Book 9
Chapter 1
Ten days after the party, Nathaniel Morgan finally came home–with our son in tow.
They both looked awful, clearly fresh off another round of chest pain.
“Where the hell is the medicine?”
Neither of them even looked at me, but their tone was all blame.
“We forgot.”
I didn’t even bother sitting up from the couch.
“Guess that’s on you.”
Nathaniel’s heart condition runs in his family.
It’s been flaring up for years.
Through eight years of marriage–2,920 days–I never missed a day.
Even when they were gone like this for weeks, I always had their medicine ready, brewed with mandrake from our garden.
Now they were sulking on the couch, whispering to each other and posting on Facebook.
“Had a heart scare while cycling–thank God Isabella reminded us to come home for our
meds.”
The photo?
All three of them smiling, cozy on the couch like a perfect little family.
Nathaniel and our son aren’t supposed to do intense physical activity.
That’s why I was always warning them, always checking in.
Even when it pissed them off.
12:10
The Internet’s Favorite Couple Was My Marriage’s Worst Nightmare
76.3%
Chapter 1
I let out a bitter laugh.
One reminder from Isabella was apparently worth a heartfelt post.
My daily sacrifices for eight years? Forgotten.
They wouldn’t even be home now if it weren’t for another near–heart attack.
I scrolled down and commented:
“Such a happy little family. Hope you stay together forever.”
I looked up just as Nathaniel glared at me.
“She already apologized for that day, Vivianne.”
“She’s been trying to make it up to you–Henry even bought you a gift using my card.”
Our son was fiddling with his smartwatch.
“Mom, you were totally overreacting.”
“It wasn’t right to make Isabella pay.”
I had to laugh.
My son used our marital funds to buy a gift from his dad’s mistress to apologize to me?
A real chip off the old block.
I smiled politely.
“Well then, Henry, be sure to thank your new mom for me.”
He froze, mouth hanging open, clearly stunned
Nathaniel scooped him up.
“Vivianne, enough. This jealous routine is exhausting
12:30
Chapter 1
“How can you talk to your own son like that?”
I locked eyes with him.
“So maybe find someone better suited to be his mom.”
“If you’ve got time to go cycling and test your heart, you’ve got time to sign the damn divorce papers.”
Nathaniel went quiet–then exploded.
“It was just a flower! Isabella already said sorry. What more do you want?”
“You don’t even work. Just get another one.”
I didn’t even flinch.
“Right. Just another mandrake plant. Like they grow on trees.”
There are millions of mandrakes out there, but only one like the one I spent eight years cultivating.
To make sure they had daily medicine, I broke my back–literally–planting an entire hillside of them.
But sure, just “get another.”
I turned away.
“Don’t worry. I won’t use the plant to hold you hostage.”
“You can keep the entire garden. I don’t want a damn thing.”
