He'd checked every single box for their idea of the perfect son-in-law.
I'd always thought that if we worked hard together for a few years, we'd finally get to share a life.
I never expected that the only one working hard was me.
Max had checked out long ago, moving another woman into the home I'd paid for.
His heart hadn't been mine for a long time.
"You don't need to bring up divorce."
I took a deep breath and contacted a lawyer to draw up the papers.
"Max, I'm the one saying it first."
Max's back went rigid. He turned slowly, staring at me like I'd spoken a foreign language.
"Madeline, how far are you going to take this tantrum before you stop?"
"Quit making a scene. Men like me are a dying breed."
"You really think you'll find someone better after divorcing me?"
"Every guy out there is the same."
His voice dripped with absolute certainty.
He had one thing right.
Maybe the men out there were all the same, every last one of them.
But if I went through with this divorce, I had no intention of looking again.
Max still wasn't done. He leaned in closer, his mockery curling around me like smoke.
"Besides, who's going to want a divorced woman? Seriously, think about it."