Chapter 17 Ex–husband
I rehearsed it a dozen times on the drive, how I would apologize to Vincent, bit words falled me even as I continued my shopping.” I turned the corner near the escalators and saw a familiar face.
No.
Not her &
Not Sophie.
She stood in front of me smug. The same woman who turned my marriage into wreckage.M
I started to walk past, but she blocked my path.!!
“Still haven’t learned to stay in your lane, huh, Lesley?” She spat.”
I blinked. “Excuse me?”
And then, crack.
The slap came out of nowhere. My face stung. People turned. Gasps echoed through the crowd.
“You stay away from Trenton,” she hissed, eyes blazing.
“What?” I took a step back, hand to my cheek. “I haven’t even, what are you talking about?” I tried to talk, but her back was already turned like a woman whose mission was complete.
What?!” I was genuinely confused.
Then I walked away.
Heart pounding. Palms shaking. Vincent’s gift still in my hand.
This apology better be damn good, because now I had a scandal to explain too.
I barely remembered the drive home. My cheek still burned from the slap, and the humiliation from it all. I think I’m going to remember till Jesus comes.
I stepped into the house. The lights were already on.”
I froze in the doorway.
“Les?”
His voice came from the living room. His expression was shocked and pleased? I couldn’t tell.]
“I thought you went to your parents‘,” he said, stepping toward me. “You said…”
“I know,” I cut in, my throat dry. “I…I lied. I needed space. I wasn’t thinking straight, and I thought if I just had time to cool off, I could figure out how to say this right.”
He tilted his head, searching my face.
“I’m sorry,” I blurted. “For not trusting you. For assuming the worst. I should’ve asked. I should’ve known better.“>>
I stepped forward, holding out the box like a peace offering.
“I thought you were hiding something. But the only thing you were hiding was how good you are. And I don’t know how I got so damn jucky, but I want to be a better friend. For you.”
Vincent didn’t speak right away.D
Then he reached out and pulled me into him, no lecture, no cold shoulder, just warmth and… How can a guy be this cool?
“I was scared I had lost you,” he murmured into my hair.
“You didn’t,” I said against his chest. “You won’t.“}]
We stood like that for a few quiet seconds. Then… knock knock knock.”
I stiffened. Vincent pulled back slowly, brows drawing together.
I even thought James was back. I shuddered at the thought.
“Expecting someone?” I asked.
“No.”
I walked to the door, cautious.!!
And when I opened it…
I was surprised.“]
Trenton.
And worse?!
He looked desperate.!!
“Lesley,” he said. “We need to talk.” I scoffed.
didn’t move.
Neither did he.
“Lesley, just give me five minutes…”
“No.” My voice was flat. Cold. The opposite of what I used to be around him. “You don’t get five minutes. You don’t even get five seconds.”
His mouth parted like he was about to play the victim again.”
Classic Trenton. A bastard.
But I cut him off with a glare.
“I don’t care what you think we need to talk about. I don’t care what Sophie told you, or what you think I want. I want nothing to do with you.”
He looked like he hadn’t expected that. Good.”
“You made your choice,” I continued, voice shaking, but I wasn’t going to back down. “And I made mine. You don’t get to show up here like this. Not anymore.”
Then I did what I should’ve done the day he walked out of our marriage.M
I slammed the door in his face.
Vincent was quiet in the hallway. Watching. But he didn’t say anything. He didn’t need to.”
I walked past him, straight to the kitchen, I turned on the stove. Pulled out the chicken I planned to fry. Something normal.%
I chopped. Seasoned. Poured oil into the pan.}
But my mind, it wouldn’t shut up.”
Sophie. Trenton. In the same day?”
What kind of cruel joke was that?”
I could still hear Sophie’s voice in the mall. Still see Trenton’s eyes at the door. Still feel the sting on my cheek, the embarrassment I felt. I reached for the pan distractedly, my brain miles away…
And the oil popped.
Exhilarating pain shot up my arm, splashing across my forearm and onto my side.“]
I screamed, clutching my skin. The pan clanged unto the floor.”
Vincent was there in seconds, yelling my name, grabbing a towel, cursing under his breath.
“I wasn’t thinking,” I gasped in pain. “I wasn’t…God… it hurts…”
“I got you,” he said, holding me gently. “Let
Tears burned down my face.”
me see. We need to cool it down, now. Better, let’s get you to the hospital…”
As Vincent attempted to cook the burn down enough to travel to the hospital.
As we stepped out of the house, Trenton was still there, sitting on the porch like a homeless person.
He matched up to us with no emotion on his face. “You have to listen to me, Lesley or you’ll learn the hard way.“}]
Vincent was torn between leaving me and punching him. “What the fuck, man…she told you to stay away.”
“He’s coming for you and you know he always get what he wants…” Trenton said and walked off.”
“What?” Vincent and I exchanged a look and I regret not telling him about James‘ visit yet.
The doctor treated my burn efficiently and it felt like there was no pain there in the first place.”
As we were about to leave the hospital, I realized I left my purse behind, “I’ll be right back.” I told Vincent.
But, as I turned the corner saw Sophie in a deep conversation with a doctor.
“The paternity test came out like you asked. Trenton is not the father as you suspected.” The doctor told Sophie and she had no emotion on her face.”
My eyes widened from where I stood.
“Say what now?” I whispered and gently backed into the room.
