Resent, Reject, Regret

Chapter 5 The Divorce Agreement

the couch. Time passed, but Deirdre lost track of how long it had been until Brendan finally descended the stairs and threw some papers on the table. “Sign.” Her eyes caught the headline: ‘Divorce Agreement.’ She froze, lifted her head, and asked, “Didn’t you promise… we wouldn’t be getting a divorce today?” Brendan’s impatience erupted out of him. “And what? Give you more opportunities to hurt Lena? I just want you to f*ck off as soon as possible. We can’t start over without you out of the picture!” The absurdity of his accusation was sharpened by the jolts of agony still ringing from the back of her hand. Who was the one who had ended up hurt? No. It did not matter anymore. Deirdre picked up the agreement and read every clause and article. Brendan was certainly no miser—he offered her a luxury residence and 1.4 million dollars. The only rule she had to heed by was the promise to never show up at Neve again. “The agreement is fair. I’m not opposed to signing it,” she declared, looking up from the paper before letting her eyes fall back on Brendan. “On one single condition, though.” She placed her hand on her abdomen. When she spoke again, her voice was ringing with resolution. “I don’t need any compensation—not the house, not the money—to agree to this. Take ‘em away. All I want is to carry the baby to term in peace! If you agree to this, Bren, I’ll pack up right now and get out of your life forever!” Brendan made no attempt to hide his disgust. “For f*ck’s sake! You’re still holding on to this delusion?!” She flashed him a tired, mirthless smile. He was wrong—she was too sober to be delusional. She knew she would be left with nothing the moment she stepped out of this house. This baby was all she had left, and she would do whatever it took to save it. “You can think of me however you like.” Deirdre sighed deeply. “All I’m asking is that you add this condition to the agreement, and I’ll pack up and leave immediately. I won’t show up in Neve for twenty years. But if you decide to withhold even this small kindness from my child, Bren? Then I won’t sign anything at all. I’ll even go public about my performance as Charlene McKinney and tell your entire family!” Brendan immediately held her in a chokehold, fury blazing in his black eyes. “How dare you threaten me, McKinnon!” Deirdre forced herself to ignore the sting in her heart and closed her eyes. “No. I just want you to know that I’m digging my heels in for my child.” “F*ck! F*cking noble, are you?!” he jeered as he released her from his grip. He looked at her with pure, ugly disgust. “Fine. I’ll let it live. But mark my words, Deirdre McKinnon—if you break any of the goddamned rules, I’ll make both you and your kid wish you were in hell instead!” He signed the papers and slapped them on Deirdre’s face. The poor woman tried to pick them up, but the pain on her hand stopped her for a little bit. “What now, drama queen?” Brendan snarled. “Casting for a new excuse not to sign?” “No.” She lowered her head, suffered through the pain silently, and signed the papers quickly. It was a brief moment, but Brendan caught sight of her sore, blistered hand. It looked really bad, and for that millisecond, he realized she had not been acting at all.  That moment of sympathy passed, though. He told himself she deserved it for trying to harm his beloved. “Pack all your things today and get the hell out of here as soon as you’re done!” he barked. “If you’re thinking about causing a scene or pulling any new tricks? F*cking don’t. Steven will be watching you until he makes sure you’re out of this country!” Deirdre nodded, and Brendan practically sprung out of the hall with the agreement in his hand. He could not wait to have Steven process it. His excitement at the prospect of their divorce was all over his face. Deirdre laughed mirthlessly and went to her