you, you could do even worse to me, who couldn’t help you and couldn’t have children.
“Should I endure more heartache if I did not divorce you?”
“You!” Marshall was furious, looking like he wanted to strangle me. “Have you been playing me the whole time?!”
“Marshall, I am just claiming what is mine. If you don’t like it, I have no problem leaving you with nothing.” I watched his rage with an unsettling calm.
Deep down, I knew he wasn’t worth any more of my tears.
When the subject of money came up, Marshall became more relaxed.
He gave me one of those intense looks that could cut right through me, then he hit the road.
After a few days, my lawyer called to tell me that Marshall was ready to sign the papers.
I let out a huge sigh of relief; from now on, it would be all about me, living my life on my own terms.
I bet even my little angel, who was taken far too soon, would be smiling down at me.