Page 9 of Starting Over with You
His eyes widen as his jaw goes slack. His face drains of color as he sputters, “W-w-what?”
“My lawyer has drawn everything up. Given that we had a prenup, it’s pretty cut-and-dried since we didn’t reach the required twenty years of marriage and I’m not owed anything. Nor do I want anything.”
He blinks, his eyes searching mine. Silence stretches between us, neither of us moving as my heart pounds in my chest. So many times, I’ve thought about this moment. I thought I’d be excited, but really, I’m just hurt. I’d loved this man, and while I don’t love him anymore, it hurts that he ruined what I thought we were working for. A life of love. When he doesn’t reach for the envelope, I raise a brow, and then his shoulders fall. His voice is rough, full of emotion, as he whispers, “You know.”
It’s not a question, and the tension between us thickens. I won’t let myself cry over this bastard. I did that enough. “About the two sons and daughter you fathered back in California? Yeah, I know.”
He looks away like the coward he is. He takes a deep breath. “Don’t do this.”
I can’t help it; I laugh. He can’t even apologize.
He isn’t sorry.
You’re doing the right thing.
“You have some balls, Stratford.”
His eyes snap to mine. “I’ll lose my trust.”
I knew it. I fucking knew it. “I don’t care,” I say, pressing the papers into his chest. “Sign them.”
“Please, we only have a year left. I’ll give you half.”
I’m already shaking my head before he even finishes his sentence. “I don’t want anything from you. I’d rather our boys have the trust than you.”
His eyes fall shut as he pinches the bridge of his nose. He’s overflowing with distress, and I almost feel bad for him, but then I remember he has a whole other family outside of the one we built.
Fucker.
“Does she know about me?” I ask, even though I told myself not to. He only looks at me, sinking his teeth into his bottom lip, and while before, that used to turn me on, it does nothing but disgust me now. “She does.”
He nods. “She’s always known.”
I feel bile rising in my throat. “And she’s fine with a part-time father?”
He looks away, his throat working as he admits, “She knows about the trust, and I planned on asking for a divorce once the funds were released.”
I shake my head. I knew it. “Well, I set fire to that plan, huh?”
His eyes snap to mine. “Why are you doing this?”
I gawk at him, blinking. “You cheated on me. For years. You have a full-ass other family, Stratford.”
He shakes his head. “I knew he would tell you.”
I bring in my brows. “What?”
“Flint. He told you, right?”
My eyes widen, and all I feel is uncontrollable anger. “You toldourson?”
Stratford takes a step back, his eyes full of confusion. “No. He walked in when I was on the phone with Summer and heard her call me Daddy.” My stomach plummets. Now I know they found out from him. “He asked me what was going on, and I told him the truth. I asked him not to tell you, but I see that didn’t work out.”
I just stare at him. “You fucking bastard!”
“It isn’t my fault?—”
“This isallyour fault,” I sneer, my face turning red with anger. “I’ve known for six years.”
