purpose-”
Before she could finish, Caleb slapped her again, sending her crashing to the floor.
She stared at him in shock and bit her lip hard. “Cay! If my parents were still around, they’d be heartbroken to see how you’re treating me.”
Caleb stood there, fists clenched, but in the end, he didn’t hit her again. He let out a heavy sigh. It seemed like he only remembered I was there and reached for my hand.
“Jeanette, p–please… Don’t blame Bri, okay?”
I forced a smile, feeling defeated. As I’d expected, Brianna’s parents‘ past kindness toward him was his weak spot. Even after learning the truth, his first reaction when he saw me was still to beg for her.
I opened my mouth, but it took me a moment to realize I was actually speaking. “Caleb, let’s get a divorce.”
Caleb’s eyes filled with tears. He grabbed my hand and shook it like he was desperate. “I misunderstood you, Jeanette. I was wrong. Can we not go through with it? I love you. I really do.”
I jerked my hand away and stepped back, locking eyes with him. “You don’t love me, Caleb. You love
1/2
Brianna. I’m holding you responsible for our kid, and he’s on the hook for the arson, too.”
Brianna collapsed back against the wall.
I didn’t even look her way. I turned and walked out.
2008
Our house was burned to ashes, so I found a random hotel and checked in. I had barely closed my eyes when someone started banging on the door. I opened it to find Caleb standing there, looking drained.
“Can we talk, Jeanette?” he asked.
I looked at him and gave a small smile. “There’s nothing to talk about except the divorce.”
No sooner had I said that than his eyes welled up again. He pushed his way into the room, his voice shaky with emotion. “I messed up, Jeanette. Can you forgive me? Let’s go back to how things were.” I sighed, feeling defeated. “And what about Brianna?”
Caleb stared at me blankly.
I continued, “I already heard it before I left. She’s pregnant with your kid.”
His body was trembling. After a moment, he spoke, like he was testing the waters, “I’ll make her get an abortion. It was a mistake. I know it’s too late for excuses, Jeanette, but please, just give me another chance.”
I shook my head again. When I was left to burn in that fire, and when he kicked our baby to death, we never got a second chance, did we?
I used to believe if I loved Caleb enough, he’d finally see my worth. But what was the point?
Those happy times were long gone. He wasn’t the one who made me laugh anymore. And I wasn’t the same naive woman who let people walk all over me. There was no turning back.
I turned, walked to the table, grabbed the divorce agreement I’d just printed, and handed it to him. ” Sign it.”
Caleb snatched it from my hand, tears pouring down his face.
“Do we really have to go this far, Jeanette? We used to love each other so much…” he choked up, struggling to get the words out.
I felt nothing but disgust. He used to be so fearless, like nothing could touch him. Now, he couldn’t even bring himself to sign his name.
Caleb looked me over for a few seconds before slumping in defeat. “I swear, I didn’t know the truth. I didn’t realize you were being set up. It was all Brianna’s lies, Jeanette. I just didn’t see it…”
