Chapter 2

Chad grabbed my hand, gripping it so hard it felt like he wanted to crush the life out of me.

"Deidre, you can't do this. Just this one thing, this one! You have to use divorce to force my hand, is that it?"

"We just got married, a room full of guests watching, and you bring this up now?"

My wrist throbbed. I tried to pull free and couldn't.

"Deidre?"

A voice drifted in from the doorway.

Chad's hand let go at once, without a moment's hesitation.

Sapphire stood in the doorway in a loose hospital gown, face pale, hair hanging loose, looking every bit the patient.

She took two steps inside, glanced at me, then at Chad, and pressed her lips together. "I, I came to pick up my medication. I didn't expect to run into you two."

"Deidre, I'm sorry. I didn't mean to ruin your wedding, I just couldn't control myself."

Before she finished, Chad cut in.

"Sapphire, don't say any more."

He turned to me, his tone as if it were the most obvious thing in the world. "You can see she's sick. She can't help it. Don't hold it against her."

I opened my mouth and nothing came out.

He added, "Just take a cab home yourself. I looked at the cut, it's not that big. It's nothing serious."

"I'll stay with Sapphire until she gets her medication, then I'll be home later."

I stared at him for two seconds, my mouth twisting, and let out a bitter laugh.

"Fine."

I picked up my bag, stood, and walked out. When I passed Sapphire, she shifted to one side, timidly stepping aside to make room for me.

I walked out of the room and hailed a cab at the curb.

Once I got home, I dug out the injury report and medical records the hospital had issued, photographed them, and dialed the number in my phone I hadn't called in three years.

"Mom."

"What is it?"

My mother's voice was as calm as if she were taking a work call.

"Mom, I want to file for divorce."

The line went quiet for two or three seconds.

"Send me a copy of any evidence in your favor. I'll handle the rest."

While she spoke, I heard a keyboard clacking, as if she were answering emails on other cases even as she talked to me.

"Got it," I said.

"Mm." She hung up.

I sat in the dark, gripping the phone, staring at nothing.

My mother was the most expensive divorce lawyer in the city, with a win rate that was frankly terrifying.

As a child I never understood why she spent every day breaking apart other people's marriages, and I'd blamed her too for not being able to hold on to my father, for leaving our family in pieces.

So for years I did the opposite of everything she wanted. I didn't listen to her about who I dated. I didn't even tell her I was getting married.

I thought I didn't need her.