He Scored My Life A 4 And Hers A 10 Chapter 09

He Scored My Life A 4 And Hers A 10 Chapter 09

Derek was just stepping out of my mom’s room when I arrived.

He saw me and his face lit up.

“Laurel-”

I didn’t let him finish.

I grabbed his arm, dragged him to the stairwell at the end of the hall, and slapped him hard across the face. His head snapped to the side, shock all over his face.

“Why are you still showing up in front of my mother?”

“You nearly let her die last time. Did you come back to finish the job?”

He shook his head frantically, stumbling over his words.

“No! That’s not-I just wanted to make things right with Mom-”

“Don’t you dare call her Mom.”

My voice cut like glass.

“Where were you when she was dying? What did you do when I sent you the critical condition

notice?”

“You thought I was lying about my own mother’s life. You turned a life-or-death situation into some kind of group poll for your own amusement.”

“You’ve always been like this, Derek. You think the whole world revolves around you.”

“And now you just show up, going behind my back to see my mom, acting like a few gifts and hospital visits will erase everything.”

“It won’t. I’m never forgiving you. And I’m never coming back.”

“Your guilt means nothing to me.”

Derek’s eyes went red and glassy. He grabbed my sleeve like it was the only thing keeping him

tethered.

“No, Laurel, please. I know I messed up. But we can start over!”

“Our baby-he wouldn’t want his parents to split up. Please, just give me one more chance.”

I let out a cold, empty laugh.

“You abandoned me for Sloane while I was losing our baby. Whatever love you’re trying to show me now? It’s already dead.”

You went to her dogs’ hundred-day party and told me to put off our baby’s memorial. My child doesn’t need a father who left him behind.”

He tried to speak again, but my glare nailed him in place.

I looked him over slowly. Then I laughed.

“You’ve scored me so many times, Derek. Now it’s my turn.”

“Your marriage? Zero.”

“Your remorse? Zero.”

“Your love? Zero.”

“People and things with such low scores aren’t worth my time.”

“So congratulations, Derek. You’re officially removed from my schedule.”

“Don’t let me see you again. Not for the rest of my life.”

I left him there, his cries echoing through the stairwell.

The next day, I transferred my mom to a different hospital.

I heard Derek came back looking for her. Multiple times.

He kept wandering the hospital halls like a ghost until security finally escorted him out.

Maybe it was guilt eating at him, but the project investment got a new liaison after that.

And a month later, my attorney called with the news. The divorce had gone through.

Derek’s company was in trouble. He couldn’t afford to keep dragging out the legal battle.

Another month passed. The project funding dried up, but we found new investors quickly.

And with that, the last remaining ties between Derek and me were severed for good.

The day the project succeeded, I repaid the three hundred thousand dollars to Professor Grant.

Then I visited my baby’s grave.

A tiny wildflower had pushed through the crack in the headstone, swaying in the breeze.

Free. Untethered.

It didn’t answer to anyone’s scores or judgments.

Neither did he.

Neither did I.

We were both finally free.