Alric suddenly spoke again, “One son is enough. I never wanted other kids stealing the love that belongs to him. You clung to that uterus and that lost child because you thought pumping out more kids would secure your place as Mrs. Fenmoor.”
Alric stared coldly.
In that moment, I finally realized: Alric had never once truly seen me. Never tried to understand me.
So, I looked him straight in the eye and said quietly, “Alric, you really think you’ve got it all figured out. But I never cared about being Mrs. Fenmoor.”
“And I was never stupid enough to think having more babies would keep a man who didn’t want to stay.”
Seraphina stepped beside him, putting on her usual performance.
“I’m so sorry, Lyra. It’s all my fault… I never should’ve come back. I should’ve just died abroad.”
She turned to Alric, tears glistening her eyes. “If Velmyra hadn’t gone to war, I would’ve stayed away. I know I’m a burden. I know I made mistakes… but I only ever wanted to help. I stayed up all night trying to figure out the safest surgery plan for your wife.”
“I didn’t know my assistant would switch the ultrasound results… I never meant for this to happen…”
She wept like she had been the one cut open and left barren.
Alric, filled with pity, pulled her into his arms. “I know. We grew up together. You’ve always cared about others. You didn’t know your assistant would mess up. It’s not your fault.”
I let out a sarcastic scoff and threw down the divorce papers I’d printed days ago.
“Sign it. Save the sob story for when I'm not around. I’m not interested.”
Alric froze. The moment his eyes landed on the papers, his face darkened—twice over.
“When did you even print this? Don’t tell me you had these ready the second Fina came back? You really couldn’t tolerate her for even a second?”
I glanced at the two of them who were still holding each other like nothing had happened.
I smiled bitterly. “No. It’s not me who couldn’t tolerate her. It’s you two who couldn’t tolerate me. Who am I to reject anyone when I was already being pushed out?”
I swept my gaze around the room, looking at every piece of furniture. “This house—everything in it is decorated to her taste. Why didn’t you just let her move in as the lady of the house?”
Smack!
The sound of Alric’s slap cracked through the room.
My face whipped to the side, stinging. His raised hand trembled in the air as if he couldn’t believe what he’d just done.