2

GRAYSON

She can't leave. She can't just up and leave like 5 years were nothing. And the audacity of her to file for a divorce.

The house was quiet, awfully so. I mean it always was but knowing she had moved out brought another silence that was new to the house.

And there was Johnny asking for Addie, his mother. How was I supposed to tell him that she was gone? How could she be so cruel to leave just like that?

I couldn't take care of a 5 year old alone. I didn't know what I would be required to do.

I stared at the boy's teary eyes and back at the divorce papers. This cannot hold at all.

She has to come back. I'll make her if I have to.

I glanced over the counter to find something he could eat. There was none. It was safe to say Adeline left the house without thinking about anyone but herself. Not even little Johnny.

“How about we do pizza tonight, just me and you?” I tried to smile as I spoke to him, softly as I could but he frowned, tears falling from his eyes. Even I could feel the strain in my voice, let alone him.

“But Addie always makes spaghetti meatballs for me whenever I want some and scones too…” he whined. Well she's not here kid.

My head was already pounding from the day's workload. I nodded, my mind already swirling with how to get her back. Not because I cared a shit about her, but Johnny did.

It took forever for me to find a good spot that made spaghetti meatballs, and by the time it got sent to the house, Johnny had been so pissed he'd ran upstairs and locked himself up. Taking care of a child was hard. How was I supposed to do it on my own without her?

“Johnny, the spaghetti will get cold, open the door right now…” I called from behind his door. Not a word came from him. Not even a sound.

I let out a frustrated sigh. The night was not supposed to go like this. It was Valentine's Day for goodness sake. There were no gifts at all. She really left.

It's never been like this. Sure, I never gave her the light of day but she played her role well, even on days meant for lovers, hoping that one day I could love her.

But instead she chose this day to leave me. To leave Johnny.

I was used to coming home to a hot bath, a meal waiting and nothing but the sweetness of peace.

Now, everything was totally the opposite. I just couldn't understand. Was it more money she wanted?

Fuck.

I left Johnny's door and headed for mine. I was still in my suit from work and where I was going, a change was needed. I quickly hopped in the shower to freshen up and wore a new set of clothing before skipping down the stairs.

Damian's number was on speed-dial and my phone trapped between my ear and the tip of my shoulder as I worked my wrist watch.

“This is a surprise. Did someone die?” Came his voice the second the phone rang. It was almost as if he was expecting my call.

“Shut up, get dressed and meet me and Duncan's…”

It was our usual spot back in the day. But I hadn't been there in a hot minute. I didn't even know if the place still existed.

“Fuck, Gray. What happened?” He sounded concerned and he should be. This was a serious matter for me to have called him. While he and I met at each other's work occasionally, calling him to meet me at a bar was almost like an emergency. “You know what, don't even answer. I'll be down in a minute…” And with that he hung up.

The front door opened moments before I reached for it and both my mother and sister walked in with heavy bags in their hands. At least their night wasn't ruined. I thought as they came to a halt at the sight of me.

“I'm heading out.” I started, not giving my mind the chance to speak about the thoughts flying in my head over the things Adeline said. “Johnny hasn't had dinner yet, make sure he does. I won't be back till whenever so don't wait up for me…” I was out of the door before they could ask me questions. But not long before I could walk a few steps, my mother spoke.

“Doesn't Adeline usually do that? Where is she? And the maids? Where are they?” Where she is, is definitely not here. I wanted to say but I bit my tongue and walked on to my car.

It was a miracle I made it to Duncan's in one piece and at the time I did. My mind was against me.

“Alright princess, spill…” Damian, the good friend he was already ordered drinks and was waiting. But sometimes his humor could make me want to punch him. Maybe if I do it'll ease out the anger I'm feeling right now.

I lifted a finger as I took a seat beside him, grabbed a bottle and poured myself a glass, downed the entire thing in one go - it fucking burned but it was needed.

“She's gone…” My voice strained, the burn from the drink almost numbing the pain I didn't know I had.

Damian stared at me confused. “Adeline is gone. Can you imagine she served me divorce papers this evening? I didn't even fucking know its been five years already.”

The bar was packed. A perfect day for some couples but here I was with my best friend, about to drink my ass to stupor over a woman who decided to make it the worst day ever.

“You should sign it.” I wanted to punch him square in the face. He was supposed to be on my side.

“Are you fucking with me? Why the fuck should I?” I was almost screaming at this point. Not that it would have mattered over the loud music but why the fuck would he say that? “Johnny still needs a mother. She cannot up and leave just like that.”

Damian frowned and set his glass on the table, staring at me with a serious expression. “Actually she can. You know why? You don't respect her, you never have. You basically forced her into this marriage, made sure to remind her that that boy was no son of hers. You can only make her stay if she's willing to stay…”

The hell I can't.

I gritted my teeth, his words were truth, a blow but I didn't fucking care. I needed to find a way to make her stay. “No, actually I can make her stay even if she doesn't want to…” I started, leaning back into the leather couch I was sitting on letting the idea brew in my mind.

Damian gave me a look, I could tell he knew where this was going because he shook his head. “Grayson…”

“I'll go to the casino tomorrow, meet her gambling father and loan him a large sum enough to make Adeline stay for another five or ten years…” I said with a smile that was nothing close to being innocent and genuine.

“You're a fucking asshole. It's bad enough I let you drag me into this five years ago. I'm not going to be a part of ruining lives for your selfish interest, Gray.” Sometimes I hated how much of a softie Damian was. Five years ago it took a lot of convincing to get him to draft the contract, even then he only gave in because he saw how desperate both Adeline and I were.

Both of us with our reasons. I needed someone to care for my newborn son and Adeline wanted to save her dying mother.

“That woman has her own life to live, man. Just sign the fucking papers and let her go…” Never.

As much as he knew about the situation, he didn't truly understand that I couldn't take care of Johnny on my own. Not now when I had new projects to work on.

“If you don't want to help me, that's alright. I can always find another lawyer to take over. But that woman's life is mine. I will find a way to make her stay…” I shot up on my feet, ready to leave when Damian stood up with an expression that had me wondering why he cared so much about Adeline.

“She’s going to hate you!” he screamed back at me and that was when it clicked. She might hate me now but I could make her fall for me. What clicked was an idea. A brilliant one.

“Maybe…” I smiled and patted his shoulder. “But I will make her fall for me. And I will get her pregnant. Let's see how she leaves me then…”