"You know why she got pregnant?"
"That day, she and I went to meet a client. In the car, I tried to kiss her."
"She was going to let me, too."
"But then you called."
"She picked up, started talking to you, and pushed me away."
"That pissed me off. So that night, I had some coworkers get her drunk on purpose. Then I took her to a hotel, same as I always did."
"In bed, I held her. She thought I was you. Kept calling your name."
"I played along. I whispered, 'Let me take care of you tonight.'"
"I undressed her while she was still calling for you. And then I had my way with her."
Tristan doubled over laughing.
"Here's the best part. The whole time she was enjoying it, she kept moaning your name."
"Isn't that hilarious? Sleeping with another man, but crying out for her husband."
"And for me? God, that made it even better."
My fist connected with his face.
Blood spilled from the corner of Tristan's mouth as he hit the ground.
"Godfrey Simmons! He came here out of the goodness of his heart to bring you back, and you hit him?!"
"Daddy, Uncle Tristan bought me a toy car! Why did you hit him? Waaah..."
Marina walked over with Nathan in tow.
Nathan clutched a toy car to his chest and planted himself in front of Tristan, shielding him. He said I was a bad daddy.
And just like that, I understood.
Tristan had planned this.
But what chilled me to the bone wasn't Marina. It was my son.
Marina stared at me. "After you left this morning, Nathan cried and refused to go to school. Tristan took him to the children's park for the whole morning and bought him that toy car."
"Then he got worried something might have happened to you and offered to come find you."
"He was trying to do a good thing. And you did this to him?"
Right on cue, Tristan whimpered, "Ms. Pruitt, my face really hurts."
Marina's expression softened with concern. She cupped his face gently, then helped him to his feet.
"Apologize to him. Now!"
Marina glared at me, the words grinding through her teeth.
"Daddy, say sorry to Uncle Tristan! Hurry!"
"Mommy says Uncle Tristan is a good person and you're the bad guy!"
I laughed. So this was how Marina was raising our son.
Before I could get a word out, Marina signaled the bodyguards behind her. They seized me and forced me to the ground.
She grabbed the back of my head and slammed my face into Tristan's body. Once. Twice. Three times.