Chapter 10: The Breaking Point

Elena's POV

The doctor finally releases us with care instructions and a prescription for children's pain medication. 

Julian is asleep in my arms, his sprained wrist wrapped in a blue bandage that makes him look so vulnerable.

Alexander insists on driving us home, the silence in the car is suffocating..

 I stare out the window watching the city lights blur past while holding Julian close.

Julian wakes up halfway home, groggy and confused

"Mama? Is Daddy mad?"

"No baby," I soothe, stroking his curls.

"Daddy's not mad."

"Why doesn't Daddy live with us?" Julian asks with a child's brutal honesty.

"He's always gone."

Alexander's hands tighten on the steering wheel, his knuckles going white.

"Daddy lives with us sweetheart," I say carefully.

 "He just works a lot, very important work."

"Uncle Marcus doesn't work all the time.

Julian says innocently, "He plays with me, he's funny, can Daddy play too?"

I freeze, my blood running cold

 "When did you meet Marcus sweetheart?"

"Yesterday at the park, he was nice Mama.

 He gave me ice cream, chocolate with sprinkles."

Alexander pulls the car over abruptly, tires screeching slightly, he turns to face me.

 "You brought our son to meet Marcus ?"

"I didn't bring him to meet anyone.

" I say defensively, holding Julian closer.

"We were at the park and Marcus happened to be there."

"Happened to be there…. 

Alexander repeats, his voice dangerous, quiet in that way that means he's furious.

"You expect me to believe that was coincidence, that my business rival just happened to be at the same park at the same time as my wife and son."

"I don't care what you believe," I snapped.

"Julian sweetie, close your eyes for a minute okay, Mama and Daddy need to talk."

Julian obeys, too tired to protest, curls back against me.

"You brought my son around that man.

" Alexander's voice is low, controlled fury barely contained.

"You let Rivera near Julian."

"That man has shown more kindness to me and Julian in three weeks than you have in four years.

" I hiss, keeping my voice down for Julian's sake.

"He talked to him, played with him, treated him like a child instead of an inconvenience."

"He's using you both."

"He's treating me like a human being," my voice rises despite myself.

 "He's showing me what it's like to be valued, respected, cared about, things you've never once done, things you don't even know how to do."

"I provide for you, I give you everything.”

"You provide money," I cut him off, "That's all Alexander, no affection, no partnership, no love, just cold control, so yes, when someone shows me genuine kindness I'm going to spend time with them and I'm done apologizing for it."

Alexander stares at me, something flickering in his eyes but it's gone too quickly.

 "When we get home you're going to pack a bag."

My heart stops.

"What?"

"You and Julian, you're staying at the Connecticut estate for a while, until you remember your place in this family."

"You're sending me away?"

"I'm giving us space before one of us says something unforgivable, you clearly need time to think about what you're risking."

"I'm not going."

"You are," Alexander's voice is final, "Or I'll have you declared mentally unfit, I'll have Julian removed from your care, your choice Elena."

I realize he's serious, and realize I'm powerless.

 "You would take my son from me."

"I would do whatever is necessary to protect this family." he says, and starts driving again like the conversation is over.

Back at the mansion I pack with shaking hands, the new housekeeper helps silently.

Alexander doesn't come upstairs, doesn't say goodbye, I hear his office door close and that's it.

The car service arrives and I carry Julian out, he's awake now, "Where are we going Mama?"

"On a little trip, baby, to the house in Connecticut."

"Is Daddy coming?"

"No sweetheart, Daddy has to work."

"Daddy always works," Julian says sadly.

As the car pulls away I watch the mansion disappear, my husband just exiled me from my own home and I have no idea how to fight back.

My phone buzzes, a text from Marcus.

 "I heard what happened with Julian, is he okay, are you okay?"

I type back with trembling fingers, "We're at the Connecticut house, Alexander sent us away.

I don't know what to do anymore."

Marcus responds immediately, "You don't have to figure it out alone, I'm here….lways."

The Connecticut estate is cold and beautiful and empty, staff greet us at the door, act like there's nothing unusual about the wife and son being sent away.

I put Julian to bed in one of the guest rooms, kissed his forehead and whispered.   

“I'm so sorry baby, I'm so sorry you're caught in the middle of this."

In my own room I stand at the window overlooking the gardens, the grounds stretch out into darkness.

My phone rings, unknown number, I almost don't answer but something makes me pick up.

"Mrs. Harrington?" A woman's voice, professional.

"Yes, who is this?"

"My name is Victoria Chen, I'm a private investigator who's been working for your husband."

My blood runs cold.

 "What do you want?"

"There are things you need to know about why he married you, things about your parents' death that you were never told, meet me tomorrow, two pm, the coffee shop in town, come alone."

"Why would you tell me this, you work for Alexander."

"Because what he's doing isn't right, if you want the truth about your marriage, about the real contract you signed, you'll be there, two pm Mrs. Harrington."

The line goes dead.

I stand there frozen, what truth, what real contract, my parents died in a house fire fifteen years ago, what could that possibly have to do with my marriage.

I look down at my phone, see Marcus's name in my recent texts, see Alexander's number with no messages, no calls since he sent me away.

I have a choice, reach out to the husband who exiled me, or meet with this investigator and finally learn what secrets my marriage has been built on.

I think about Julian sleeping down the hall, about four years of coldness and control, about Marcus's kindness and Alexander's cruelty.

Tomorrow at two pm I'll be at that coffee shop, whatever truth Victoria Chen has to tell me, whatever secrets Alexander has been keeping….. I'm done being in the dark.

I'm done being powerless.

Even if the truth destroys everything.