Page 101 of The Rebound Plan

I don’t rise to the bait.

“Maybe we need to do some of that couples counselling Haler’s doing to make his wife happy.”

I don’t like the way Max says that.

And I really don’t want to go to therapy with him.

I don’t trust you enough to do that, I want to say. Instead I just shake my head.

“No.” He shoves his bowl away. “No, my wife doesn’t want to fix our marriage.”

“What do you think therapy would that accomplish?”

He doesn’t have an answer for that.

“I wanted to repair whatever is broken between us for a long time.”

“You,” he snaps. “You are what is broken between us.”

I gasp. “Excuse me? I’m not the one fucking someone else right now. You want to try counselling? That will be the first thing I bring up, youasshole.”

“You still have a higher number than I ever will,” he sneers.

Like a fucking child.

“I tried for a long time,” I whisper, shaking with fury now.

But I’m done trying.

“So what’s your plan?” He crosses his arms over his chest. “You think you get to stay here in the house I pay for?”

This is exactly what Lauren warned me about. “Whoareyou? Do you think you can threaten me?”

“I’m your husband, and you don't fucking act like you know that.”

His arrogance is incredible. But now that the truth is spilling out, I refuse to back down. “I know exactly who you are. You are a coward. You are weak and you need me, and you’re mad that I’m removing myself from being in service to you. My husband? Trymaster. That’s what you wanted to be to me. No fucking thank you. I wanted to be your partner.”

He goes very still. “Is that what you think?”

I try to soften my voice, because I’m probably never going to have another chance to say any of this. “I am grateful to you for the life that we have shared. But as I told you that night, I want out of our marriage. I cannot be with you anymore. And you’re trying to villainize me for that, when I’ve never done anything but try to help you. Even as our relationship has imploded, I’ve saved you. I haven’t heard anything more about Francois’ Ice League! I saved you from something embarrassing, because that’s what a good wife does. And that will forever be our secret. I keep all of your secrets even though I don't love you anymore.”

He stares at me, his eyes getting hard and cold. Deep down, Max is a liar and he does not live in honesty. It’s probably asking too much for him to listen to my truth.

“I assume you know how to take yourself off of the WAG group chat.” His words are intentionally sharp, and slice deep with precision.

“Max. I want to do this in a civil way and?—”

“The most civil for me would be you removing yourself from my life as soon as fucking possible. You have outlasted your usefulness. And since you don’t want to go to counselling, let me take this opportunity to remind you of the contractual limits of our prenup. Also, it’s my understanding that we need to be separated for a year here in Canada before you can apply for divorce. So I suggest,wife, that you start looking for a job. It might be a challenge, given that the only experience you have is on your back, but?—”

I’ve taken a swing at his face before I realize it. My palm connects with his cheek at the same moment his hand comes up and grips my wrist.

He doesn’t move.

His gaze glitters. “But there is another option. If you would be willing to reconsider helping with Dumas.”

“You can’t be serious.”

“I’m very serious.”

---