Page 73 of Love at First Ink

But Marisol no longer cared. She’d deal with her mother soon. One evil at a time.

For the first time ever when Marisol glared at Archie, he looked uncomfortable. Scared, even. Good. He should be.

Marisol poked him hard in the chest, emphasizing who she was talking about. “You have been nothing but a menace since coming into our lives. Newsflash, Archie, I never loved youand never will. This pathetic attempt to keep me tied to you ends today.”

“I don’t?—”

“I’m not finished talking!” Marisol interrupted. She had never seen Archie look so flabbergasted, his mouth slightly ajar. “Whatever this weird relationship you and my mother have to try to keep me married to you, it ends today. You will sign the papers, or I will go after everything you are worth. Trust me, you won’t survive that.”

This was something she should have done a long time ago. For too long, she had allowed this man to string her along, and for what? To put off the disappointment and fight she knew would come from her mother? She couldn’t live like this anymore.

“I’m done accepting shit I don’t want just because it makes it easier on everyone else,” Marisol continued. “Our marriage should have never happened. I risked my relationship with my sister just to marry a man who is as interesting as unseasoned chicken and thinks three minutes in bed is a long time.”

Marisol didn’t mean to say the last part, but she didn’t regret it. Especially when Lola nearly doubled over in laughter. Her mother, on the other hand, looked ready to smite her where she stood. It was finally time to address the woman who had been at the center of her problems for as long as she could remember.

“And you,” Marisol said, rounding on her mother. “You’re done controlling me. I’m done trying to earn your love and being terrified of messing up. You're my mother! You should just love me. I shouldn’t have to earn it or make myself into something I’m not. But all you care about is our image and how others perceive us. Well, look around, Mother.” Marisolgestured around the room at the curious eyes. It was like watching a train wreck; you just couldn’t look away.

“Your worst fear is people seeing us as less than perfect. Reality check, Mother, we are far from perfect. Never have been. And if your friendships depend upon perfection, those aren’t true friendships. I can’t keep feeding into your delusions. I’m so damn tired trying to be the perfect daughter and feeling like the lowest person in the world.”

Luciana looked around the room nervously, a tight smile on her face as if she were trying to reassure everyone—again only caring about what others thought of her. “Marisol, honey, I understand this is difficult, but let’s talk about this in private.”

“You don’t understand, Mom. There’s no more discussing it. I’m done. I love you, but I’m so damn tired of trying to earn your love. I deserve better. As of right now, I don’t have a place for you in my life.”

The words hurt. Hurt a lot. But there was also a certain freedom in them. Her mother’s watery eyes almost made her fold and take back everything she just said, but she didn’t think she’d have the strength to cut her mother off twice. No, she had to remain firm in her resolve.

“And Archie,” she said, glaring at him again. The bastard looked ready to bolt, and she hoped he did after this. “If I don’t have the divorce papers signed and to my lawyer by the end of this week, I will end you.”

With that dramatic—but very real—declaration, Marisol turned on her heels and stormed for the door. Lola reached for her, but she was barely hanging on by a thread. The only reason she wasn’t a sobbing mess was due to the adrenaline coursing through her veins. She feared if she stopped and letherself process everything that just transpired, she’d be useless in helping Cisco out.

“Marisol, honey, wait!” her father’s loud voice rose above all else. His words slowed her down.

She was tempted to turn around and let him take care of everything, but a small part of her also blamed him for allowing this to go on for as long as it did. He had to have seen the way her mother treated their daughters. He would intervene at times, but it wasn’t enough.

“Congratulations, Daddy. Sorry for how it turned out,” she said instead.

“Please, Marisol. Wait.”

But she didn’t wait. She pushed past the lingering guests at the front door. With Cisco’s keys in her purse, she tracked down his car. A few times, she heard her name being called, but she could have also been imagining it. Regardless, no one stopped her from getting into the car and completely breaking down.

It was like the dam broke.

She couldn’t control her tears any more than she could control the growing ache in her heart. If there was ever a moment she wished she could do over, it would be to never have attended this party. That way, the man she loved wouldn’t be on his way to jail. What the hell did Marisol even do? She had never been in a situation like this before. She was crying so hard, she could barely hold her phone to search for the closest jail.

She was far too distracted and her vision too blurry with tears to notice two figures approaching her car. When the driver’s side door opened, she screamed, throwing her phone at the person. She heard someone curse, but didn’t hear her phone hit the ground. They must have caught it.

“Out, Marisol. You can’t drive.”

That voice was familiar…

“Javi?” she sobbed. It took another moment for her vision to focus on the man in front of her, but, sure enough, her brother-in-law stood there with his hand out and a grave expression on his face as he looked her over.

“Marisol, please let Javi drive. I’ll sit in the back with you.” Her sister popped up behind her husband.

“I can’t…” she hiccupped. She was probably a snotty mess, but, honestly, Marisol didn’t have it in her to care. “Cisco…he needs me. I have to?—”

“I know. Javi will take us there. But you need to get out. Please, Marisol.” This time her sister leaned down. If she didn’t know better, Marisol would have sworn she saw tears in her sister’s eyes as well. She didn’t understand why, though.

Slowly, she nodded. Her body shook as Lola helped her out of the driver’s seat and into the back. True to her word, Lola got in next to her, holding Marisol close. She had a fleeting thought that she was the big sister and shouldn’t have her little sister comfort her or see her like this, but it was too late. The tears wouldn’t stop coming.

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