I crouched down, hoisted my mother onto my back, and turned to leave. But Olivia barked an order, and the security guards formed a wall, blocking our path.
"I said wait! You can leave when the time is right. Are you deaf?" she shrieked. "It's just a fainting spell. She's not going to die."
She jabbed a trembling finger at me. "Spencer put his heart and soul into this shop. If you destroy his luck, you're a sinner!"
In her agitation, my jacket slipped from her shoulders. The circle of men leered, greedy glints appearing in their eyes.
"Tsk, tsk. Look at those curves. A masterpiece."
"No wonder that wimp doesn't dare hit her back. Must be having a blast in bed."
"Hahaha, didn't you see how fiercely she protects her first love? I bet they have a dirty little secret."
"Men's intuition, right? We know what's up."
The laughter grew deafening. My nails bit into my palms.
I never imagined Olivia would degrade herself like this for Spencer Delgado. Before today, she had been the picture of conservatism. She had never done anything to make me lose face.
"Get lost! Move!" I bellowed at the guards. "I want to see who dares to stop me!"
My gaze found my wife. Cold. Final.
"Olivia, since you love playing games, let's play to the end."
"What do you mean?"
"Divorce."
I spat the word out and refused to waste another breath. Adjusting my mother's weight on my back, I charged toward the exit.
"Don't let him leave!" Olivia screamed.
The guards closed in. I kicked the first man blocking me, but I was outnumbered. A heavy blow to my leg sent me crashing to the floor.
*Thud!*
My mother hit the ground beside me.
Agony sliced through my chest—not from the fall, but from the guilt. I had implicated her in this nightmare.
Her face was pale. Lifeless.
Terror gripped my throat. I screamed at Olivia.
"Call an ambulance! Now! My mother is—"
"Five more minutes." Olivia checked the time. Her voice was ice.
She refused to budge. In her mind, if we walked out that door now, the bad luck would cling to the entrance and ruin Spencer's business.
Looking at her, I felt nothing but bile rising in my throat.
She was repulsive.
I snapped.
I grabbed a heavy wooden chair and smashed it against a decorative pillar. Wood splintered and flew.
"You won't let me save my mother? Fine! Then I'll tear this place apart!"
"Let's see who breaks first!"
If she wouldn't let me leave, I would carve a path out.