Just then, a message popped up on my phone. It was from my lawyer. The divorce papers were ready.
I printed two copies of it. One for him, one for me.
Not long after, Alfie barged into the room.
Before I could react, he was already demanding answers.
“What the hell is this?” His voice burned with anger.
“You hate the cold. Why would you suddenly go outside?” He took a step closer. “Did you do it just to make Shirley look bad?”
Clarissa's POV
“Are you happy now?” Alfie snapped. “She says she’s leaving! It’s freezing outside, and she’s just a young girl. Clarissa, you’ve really let me down.”
Then he grabbed my arm. “Let’s go. You’re going to apologize to her.”
I didn’t want to, but Alfie didn’t care. He dragged me out of the room.
In the living room, my mother-in-law and sister-in-law glared at me like I was some kind of criminal.
Alfie’s brows furrowed. “Where is she?”
His mother scoffed and said coldly, “She ran off.”
My sister-in-law sneered, her voice dripping with sarcasm. “Thanks to someone, she couldn’t even stay another minute. What a nightmare! Can’t even have a peaceful New Year.”
“As if causing trouble all the time wasn’t enough, you also have to drive a wedge between Alfie and Mom. And now, on a rare holiday when we finally get to be home, you just have to make things worse,” she added, rolling her eyes upward.
Alfie yanked me toward the door, determined to go after Shirley. His grip was firm, leaving no room for resistance.
“When we find her, you better apologize,” he ordered. “How could you be like this? You just had to drive her away, didn’t you? And now, in this freezing weather, she’s out there all alone.”
I had had enough. I ripped my arm away from him.
“Oh, now you care about the cold?” I shot back. “Did you ever stop to think that I’m carrying your child?”
Alfie let out a sharp, humorless laugh. “Wow, Clarissa, you’re even using the baby to threaten me now?” His gaze hardened. “But I’m telling you right now, I don’t care what you say. You’re going to apologize.”
He shoved me into the car, not caring how rough he was. My stomach twisted in pain because of it, cold sweat beading on my forehead.
But Alfie barely spared me a glance. Instead, he let out a mocking chuckle. “Oh, cut the act. Didn’t the doctor say the baby was perfectly healthy last time? But the second something happens to Shirley, you’re suddenly in pain?”