My palms are sweaty as I exit the powder room. I swear, I’ve had to pee a million times today. My heart rate picks up the closer I walk toward the conference room where I left Aiden and Thompson, my attorney.
After hashing and rehashing it, I decided to meet Preston and his legal team in person. Living with the man taught me that he will go through extreme lengths to get what he wants, but if I manage to make it seem like I’m giving in somehow, then maybe, just maybe, he’ll give me this one thing. An uncontested divorce.
“You seem refreshed,” a voice whispers behind me, causing my already erratic heartbeat to sputter. “Aren’t you going to greet your husband, Charlotte?”
“You are not my husband. A husband doesn’t treat their wife the way you treated me.” Whirling around on him, my eyes narrow. “Distance has refreshed me. It’s given me the clarity to see how toxic our relationship was. Never again, Preston. Never again will I let you control or mistreat me.”
Preston’s hand shoots out, gripping my wrist with bruising pressure. “This isn’t over, Charlotte. Far from it.”
“Everything okay out here?” Aiden’s voice booms behind me and a sense of calm washes over me. Turning toward him, I see his eyes trained on Preston’s hand, and by extension my reddening wrist.
Preston releases his death grip on me, placing both of his hands on his lapels and straightening his suit jacket. “Aiden.” He walks past me and then Aiden without answering his question.
Aiden walks to me, where I’m still visibly shaking. “It’s okay if you want to call this off. We don’t have to do these negotiations in person.”
“No. I refuse to let his actixons control me. I’m no weak damsel. It’s time he saw what I’m really made of.” Chin held high, I take in a deep breath and walk my ass into the conference room. I meant what I said, it’s time Preston met the real Charlotte Montgomery.
Beady eyes meet mine as I slip into my chair at the large oak table. Preston’s attorney, Scott Mortimer, clears his throat. “Mrs. Rutherford.”
I cringe at his use of my married name. “Please, call me Charlotte.”
“Very well, Charlotte.” He purses his lips before turning to my attorney, “Shall we begin?”
Thompson looks at me and I nod. “That would be a yes. What exactly does your client want? I thought the petition was pretty cut and dry.” He produces another copy of the document and slides it across the table. “My client isn’t asking for a dime other than what she came into the marriage with. You and I both know that she’s entitled to an equitable division of the marital assets since there is no prenup. But instead of trying to fight for any of that, all she wants is for your client to agree to an uncontested divorce.”
“She’s lying. She needs me. She needs my money!” Preston’s previously composed expression shifts into one of the monster I know all too well. He must be really angry if he’s letting it come out in public.
Through my periphery I can see Aiden’s hand clench under the table and I have to give him a small shake of the head. It isn’t worth it to react. It will only make things worse and I want this over with as soon as possible.
“Do you see that?” Preston’s eyes go wild as he looks between Aiden and me, pointing his finger and shaking it in the air. “They have a secret language.”
Mortimer looks at his client, horrified. Oh, that’s right buddy, didn’t know that’s what lies underneath that bespoke suit.
“Mr. Rutherford, if you’d please let me do the talking.” Mortimer raises a brow, trying to get his client back in control.
Preston mumbles something unintelligible but settles back into his chair.
“Yes, we are fully aware of what’s in your petition.” Mortimer pushes the document back toward my attorney. “But my client is willing to give Charlotte half of the marital assets as well as the summer home in the Hamptons if she’d at least agree to marital counseling.”
My mouth falls open. That’s his family home. Why in the world would he even offer it up to me? I look at him, and for the first time I see a lost little boy in place of the monster I’ve grown accustomed to. My heart clenches, and a pang of guilt hits me straight in the chest.
“Charlotte, would you like a moment to think it over?” Thompson speaks softly as to not spook me.
My thoughts are all a jumble and my head is in a fog. It’s not the damn house that has me so stirred up, it’s the fact that he’d be willing to offer it to me, but for what? Counseling that won’t work.
Looking at the man I married, my brows furrow, “Preston. I really don’t think counseling will fix us.”
“Please, Charlotte.” He twirls the wedding band I gave him as his watery eyes look to me in supplication.
My chest feels like it’s being ripped open, my heart being dragged out and slid across the table. Looking over at Aiden, I see his jaw is clenched and the vein on his neck is visible, the pulse beating rapidly.
“Char.” Preston’s voice snaps me back to him, and it’s apparent that he caught me staring at my bodyguard. “Please. I’m begging you.” His voice cracks and I know he must be desperate. In all my time with him, I’ve never heard him beg for anything to anyone.
Ringing the fabric of my skirt in my hands, I turn toward my attorney, “I need to think about it please. Can we reschedule this meeting, please?”
“Of course.” Thompson turns to Mortimer. “I’ll have my secretary reach out. How does a week from now sound?”
I nod and so does Preston, a precarious smile appearing on his pale face.
“Very well then.” Thompson and Aiden get up from their seats, but I can’t seem to move. I feel like I’m being weighed down by bags of sand, my mind still in a deep fog. “Miss Charlotte?”
Looking up at my attorney, I put on a fake smile. “Yes. Thank you for your assistance today.”
“Of course, miss.” He extends his hand, pulling me out of my chair.
Finally braving a glance at Aiden, I see that all emotion has left his face. He is a blank slab of indifference and my heart plummets deeper into the pit of my stomach.
I need to fix this situation I’ve put myself in. This isn’t fair to him.
Despite my wanting to reach out and grab a hold of his hand, I maintain my distance all the way to our SUV. Once inside, Aiden instructs the driver to take us to William’s home.
Aiden keeps his eyes trained forward, not sparing me a glance, his indifference deepening the ever growing crater in my chest.
“Aiden.” I hesitantly say his name in a whispered hush.
“No. There’s nothing you need to tell me. Preston is your husband.” His jaw clenches, the stubble covered skin flexing in the dim lighting of the car.
“I don’t want to be with him,” I rush out before I lose him forever. “In there, I just felt like I owed him something. Maybe a chance to explain why he’s done what he’s done. Maybe the counseling will help him see the error of his ways.”
“Why? So he could be a better husband for six months only to return to beating you to a bloody pulp behind closed doors?” He finally turns to look at me, his rich hazel eyes piercing daggers into my soul.
“No, Aiden. I am not getting back with him. Under any circumstances and no matter what he promises.” I blow out a breath, frustrated with this whole process. Frustrated with myself.
“Then why, Charlotte? Why give him hope?” His eyes narrow, but his voice drops, shifting from angry to hurt, and my heart clenches once again.
“He has issues. That much is clear. If going to therapy will help him see the light and get over whatever it is, that’s causing him to behave like a monster, then I’ll have helped make him a better man. I promised him through better or worse, Aiden. I gave him my word.” My hand raises to my chest, pressing into the skin and somehow trying to stop the deep ache I feel inside.
“That promise doesn’t count when he’s treating you like a punching bag, Charlotte.” Aiden turns away from me and I feel like the cold night after the sun has stopped shining.
“No, it doesn’t. I know that. I’m not stupid. But it still should mean something.” A lone tear falls down my face, mourning the idea that Aiden and I could ever be a thing. “I think I owe him that much at least. Helping him through this.”
Aiden doesn’t respond, instead he takes out his phone and begins to type something on it. Before we know it, we’re stopping in front of a massive skyscraper in downtown Dallas.
The driver gets out and opens my door, getting out I expect Aiden to follow me but he doesn’t. Instead, William greets me on the sidewalk, directing me toward another car.
I’m about to turn back toward Aiden when the driver closes the door, shutting the man of my dreams behind it. My knees wobble and my hands wrap around my stomach as I dry heave.
What have I done?
