Chapter 14
It hit Alan like a punch to the gut. His whole body shook as he scrambled up from the floor, grabbing desperately at Morgan’s pant leg.
“No, please, I don’t want a divorce!” he choked out, his voice shaking. He kept repeating himself, begging Morgan to take it back, to pretend those words had never been said.
He couldn’t picture life without Summer. If she left him, what would he have left?%
Sam kicked him aside, her tone sharp and full of sarcasm. “You don’t want a divorce? What, you think my sister should raise your mistress’s kid?”
At the mention of the child, something flickered in Alan’s eyes–a desperate hope. That’s right, they still had a child.
“We can’t,” he said quickly, clinging to the thought. “We can’t get divorced. What about the kid?“%
Morgan just laughed, cold and bitter, looking at Alan like he was the most pathetic man in the world.
Amanda was about to say something, but Marie barreled over, her voice shrill after hearing the word “divorce.” “Divorce her! You have to!” she snapped. “Why would we want a barren hen in this family? And soon, we’ll have a grandson. When that baby’s born, I’ll make sure my son marries the real mother!”
“Mom!” Alan shouted, cutting her off, his voice desperate. “Enough! I only want Summer as my wife!”
Marie pressed a hand to her chest, glaring at him in furious disappointment. “You–you-” she started, but before she could finish, she collapsed to the floor. “Mom!” Alan’s cry rang out as chaos erupted in the room.”
At that same moment, Summer was wheeled out after her surgery. The Jeffersons–Morgan, Amanda, and Sam–didn’t even glance at the Clarks. They just followed Summer’s hospital bed down the hall to the VIP suite.%
Inside the hospital room, Amanda’s tears wouldn’t stop as she looked at her daughter. Summer’s beautiful, vibrant face was now hidden beneath thick white Bandages.
Her daughter had always been so full of life. Now, she was lying here like this–broken and silent.
Morgan gently squeezed Amanda’s shoulder, but he didn’t say a word.
Three days passed before Summer finally stirred. She moved her hand just a little, then slowly opened her eyes.
“Water…” she whispered, her voice hoarse.
Amanda’s whole face lit up. She quickly raised the bed, put a straw in a glass, and held it to Summer’s lips. “Here, sweetie. Sip slowly…”
Once she’d finished the water, Summer looked up at her parents. Seeing their worried faces, a wave of helplessness and heartbreak crashed over her. “Dad, Mom…” she managed, her voice trembling.
“Hey, don’t cry, darling. You just had surgery on your face. You can’t cry,” Amanda said, gently wiping at the corners of Summer’s eyes.!
Summer touched the bandages on her face, pain and anger flashing in her eyes.
She would never forget how Lena had looked–cold and vicious–as she slashed Summer’s face with a knife.
Ninety–nine cuts.
The pain had been unbearable, worse than death itself.”
But she could never forget who was truly to blame for all of this.
She looked at her parents and asked quietly, “Where are they?“?
Amanda understood instantly who she meant. Thinking about what Alan and Lena had done, her own anger flared up again, but she forced it down and answered.S “That woman had a boy–emergency C–section, and they didn’t use anesthesia. She’s still unconscious. As for Alan, he’s been on his knees outside the door this whole time.“Z
Amanda reached into a drawer and pulled out a stack of papers, handing them to Summer.
“Your brother printed the divorce agreement yesterday. Take a look–if everything’s okay, just sign it.”#
Summer took the papers, her feelings a tangled mess. Her mind drifted back to the day she and Alan got their marriage certificate. The sun was shining as they left the government office. Alan picked her up and spun her around, laughing, then kissed her gently on the forehead.
“You’re my wife now,” he’d whispered, pure joy shining in his eyes.
She’d remembered that look for years.
Then, just as suddenly, her mernory jumped ahead to the day she caught him cheating–how this proud, stubborn man had clung to her, begging her not to leave. “You’re my wife. I won’t ever let you go, even if it kills me!”
But now, all those memories just felt broken and messy.
Twelve years as childhood sweethearts. Five years of marriage And this was how it all ended.
Shye brushed away her tears and looked out the window. The sky was heavy and gray, like it was about to pour–so oppressive it was hard to breathe
And yet, for the first time in a long while, she felt light.
Because today, she was finally free.
She didn’t even bother reading the fine print. She just flipped to the last page and signed her name in one clean, decisive stroke. Summer
