Prepare the divorce and ruin your husband by Mark Twain 5
Chapter 5
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I stayed on the floor longer than I should have.
People stared. Some whispered. Some pretended I wasn’t there.
Ryle knelt beside me, tugging my sleeve with shaking hands. His eyes were full of fear. I forced myself up, every movement burning, and pulled him into my arms again.
Then I went back to the line.
Step by step.
When it was my turn, I signed the discharge papers without speaking. My hands shook so badly my name didn’t even look like mine.
We went home.
The house felt dead. No sound. No warmth. Just cold walls and air that smelled
empty. Ryle took off his shoes carefully, like he was afraid to make noise. Then he suddenly stopped and grabbed my hand hard. Too hard.
“Mom,” he whispered, not looking up. “You shouldn’t have come back.”
My heart dropped.
“What do you mean?”
He swallowed. His eyes were wet but he didn’t cry.
“When you show up, Dad gets angry. Then people get hurt. I don’t want them to hit you again. I can stay. I’m used to it.”
I broke.
I pulled him close, crying into his hair, holding him so tight my chest hurt. “I’m sorry,” I kept whispering. “I’m so sorry.”
He was eight. Fear raised him faster than love ever could.
Then my phone rang.
My parents.
“Come home now,” my mother snapped. “Bring the child.”
“Why?” I said, still holding Ryle.
“Don’t play dumb,” she barked. “If you don’t show up today, you’ll regret it.”
The call ended.
I didn’t argue. I took Ryle and went.
11:05 Wed, Jan 28
Their house was nothing like before. New gates. Guards. Expensive cars lined up like trophies. Power everywhere. That was where the Vanderbilt favor went.
The moment I stepped inside, my mother slapped me. Hard. My head snapped to the
side.
She spat at me.
“You shameless thing! How dare you upset Roxanne while she’s pregnant. Do you
want to kill her babies?”
Babies. Plural.
“You went online,” she screamed. “You made her bleed. She’s carrying twins. If anything happens, I’ll bury you myself.”
Ryle shook beside me. He bowed his head.
“I’m sorry, Grandma,” he whispered. “I’ll be good. Please don’t hit Mommy. Please don’t
hit me.”
Something inside me shattered.
My father kicked me in the stomach. I crashed to the floor, coughing blood.
“You should’ve stayed with your criminal lover,” he roared. “You ruined David and Roxanne’s happiness.”
The door opened.
Roxanne.
My mother’s face changed instantly. She shoved me aside and rushed to her.
“Are you scared? Did she hurt you?”
Roxanne saw me and stepped back like I was dangerous.
“Why is she here?” she asked softly. “Did she say bad things about me again? I never wanted to take her husband. I’m really sorry, sister.”
My parents shielded her immediately.
My father pointed at the door.
“Take your face and that child and get out.”
Roxanne cried quietly, hiding her face.
That was when I stopped crying.
I smiled. Small. Bitter.
A year of kidnapping hadn’t broken me like this. My family did it in minutes.
Then David arrived, gifts in his arms, men behind him filling the room with pressure. When he saw me, his face turned cold.
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“What are you doing here?”
Roxanne stepped in fast.”Please don’t be angry at her. She’s always hated me. She’s insecure and jealous. Now that you chose me, she can’t accept it.” She lowered her head. “I’ll apologize to her. Just don’t hate her because of me.”
I watched them… And finally understood. I was never their daughter. Never his wife. I was just the mistake they all agreed to erase.
I got home with Ryle.
The house was silent, empty in a way that made my chest ache. I put him down slowly, and he wandered over to the kitchen like a little ghost. I made him something to eat. He barely touched it, just stared at his plate while I sat across from him, tired to the bone, bruises burning under my clothes, arms still raw.
When he finally finished, I cleaned up, tucked him into bed, and kissed his forehead. His little body was warm, soft, and somehow all mine, but I felt every crack inside me
that hadn’t healed.
I collapsed onto the couch after. My phone buzzed. My lawyer.
“Divorce papers are ready. Needs signatures from you and David.”
I typed back, hands trembling. “Okay.”
Then the phone rang again. Colt Blackwood. My pulse hitched.
“Is
your divorce ready?” His voice was calm but sharp. “In five days I’ll get you out of that house. You and your son.”
“Yes,” I whispered. “I will make him sign.”
The weight in my chest eased a little. A small victory.
The next morning came David’s call. Cold. Sharp. The kind that made your bones ache before your mind could even think. He told me to go to the hotel. I left Ryle with the maid. I wanted to take him with me so badly, but I couldn’t. Not yet.
….
When I arrived, the room was bright with cameras and lights. Roxanne was there. My sister. The one everyone thought was sweet, fragile, and perfect. She had her fake smile plastered on, pink maternity dress hanging loose, eyes sparkling with the performance she always gave.
“You need to apologize,” she said, “In front of everyone. For ruining my name, for what you posted about me. Admit it.”
I looked at her, “I didn’t do anything wrong,” I said quietly. “You, as my husband mistress were the one who destroyed every-”
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Roxanne’s face twisted, panic slipping through her act. Isabella, why are you doing this? I know you hate me, but you’re the reason David ran to me! You cheated on him. You slept with other men! Now go ahead and tell the world what a disgusting sister you are, after seeing how perfect my life is with David and how you eagerly wanted to ruin it!”
Then she stumbled forward, arms reaching, and her flat belly slammed against the table. She bent over, white skirt turning red almost instantly.
“My babies!” she gasped.
David moved faster than I could, shoving me aside and scooping her up. “If anything happens to Roxanne and her children, you will pay,” he spat, and then he stormed out, bodyguards filling the room behind him.
Two of them grabbed me and pulled me toward the car. I didn’t resist. My legs were heavy, my body numb.
Roxanne’s crying bounced off the walls of the hospital corridor. “My babies! Please, David, don’t let anything happen! I can’t be alone if something goes wrong! The twins… it’s my fault. I just want to stay with them!”
The hallway finally went quiet. Then the door opened and David stepped out. His face was cold, sharper than ice, and I froze.
“Isabella,” he said, voice flat.
I swallowed hard, my throat dry.
“I didn’t think you had it in you to be this cruel,” he continued. “Get outside. Kneel. Say you’re sorry for what could have happened to Roxanne’s babies. Only then will you get your punishment.”
Before I could even think, two of his men grabbed me, dragging me forward. I hit the stone outside, knees scraping and freezing against the ground.
11:05 Wed, Jan 28
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