“That is just paint. The kids were drawing. It did not wash off yet. You disappeared for a year and failed as a mother! Roxanne stepped in out of kindness. And this is how you repay her? With accusations and ingratitude?”
I laughed. It came out broken.
Paint?
Ryle looked up at Roxanne.
His eyes were pure terror. Not love. Not comfort. Fear. The kind that lives deep and never leaves.
I looked back at David, tears finally spilling.
“Are you blind?” I whispered. “Look at him! Really look. He's terrified of her. He's terrified of you. How can you stand there and say this is a game? How can you be this stupid?!”
David hesitated.
For just a second. His eyes lingered on Ryle. Doubt flickered and Roxanne saw it.
She suddenly sobbed out loud.
“I only wanted to belong,” she cried. “I thought if I treated Ryle well, if I played the role properly, I could be part of this family. But I was dreaming. I will never belong. People will always see me as an nothing. Forget it. Forget the wedding. I am a joke.”
She ripped the veil off her head, shoved it into David’s chest, and ran toward the bedroom, covering her face.
The room exploded.
Everyone shouted at once.
“She fuvking ruined it!”
“What a cursed woman.”
“She brings bad luck wherever she goes.”
David watched Roxanne disappear, his face dark and furious. Then he turned on me.
“Are you proud of yourself?” he barked. “The wedding was just a formality. It means nothing. You could have let it pass. But no, you had to make a show.”
He sneered at Ryle.
“And your son,” he added coldly. “The child you raised yourself. Crying and kneeling like he was abused. Very convincing. He is quite the actor for eight. If he ever wins an award, he should thank you.”
Then he walked away to chase Roxanne.
My parents did not say a word in my defense.
My mother slapped my face and my father shoved me hard to the floor.
“All your fault! Don't you know your sister was now ptegnant with twins?!"
“You could not even keep your husband.”
“Shameless woman.”
I did not explain.
I was too tired.
I dropped to my knees and wrapped my arms around Ryle, pulling him into my chest. My scars pressed against his small body. We were both shaking.
“It's okay,” I whispered over and over. “Don't be afraid. Mama is here... I am taking you away. No one will ever hurt you again. I swear it.”
Tears soaked his hair.
Right there, I took out my phone.
I texted my lawyer. One line.
Prepare the divorce.