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7:42 PM
Chapter 10%
Bruno was humiliated–he didn’t say it, but I could see it all over him.
After all these years, I knew every twitch of his face like the back of my hand. The clenched fists, the ragged breathing, the fury burning behind his eyes.
“So… did you start missing me only after you found out I was selling the house?” I asked, my voice calm. “Or was it when you realized you couldn’t control me anymore and suddenly had no choice but to play nice?”
It hit him right where it hurt. His face hardened instantly.
“Why do you always assume the worst in people?” he snapped. “Not everyone’s as cold as you are.“}
He stepped closer, his voice shaking, lower now, darker.
“I’m not like you–I can’t just throw everything away. After all these years, I thought maybe we were still worth saving. But I guess you’d rather spit on that than show a little gratitude.“},
I looked him dead in the eyes.
“Of course you’re not like me,” I said, lips curling into a tired smile. “Because you had nothing to lose.“}
“All these years, it’s been me–me, working, sacrificing, giving. You fed off it. Now the house is gone, the free help is gone and suddenly you want me back? Not because you love me, Bruno. You just hate not having someone to clean up after you.“}
He opened his mouth, but I didn’t let him speak.
“You should thank me, actually. For helping you chase after Nelly all these years. Wasn’t it you who once said you regretted marrying me instead of her?“&
I stepped back and pulled my hand from his grasp.
“Well now you don’t have to regret it anymore.” I smiled, for real this time. “You’re free to go marry her.“>
I looked down at him, no fear in my gestures.}
Maybe Bruno had never seen me like that before–so resolute, so sharp. Bruno shifted his gaze awkwardly, clearly unsettled.
“Michelle… how did you become like this?” he muttered. “It was just one trip. So we didn’t take you–was that really such a big deal?“}
I didn’t bother answering. I turned to the agent, picked up the pen and signed the paperwork without hesitation.}
Then I looked back at him, voice steady and cold.
“The divorce papers–make sure you sign them. Unless you want everyone to see just how pathetic you’ve really become.“}
“And Bruno, don’t forget–if things between you and Nelly blow up, it won’t just make you look bad. It’ll be downright ugly. So ask yourself -can that old face of yours take it?”
I walked out without looking back. He didn’t follow.
But I knew Bruno wasn’t the only storm I had to weather.}
My son and his wife lit up my phone, one furious call after another. When they realized yelling wouldn’t work, they dug in their heels- refusing to move out of the house.
When I saw my son again, he was practically shaking with anger, fists clenched, eyes burning with resentment.
“All this because you were jealous? Are you really going to ruin our lives over that?” he shouted. “God, how did I end up with a mother like you? Are you trying to stress me out and push me into to the grave?”
His words… I remembered–how he’d always done this. Ever since he was a teenager, anytime something didn’t go his way, he’d throw out threats of hurting himself. He used guilt like a weapon. Always had.”
Back then, it worked. But not anymore.”
Every time we fought, he’d run straight to Nelly for comfort.
When he was little and I said no to candy because I didn’t want him to get cavities, Nelly would sneak him some behind my back. When he hit his rebellious years and started skipping school, I took away his phone. Nelly? She bought him a brand new one.
She even took it further–dragging him along when she ditched class herself, taking him to bars, to karaoke lounges, playing the “cool grandma” while I was left being the bad guy.
Just like that, he decided she understood him better than I ever could. That she was the one who truly cared about him–not his own
mother.
He resented me for signing him up for tutoring. Hated that I wouldn’t let him play games all night. Said I didn’t “get him.” Complained I was always trying to control him.
He never once thought about what it took to keep the lights on. To pay the bills. To hold a family together. I worked myself into the ground just to provide for him and I didn’t even notice when he started pulling away–when I stopped being “mom” and started being the enemy. Even now, after everything, he still instinctively took Nelly’s side.”
“Grandma Nelly was just being nice, taking us on a trip. You’re seriously jealous of that? Don’t you think that’s kind of pathetic? You’re pushing us away!“%
“She’s always been there for me. Since I was a kid, she’s treated me better than you ever did! Maybe instead of blaming her, you should ask yourself why I’d rather talk to her than you. Maybe the problem isn’t her–or me. Maybe it’s you. You think acting out like this is gonna make us come running back?“#
