Walking Out On My Husband Chapter 03

Walking Out On My Husband Chapter 03

“No, you go on back. I’ll just stay here at the hospital for the night.”

Her fingers curled away from mine. She spoke fast, forcing out a smile.

“Don’t worry about me. I can take care of myself.”

Before she finished, her expression changed. She reached out, panicked.

“Oh, sweetheart, don’t cry. Don’t cry.”

But I couldn’t stop the tears.

Mom stared at me for a long moment, helpless.

“Fine. I’ll go back with you.”

In the car, her hand gripped mine the whole way. Like she was bracing for something dangerous.

At the front door, I smoothed back her gray hair.

“Don’t be scared,” I said softly. “Just follow me.”

I pushed the door open. Lily was already sitting on the couch.

The three of them were huddled together, laughing and chatting.

When they saw me and Mom, they all went quiet.

Julian froze. His brow creased instinctively.

“Why is she back?”

He didn’t see the blood on Mom’s forehead. Didn’t see her dirty clothes.

His first words were: why is she back.

Mom shrank. Her dry, cracked lips tried to say something.

I cut her off.

“This is her home. She’s staying tonight.”

Under a room full of calculating stares, I held her hand and led her to the guest room.

“Wait.”

Julian caught up with me. His face was dark.

“You’re bringing someone home without telling me first?”

“Did you tell me when you brought someone home?”

He blinked. Fired back immediately.

“That’s different!”

I shook my head.

“You’re right. It is different. She’s my mother. Those two are nobody.”

The room went dead silent.

Mom was on the verge of tears. I rubbed the back of her hand. Telling her not to be afraid.

Lily suddenly stood up, eyes red, looking at me.

“Chloe, I’m the one intruding. I’m sorry. I’ll leave right now.”

But faster than her was Julian’s hand.

He grabbed Lily’s arm. Turned to me, furious.

“Chloe, knock it off!”

I looked at him. Watched him take a stranger’s side to humiliate me.

Seven years of marriage. In that moment, I was done.

Without another word, I pulled Mom into the bedroom and shut the door.

A tear landed on the back of my hand.

Mom’s face was streaked with tears, pale with guilt.

“It’s all my fault. I’m the reason you’re fighting.”

She raised me alone. And now, because of me, she was being humiliated like this.

I wrapped my arms around her. All I felt was the shame of not having protected her.

“I’ll leave tomorrow. You and Julian talk it out. Don’t fight.”

But she didn’t understand. This marriage was already over.

My phone buzzed. The lawyer I’d hired sent over the divorce papers. Asked if anything needed adjusting.