Chapter 6 - THE MAN WHO THOUGHT HE OWNED EVERYTHING
Graham didn't know I had met Samuel Pierce.
He didn't know I'd hired an attorney.
And he didn't know Natalie had agreed to cooperate.
He believed I was still the frightened pregnant wife he'd left crying upstairs.
So he tried a different approach.
Flowers arrived.
Then jewelry.
Then a handwritten note.
I made a mistake. Please don't throw away our family.
I read it once.
Then placed it beside the legal documents.
That evening, Graham came home carrying takeout from my favorite restaurant.
“Peace offering,” he said.
I looked at the bag.
“Did you pay with our joint account?”
His smile faltered.
“Maddie.”
“I'm asking.”
He sighed.
“Does it matter?”
“Yes.”
He put the food down.
“You're making this impossible.”
I stared at him.
“I'm making what impossible?”
“Fixing us.”
I felt our daughter kick.
Then said:
“You don't get to decide that our marriage is fixed because you bought dinner.”
His face hardened.
“I've apologized.”
“No. You've explained why I should stop being upset.”
He stared.
I continued.
“There's a difference.”
For a moment, he looked genuinely angry.
Then he smiled.
The familiar smile.
The one he used when he wanted to regain control.
“You're emotional.”
I felt something inside me go still.
“Because I'm pregnant?”
He hesitated.
“That's not what I meant.”
“Yes, it is.”
I stood carefully.
“Graham, I'm not confused. I'm not hysterical. And I'm not going to sign anything you put in front of me.”
His expression changed.
For the first time, I saw fear.
Not regret.
Fear.
“What have you done?” he asked.
I smiled faintly.
“Exactly what you taught me.”
May you like
He stared.
“I hired professionals.”
