Chapter 3

"You're impossible. Fine, I'll approve it."

I took out the resignation letter I'd prepared long ago.

She skimmed it. "Baby, I've been neglecting your feelings. Quitting's not a bad idea. Take this time to get some rest."

She signed it, then went on, "You know, I've been wanting a break myself. How about a few days in the Maldives?"

"We could swing by a couple of nearby countries while we're at it. We could take our time and really enjoy ourselves."

"Gail."

I cut her off. "It isn't just the job I'm resigning from. It's my marriage to you too."

"I want a life with no job and no you. I want to be free."

I took out the divorce papers and spread them on the desk. "Let's get divorced."

Gail said nothing. She just stared at me.

Inside I was shaking. I didn't want to end this marriage.

But I couldn't accept that she'd cheated on me.

"Why?" she finally asked. Something in her had changed. The light seemed to drain from her, and even the way she held herself changed.

I said. "You told me once that if I ever stopped loving you, I had to tell you. I don't love you anymore."

"Did I do something wrong?"

"Tell me what I didn't do well enough. I'll fix it."

I looked her in the eyes. "You're wonderful. But when the love is gone, it's gone."

"Sign it." I pushed the papers toward her.

"Why should I?" She shot to her feet and tore the papers apart.

"Where would you even be without me after all these years?"

"Who do you think you are, asking me for a divorce?"

"I loved you that much, and you just decide it's over? What do you take me for?"

"I'm telling you right now, a divorce is out of the question."

She screamed through her tears.

Her anger was genuine, as were her tears. She truly didn't want the divorce.

But none of that changed my decision to leave—or the fact that she'd cheated.

I took out another set of divorce papers.

"Calm down. Don't tear this one up. Sign it once you've thought it through. I'll leave you to it."

I set the papers down, got up, and left.

A glass shattered behind me.

An hour later I got a call from my mother-in-law. Her tone was cold. She told me to come home.

By the time I got there, my own mother was already there.

"What's going on?"

My father-in-law glared at me. "Broad daylight and Gail's drunk out of her mind, going on about how you want to divorce her. Now tell me what the hell is going on."

My mother-in-law wore the same hard face. "We never wanted you with Gail in the first place. Now you're asking for a divorce? Who do you think you are?"

"Without our Gail, would you be where you are today?"

"Would your mother even still be sitting here?"

"You, asking for a divorce? What right do you have?"

My mother watched me from the side, her face covered in tears.

"There's nothing to explain. It just can't work anymore. I want out."

Slap—

The words had barely left my mouth when my father-in-law's hand came across my face.

"Owen Fox, you think you're too good for our Gail now?"

"Let me tell you, Gail gave you everything you have, and she can take every last piece of it back."

I stayed silent. My mother-in-law started in on me. "Lost your tongue? Speak up. You've got another woman, don't you?"

My mother rushed to speak. "Owen, we'd never do something like that. Tell them the truth. Why do you want to divorce Gail?"

"I just don't see the point of living like this anymore."

Slap—

The words had barely left my mouth when my father-in-law struck me again.

"When your mother was sick, funny you didn't think life was meaningless then."

"When you walked into the company, funny you didn't call it meaningless then."

He glared at me. "Take a good look at yourself and what you've got. Do you have any idea how many rich young heirs would've lined up to marry Gail?"