Chapter 22
His voice would have cracked, if he could’ve spoken at all. His hands trembled, his breath came in shallow bursts. The ache in his chest rose like a wave, fierce and choking.
And suddenly, he understood.
He remembered all the times Vivian had stood in front of him–eyes red, voice breaking–begging for answers. She had cried, pleaded, even screamed, her heart breaking wide open.
And back then, he had found her exhausting. Too loud. Too dramatic. Too much.
But now, watching her turn to someone else, feeling her drift irrevocably out of reach, Rhett finally felt what she must have felt–devastating, helpless heartbreak.
And it hurt more than he ever thought possible.
Compared to Faye’s obedient sweetness, Vivian had seemed like a storm he didn’t want to weather.
He even wondered–why couldn’t she just be a good wife?
Gentle. Tolerant. Like the others.
But now-
Now he knew.
And it shattered him.
Desperate, unthinking, Rhett lunged forward and wrapped his arms around her.
Possessive.
Wild.
Just like before.
He tried to kiss her–hard. Desperate. Mad with grief.
SLAP!
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Chapter 22
A sharp, unforgiving sound rang out as Vivian smacked him across the face, her palm leaving a blazing mark.
“We’re divorced, Rhett!” she snapped. “I don’t love you anymore!”
“And your idea of love? I don’t accept it.”
“You never loved me. You only ever loved yourself. So stop pretending to be some tragic
lover–you’re lying to me and to yourself.”
She shoved him away with all her strength.
Caleb stepped in, shielding her immediately.
“If you touch her again,” he said coldly, “I won’t let it go.”
Vivian’s parents flanked her too, eyes filled with fury.
“Rhett!” her father growled, “We may not be a match for the Sinclairs, but we’d rather die than let
you take her again.”
“You don’t belong in her life, So leave. If you show up again, we’ll beat you every time.”
Without hesitation, they grabbed plates and bowls from the table and hurled them at him.
Porcelain shattered against his chest and face.
One shard split the skin on his cheek, blood streaming down.
He didn’t flinch.
Didn’t even blink.
He just stared at Vivian.
Like she was the only thing keeping him breathing.
“…I’m sorry,” he choked out. “Vivian… I do love you.”
“The things with Faye–those were lies. I was deceived. I punished her, I swear. Please… please don’t
be this cruel.”
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Chapter 22
“Just one more chance. That’s all I’m asking. I’ll give you everything–every cent I have. If I ever hurt you again, I’ll walk away with nothing.”
He dropped to his knees, picked up a piece of shattered porcelain, pressed it to his neck.
Then-
He grabbed her hand.
Forced her fingers to wrap around the shard.
As if daring her to end it herself.
His voice cracked, eyes wild with grief:
“If you hate me, kill me. I deserve it. Just… don’t leave me again. Please, Vivian. I can’t live without
you.”
“Take everything. Lock me in a freezer. Beat me. Hurt me. I’ll take it all–just don’t walk away. Not
again.”
Vivian jerked her hand back like she’d touched fire. She didn’t care that the broken shard had nicked Rhett’s neck or that blood was starting to drip–her eyes were blazing with pure disgust.
“None of this is okay, Rhett,” she said sharply. “I don’t want to see you again.”
“I hate you.”
The words hit him like bullets–fast, final, and fatal.
“If you don’t want me to hate you for the rest of my life… then get the hell out of it.”
She didn’t wait for a response. Turning away, she grabbed her parents‘ hands, then Caleb’s.
“Let’s go. I’m done with this lunatic.”
Caleb pulled her close, murmuring quiet reassurances as they walked away. Their silhouettes faded slowly into the distance.
And Rhett–was left standing alone.
Blood ran down the side of his neck, warm against the chill in the air. He laughed–quietly, bitterly,
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Chapter 22
hollow.
“…Vivian. Why didn’t you just end it? Kill me. Let me pay for everything I did.”
“But no,” he whispered to the empty space, “you let me live. That has to mean something. You still care… right?”
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