Chapter 18%
“What the hell is happening here?”
Cameron’s voice cut through the silence like a knife–sharp, cracked, unraveling
I didn’t flinch. Didn’t even move from where I was–curled in Jackson’s arms beneath the warmth of the sheets.
Instead, I laughed.
Not cruelly, not mockingly,
Just softly. Almost tired.
Then I wrapped my arms around myself, holding in the ache that had once swallowed me whole–but I didn’t let go of Jackson. Not for a second. His arms remained around me. His lips pressed gently to my shoulder, steady, unfazed by Cameron’s presence.
“What do you think this is?” I asked, tilting my head. “Isn’t it obvious?”
Cameron just stood there, chest heaving, eyes wild like a man losing air
“Don’t pretend you weren’t aware of what’s been happening,” I continued, my voice smooth and merciless. “You saw the photos. You knew I wasn’t yours anymore.”}
Cameron stepped into the room, his voice breaking. “Please tell me this isn’t real. Tell me this isn’t what it looks like. That you’re not doing this. This is just a misunderstanding.”
He begged. “Please, we were trying to fix the relationship, night? Come on, Alicia. I thought we’re already starting it now. but this what is this?”
Iblinked slowly. “We were trying to fix this?” I repeated. “Cameron, I stayed because I wanted to see you ruined. I wanted to look you in the eye when you finally begged–and when I said goodbye. That was it and here it goes.”
He stumbled back like the words hit harder than any slap. “No. No, you love me.. you said-
“I lied,” I said coldly. “Do you think you’re the only one who can lie?”
He reached toward me. “You can’t mean this. I changed. I really did. I became a changed man Take those words back.”
n for yo
you, so come on! Please, don’t do this.
“I mean every word.” I shook my head. I felt nothing for him anymore. All I want is to leave. This was it!
“Then let’s fix this. Please–Alicia, I don’t care if you cheated. I don’t care what you’ve done. Just come back with me. We’ll go ho figure it out-“}
I cut him off with a sharp shake of my head. He really gone insane.!
“No. We’re done”
Cameron’s jaw clenched. His hands trembled
go home, we’ll
“This is the end of me pretending to love you.” I said. “The end of walking on glass just to keep you from shattering. I don’t want to heal with you. I want to live without you.“8
He took a step closer. “This is revenge, I know it is. But it’s okay. I forgive you. Whatever you did–whatever this is–1 forgive it. Let’s just go, please ”
My chest rose, my eyes burning. And then, from the nightstand drawer, pulled out the papers that I asked Jackson to help me.
The ones I had filed quietly. The ones with signatures already printed and stamped. I stood, still wrapped in the sheet, and threw the divorce papers at his feet.3
“We’re done.”
Cameron looked down, stunned.
He didn’t move. Didn’t speak.)
Just stared at the documents as if they were written in a language he couldn’t understand.
“What is the meaning of this?”
I smirked. “Divorce paper”
“I don’t even know about it.”
“Yes. You didn’t even know about it,” I said softly. “But now you do.”
He bent to pick them up slowly, hands shaking like he was holding something sacred–something already broken.
And then
His face twisted
“This is your foult,” he snarled, eyes snapping toward Jackson.
He lunged before I could react
He tackled Jackson from the side, sending them both crashing to the floor. Fists flew, grunts filled the air, furniture scraped and toppled as the two men clashed–rage against resolve, obsession against reality.
“You stole her from me Cameron roared..
Jackson grunted under the weight of his fury but didn’t back down.
And I had had enough.
“Stop” I shouted, stepping forward. “Stop it!”
11:20 AM c d
They didn’t hear me. They kept fighting.
So I screamed again, louder this time.
“Stop–don’t hurt the father of my child!”
The words cracked the air.X
Everything froze.
ed was deafening
Cameron froze. The silence that followed
Cameron slowly turned his head, still panting, blood smeared across his lip. “What did you say?”
I stared at him, no fear left in my eyes.
“You heard me.”
He staggered to his feet. “You’re pregnant?”
I nodded once.
“With him?”
Another nod
And that was it?
That was the moment he knew.).
Knew I was gone for good
knew the version of Alicia he once controlled was buried beneath the girl who had survived him.
Cameron’s chest caved in like someone had stolen the very breath from his lungs. His mouth opened. Then closed. Then opened again
But he didn’t speak.
Couldn’t. And as he stared at me–his former wife, standing wrapped in someone else’s arms, carrying someone else’s child–I saw it!
The moment the truth sank in.
He had lost.
Forever
3/2
