Chapter 8: Adrian’s Call
Chapter 8: Adrian’s Call
Adrian called from jail using his attorney’s account.
I almost refused.
Then I answered.
His voice was soft.
That frightened me more than shouting.
“Mara, we need to stop this.”
“There is no ‘we.’”
“You’re emotional. You almost lost the babies.”
“I almost lost them because you dragged me out of bed.”
“That wasn’t what happened.”
“There’s a video.”
Silence.
Then his voice hardened.
“Vanessa caused this.”
“You dragged me.”
“She encouraged me.”
“You kicked me.”
“I was stressed.”
“You hid my medication.”
“You were becoming dependent on it.”
“It was prescribed to prevent premature labor.”
He exhaled sharply.
“You’ve always twisted things.”
I looked through the NICU glass.
Lily was moving her tiny feet.
Noah was still on breathing support.
“Why did you call?”
“To offer you a deal.”
I nearly admired his arrogance.
He had no firm.
No house.
No unrestricted accounts.
And yet he still believed he was negotiating from power.
“What deal?”
“You withdraw your statement. I’ll agree to a private divorce. You keep Bellweather. I keep a portion of the fund and the Manhattan apartment.”
“The apartment was purchased with stolen investor money.”
“You owe me.”
“I owe you nothing.”
“I made you relevant.”
I laughed then.
Not loudly.
Just once.
Adrian went silent.
“You think this is funny?”
“No. I think it’s finished.”
“You’ll regret humiliating me.”
“I regretted marrying you.”
He began shouting as I ended the call.
A nurse approached.
“Are you okay?”
May you like
I looked at my children.
“For the first time in years,” I said, “I think I will be.”
