“Show my daughter some respect!” Harriot scoffed. “I know that’s a hard concept for you since you’ve failed to give her any. But now is the time for you to stop being a selfish bastard and think of someone other than yourself.”

I didn’t have a reply, nor was one required. She was right, of course. That whole time, I had only been concerned for myself and the repercussions for me.

On that note, Phil wrenched the door open, phone raised in his hand. He ignored me completely, attention spared only for his wife.

“Alexis has left town with Alicia. She’s not coming back.”

No. No. No. No.

Everything ached. Everything.

Eyes narrowed and condemning, Harriot turned her back on me and stalled in the archway. “Owen, get off my lawn. You are no longer welcome here.”

With the closing of their front door came the severing of my final connection to Alexis, her absence resounding in the wake of the bomb I had dropped on our marriage.

Chapter 5

ALEXIS

We drove for hours, only stopping if absolutely necessary.

I was a turbulent, emotional mess, flipping from uncontrollable weeping to wallowing silence to angry threats. Nothing helped. Especially the talk with my parents.

I didn’t have to call because they’d had a visit from Owen. They were blowing up Alicia’s phone—probably after finding out I’d abandoned mine. They were worried, and rightfully so.

In all honesty, they were the most supportive parents a girl could ask for, but they were also big on communication, always wanting to talk things out. Which I most definitely did not want to do.

I demanded a no-contact rule with my soon-to-be ex-husband. Do not talk about those lying sacks of shit. Do not mention those lying sacks of shit. Do not even say their names in my presence, or you’ll find yourself promptly added to the blocked list in my life.

Some might have thought I was being immature or even selfish. I called it survival. There was no other way for me to push through, or I would truly crumble.

Why did those disloyal assholes deserve closure? All they wanted was to make themselves feel better. Well, I would never give them that. All they wanted was to take from me. Hadn’t they taken enough?

Sensing my unhinged state, my parents and sister relented and didn’t mention them again. They kept their promise, and in doing so, I kept my sanity—well, what was left of it.

We settled into Alicia’s apartment in the early hours in the morning, the city noise and blinding lights unfamiliar yet so welcome.

I got into bed next to my sister. Alicia fell asleep instantly after letting our parents know we’d arrived safely. I, however, was beyond wired, rest evading me due the barrage of negative thoughts.

Owen and Everly abandoned me.

Betrayed me.