"You know I hate being provoked," she said. "Especially by your dogs—one of them was a pregnant dog." She shrugged. "Consider it an appetizer. If you can't control your dogs, I don't mind roasting one for dinner."
Red flared in my father's eyes and his grip tightened.
"You think I won't put you in front of the police?" he snapped.
"You'd need proof to have them take me away." Mom shrugged.
Before the fire, Mom had people wipe every surveillance tape. My father raged; he slammed her down onto the coffee table. The crash of broken glass echoed like the breaking of the life I'd always known.
Then he pulled something out—what everyone else called a gun—and pressed it on to her temple. His voice was vicious.
"Gianna," he said, "men are like this. After being together for too long, they cheat. Compared to those surrounded by women every day, I’ve already been pretty good. And didn’t I promise you? The title of Mrs. Pearson will always belong to you." He stared at my mother. "Bella couldn't threaten you—so why do you keep pushing her?"
I'd seen what a gun could do. I bit my protector's hand hard enough to draw blood, wrenched free, and barreled between them to stand in front of Mom.
"Dad," I shouted, every inch of me trembling, "you're wrong. I would never cheat. I would never betray Mom!"
Dad's face froze when he saw me. The anger twisted in his expression faltered, and he quickly lowered the gun.
Mom pulled me tightly into her arms, her whole body trembling.
She must be terrified, I thought.
I wrapped my arms around her, copying the way she usually comforted me, patting her back clumsily.
"Mom, don't be scared. Justin is here."
But her trembling only grew worse. She looked up at Dad, eyes full of despair, and held out a divorce agreement.
"Steven, let's divorce. Justin will stay with me."
Dad didn't even hesitate. He tore the papers into shreds and shoved them into the trash.
"We agreed on the day we married—between us, there will never be divorce. Only death."
His voice softened a little as he continued, almost weary.
"This was my fault. I shouldn't have let Bella move in next door without warning you—it provoked you. So you don't need to apologize to her. I'll find a way to atone for you."
Without another glance at us, Dad turned and left.
Watching his back as he walked away, I felt something shift in our family. Something broken that couldn't be put back together.