He Brought Me a College Guy, Saying I’d Never Touch Him—But I Kept Him Chapter 04

He Brought Me a College Guy, Saying I’d Never Touch Him—But I Kept Him Chapter 04

The living room went quiet.

I placed the signed divorce papers on the table. “Let’s get this done first.”

Nathaniel froze, his eyes landing on my signature.

I knew what he was thinking.

The old me would have ripped the papers up with tears in my eyes.

Would have cried, “Nathaniel, who said you could just walk out on me?”

It was never easy, there was always a fight.

He looked up at me. Still nonchalant, still casual. “What’s the rush? I said we’d do it after Cassidy’s pregnancy is stable.”

“I can’t wait,” I said. “Two o’clock. Are you coming or not?”

A muscle in his jaw twitched.

“Isabella.” He pushed the papers back to the middle of the table. “Are you out of your mind?”

“Or maybe you’re worried I’ll wake up,” I said, “change my mind, and tear them up again?”

The tension stretched for a few seconds.

Then Cassidy came downstairs. “Isabella, please don’t rush him. I just don’t want my baby to be called a bastard.”

“Divorce can wait until my pregnancy is stable.” Her eyes reddened as she spoke.

She looked more torn up about this broken marriage than I did.

Nathaniel glanced at her.

That pitiful act, combined with her “don’t rush,” cut right into his fragile pride.

Nathaniel Hawthorne wasn’t the kind of man who got pushed into divorce.

“Isabella, you think I’m afraid to sign?” He laughed suddenly and grabbed the pen.

Derek panicked. “Nate.”

“Shut up.” Nathaniel didn’t even look up.

He signed, then slammed the pen down.

That trademark smile came back.

“I said I’d do it, and I did. Everyone here is a witness.”

“Once Cassidy has the baby, we’ll get remarried.”

He stood and leaned close to my ear. His voice was certain, intimate.

“You’re the woman I clawed back from death’s door. None of those other people out there even come close to you.”

“This baby will be yours to raise. You’re the only one worthy of that. Got it?”

I laughed quietly. So this was how he “spoiled” me.

I didn’t say anything. I just picked up the suitcase I’d packed earlier and walked out the door.

Cassidy’s soft voice drifted out after me. “Nate… what if she doesn’t come back?”

Nathaniel had a cigarette in his mouth. Unlit. He didn’t answer.

The original plan was to stay legally separated but live together.

I still had the right to live in this house.

Leaving wasn’t part of his plan.

But it wouldn’t change the outcome.

He looked down at Cassidy. “You little snake. Now that she’s gone, you must be pretty happy.”

“Of course not.” Cassidy pouted. “Always teasing me. I was raised better than to break up a marriage.”

She looked down and touched her belly. “I’m doing all of this for my baby.”