The Secret in My Husband’s Sofa Chapter 01

The Secret in My Husband’s Sofa Chapter 01 The Last Straw

After my husband had a custom couch built, he couldn’t get enough of it.

He slept on it every night and wouldn’t let me lay a finger on it.

I’d had enough.

At our daughter’s christening party, I came right out and asked for a divorce.

Every face in the room turned toward me, eyes wide with shock.

My husband took it a step further, splashing his wine right into my face. “Olivia, have you lost your mind? I never cheated. I never even looked at another woman. You want a divorce because I sleep on the couch?”

“That’s right,” I shot back without missing a beat.

*****

My answer hit Adrian Donovan like a slap, and his face darkened with rage.

Our son broke into terrified sobs, and his grandparents rushed over to comfort him.

Adrian’s assistant, Vivian Walsh, suddenly cut in, her voice loud and sharp. “Olivia! Do you even have a heart?

“Do you have any idea what Adrian has sacrificed for you? For this family? Are you blind?

“All because Adrian bought a couch and slept apart from you, you’re throwing a tantrum on purpose?”

Adrian’s father, Charles Donovan, had been listening from the sidelines, and the senseless reasoning only fueled his temper. “So that’s it! Adrian slept on the couch because you’d just had a baby. Can you really not see he was thinking of you?”

Every face in the room glared at me with rage hot enough to burn me alive.

Seeing the room turn on me, Dad stood up and stepped in to scold me.

“Olivia, we’ve all seen how good Adrian’s been to you. If something’s wrong between you two, just hash it out. Why throw the word ‘divorce’ around like that?”

Mom rushed over, too, trying to soothe Adrian. “Adrian, don’t let it get to you. Olivia’s just

being stubborn. You’re a grown man, you don’t need to be at odds with your wife.”

Then she turned to me. “Get over here and say sorry to Adrian. So we can move past this.”

Even the nurses and other patients in the ward stared, frozen in disbelief.

But my voice didn’t soften an inch. “Mom, Dad, I haven’t lost my mind. I meant every word. This marriage is over.”

I pulled out the divorce papers I’d already prepared and slid them across to Adrian, my voice flat. “Sign it.”

Seeing how firm I was, Charles couldn’t hold it in anymore and snapped at me.

“Olivia, you have no heart at all! Adrian’s broken his back working for you for years. Just when things are finally looking up, you ask for divorce? Is that fair to him? To his family?”

Dad turned pale with rage at my stubbornness and raised his hand to strike me, but Mom seized his arm and held him back.

He glared at me, breathing hard. “Are you trying to break this family apart? Whatever the problem is, we can talk it out. Why bring up divorce now of all times?”

“Nothing to talk about.” I turned to face Adrian.

He let out a cold snort. “Olivia, tell me. Why?”

“No reason,” I said flatly. “It’s over between us.”

I had nothing more to say to him. I turned and started for the door.

Vivian suddenly grabbed my arm and snapped at me. “You’re not going anywhere! You’re going to explain yourself!”

I pried Vivian’s hand off mine. “You’re his assistant. What I do is none of your damn business.”

She wouldn’t back down. She grabbed my collar, her voice ringing with righteous fury. “Sure, I’m just Adrian’s assistant, but no one with any conscience could watch what you’re doing and stay silent!

“What woman could be as heartless as you? Adrian’s out there working himself to the bone for you while you sit at home living the high life. Instead of being grateful, you turn around and ask for a divorce.

“Olivia, you’re a disgrace to women. You’re nothing but a gold digger.”

I wrenched her hand off me, my fist swinging before I could stop it.

The punch landed with a dull thud. Vivian stumbled back and hit the floor, hand pressed to her cheek, eyes wide with shock.

Adrian rushed over to catch her, shouting at me. “Whatever your problem is, take it out on me! Why drag innocent people into this?”