My injuries still ached. I stood up straight, holding the suitcase tightly.
“We’re already divorced. There’s no reason for me to stay here.”
“I don’t want anything else. Just give me back the shares from my dowry.”
Michael looked like he still wanted me to stay, but I didn’t care anymore.
“To avoid upsetting Regina,” I added.
“It’s better if none of my things are left behind.”
That finally got him moving. He went to the safe, unlocked it and began rummaging through it. After a while, he pulled out the contract. It was a crumpled and dirty paper from under the corner of the table.
He laughed awkwardly.
“Last time, Regina and I were playing in the study … I used it to stop the table from wobbling.”
I took the contract and slowly tried to flatten it. My hands were shaking.
Tears fell before I could stop them.
“Michael … you’ve gone too far.”
We were married. I gave everything for this marriage.
Even though the Cooke Family’s business wasn’t as big as the Purnell Family’s, it was still my parents’ life’s work. My mother gave me everything she had before she died, hoping it would make my future better in the Purnell Family.