From Neglected Wife to CEO’s Obsession novel Chapter 169

Second, as long as I’m still breathing, I’ll never sign those divorce papers. Avery, please, just give me a little more time. Give us another shot. I’ve loved you for six years, and I swear on that. If I ever break this promise, may I never make it home alive.

I wasn’t going to argue with him anymore. What was the point? Blake already talked to me. The court is about to send Remy a summons. When the hearing comes, even if he refuses to show up, there’s enough evidence to go through with the divorce without him.

That’s how Mr. Garcia does things. So whether this marriage ends or not is no longer up to Remy. Let him keep enjoying his self-confidence a little longer. The more convinced he is that he can control everything, the sweeter it’ll be when the verdict hits and he finally gets a taste of what it’s like to be played for a fool.

Honestly, just imagining that moment makes me feel amazing.

“But what if Cindy gets infected?”

“I’ll make sure she’s protected. And that apartment is way too small—don’t stay there anymore. The riverside house is finally finished, so move in there. I’ll have Mike bring your car over, and if you don’t like it, we’ll get you a new one. I won’t bother you for now. Once Julia’s doing better, Cindy and I will come pick you up ourselves.”

Even now, he’s still lying to himself, making up his own version of reality.

After five years married to Remy without ever sharing a bed, I used to feel so defeated. I lost count of how many times I cried myself to sleep, and I definitely resented him for it. But now, I’m honestly grateful he never touched me. If he had, I’d probably be so grossed out I’d want to hang myself with a rope or drown in a bathtub full of disinfectant.

I almost called Remy, but after thinking it over, I let it go. Cindy used to have a phone watch, but for some reason, she didn’t have it on this time.

I lay there, tossing and turning for another half hour before finally dozing off.

When my alarm went off the next morning, I dragged myself out of bed. While brushing my teeth, I called Kailynn. The second she heard I was going to the hospital again to see Cindy, she absolutely lost it and tore into me before I could get a word in.

“Avery, seriously, if Remy and Julia hadn’t treated Cindy so horribly, would she even be coming to you? Every time she calls you ‘stepmom’ like it’s some insult, does she ever think about the fact that you’re the one who actually raises her, that it hurts you? And don’t tell me you shouldn’t take it to heart because she’s just a kid. Kids grow up. If she can stab you in the back once, she can do it again. With a clueless dad like Remy and a mom like Julia who has zero morals, how good can she really turn out? Come on, Avery, you keep playing the saint and one day it’s going to blow up in your face.”