“And what do you mean my mind is dirty? Can you honestly say nothing between you two crossed the line?!”
Like I’d hit a nerve, his expression darkened instantly.
“Verity, I’ve thought for a long time that something was off with you. I couldn’t figure out why, ever since Kelsey became your sister, you’ve targeted her at every turn.
“Cutting her allowance, framing her, threatening her—and now, you even want to hurt her. So this is why. You’re just irrationally jealous!
“You’re truly vicious!”
I laughed, my eyes burning.
“Vicious?
“What exactly did I do?
“I built an entire home for you. I learned everything you liked. I endured all your indifference. And in the end, in your eyes, I’m vicious?l
“Who asked you to do all that? Who begged you?!”
Tucker snapped, his face flushed with anger and embarrassment.
I finally lost control, my voice shaking.
“Tucker, without me, you’re nothing—”
Suddenly, a smack reverberated in the room.
The slap landed.
Sharp. Brutal.
“Even without you, I live just fine! Verity, I didn’t build my career on you.”
He looked at me coldly, then picked Kelsey up and turned away.
I collapsed onto the floor, my ears ringing. I closed my eyes and let out a bitter smile.
The last trace of feeling in my heart scattered into nothing.
I didn’t know how much time passed before I slowly came back to myself.
The ringing faded. The living room was silent, lit only by the cold reflections of broken glass.
I pushed myself up, my palm stinging. When I looked down, I saw a cut on my wrist, blood already clotted along my fingers.
Just then, my phone vibrated.
It was a message from my lawyer.
[Ms. Severin, all divorce procedures have been completed today. Effective immediately.]
I stared at the message for a long time.
My chest was strangely calm.
The taut string inside me finally snapped.
I stood up slowly and went to the bathroom to clean the wound—rinsing it, disinfecting it, wrapping it carefully. Every movement was steady.
The person in the mirror looked pale, eyes swollen and red, but not a single tear fell.
I returned to the living room and took out the wrinkled abortion report from my bag.
I placed it in the most visible spot on the couch, pressed under a cushion.
No note. No explanation.
If he saw it, then he saw it.
If he didn’t, that was fine, too.
I pulled out the suitcase I’d packed long ago. There was barely anything inside.