Chapter 5

“Divorce?”

Ruby Walker, Mia’s mother, set her cup down with a thud, her expression darkening.

“Daniel really thinks he’s something, doesn’t he? He lives in your house, eats your food, and now he thinks he can threaten you with divorce over something this stupid?”

Mia sat at the other end of the couch with a case file open on her lap.

Daniel hadn’t come home after their argument.

Several of his everyday clothes were gone from the closet. His laptop and old hard drive were missing from the study.

The anniversary dinner had all been thrown out.

The only thing left was the gift box with the watch Mia had bought him.

She had put it back in the cabinet, certain Daniel would eventually come back for it.

That was how things had always gone over the past five years.

Whenever they fought, he might stay upset for a night.

By the next morning, breakfast would be waiting as usual, and he would smooth things over with a simple, “Don’t be mad anymore.”

But this time, two days had passed.

The trash hadn’t been taken out.

There was no hot meal waiting in the kitchen.

Even the uniform Mia needed that morning was still sitting in the laundry basket.

She hadn’t noticed a grease stain on one sleeve until she was getting ready to leave, so she had to change into an older uniform at the last minute.

She wasn’t used to any of it.

Still, she didn’t believe Daniel was really leaving.

“Mia, don’t be upset.”

Zion sat beside Ruby, holding a glass of warm water.

“Daniel only brought up divorce because he cares about you too much. He’s trying to get a reaction out of you. Once he calms down, I’ll explain everything to him.”

“Explain what?”

Ruby cut him off immediately.

“You’ve already been through enough. He couldn’t show you even a little compassion, and then he threw water in your face in front of everyone. He’s the one who should be apologizing.”

Zion lowered his eyes.

“I just don’t want to be the reason Mia’s marriage falls apart.”

He spoke softly, but not so softly that anyone missed it.

Ruby looked even more annoyed.

“That marriage isn’t Daniel’s to end whenever he feels like it. He hasn’t had a real job since college. All he does is stay home and cook. If Mia weren’t supporting him, do you really think he’d be living somewhere like Clearwater Heights?”

Mia stopped turning the page.

Half the down payment on the house had come from Daniel’s early book royalties.

He had also paid for the renovations and most of the furniture.

Mia knew that.

She didn’t correct Ruby.

As far as she was concerned, married couples didn’t need to keep score over every dollar.

Daniel had chosen to stay home and take care of the household.

If people judged him for that, then that was part of the choice he had made.

“Mom, that’s enough.”

“What did I say that was wrong?”

Ruby glanced toward the kitchen.

“Just look at this place. He’s been gone for two days, and everything is already falling apart. He knows you’re used to having him take care of everything. That’s the only reason he thinks he can pull this stunt.”

Mia closed the case file.

“He’ll come back.”

There wasn’t a trace of doubt in her voice.

Ruby nodded approvingly.

“Exactly. You can’t let him think this kind of behavior is acceptable. Go bring him home. Have him apologize to Zion, and make him promise in front of us that he won’t bring up divorce again. Then we can put this whole thing behind us.”

“Ruby, you really don’t have to.”

Zion spoke quietly.

“Seeing me will only make Daniel angrier. Maybe I should just go home.”

He started to stand, his face turning noticeably pale.

Ruby immediately pulled him back down.

“Sit. This is Mia’s home, which means you’re welcome here too. No one gets to throw you out.”

At that moment, the front door unlocked.

All three of them turned toward the entryway.

Daniel walked in carrying a list of belongings.

He had only come back to collect the rest of his personal things from the study and go over their marital assets one more time.

He hadn’t expected Ruby and Zion to be there.

Zion was sitting on the couch Daniel had bought.

One of Mia’s favorite throw blankets was draped over his shoulders.

Tea and snacks had been set out in front of Ruby, along with a pot of black tea Daniel had been saving for a special occasion.

Mia sat beside them without reacting at all.

Looking at the three of them, Daniel had the strange feeling that they were the real family here.

He closed the door behind him and slipped on a pair of disposable shoe covers instead of the house slippers he usually wore.

Mia noticed immediately.

“Why are you wearing those?”

“I’ve already started packing up my things.”

“This is your home. Stop acting like you’re a guest.”

Daniel looked at her.

“Not for much longer.”

Ruby shot to her feet.

“Who do you think you’re giving attitude to? Haven’t you dragged this out long enough? Do you have to make the whole family miserable too?”

Daniel folded the list and slipped it into his pocket.

“This is between Mia and me.”

Ruby’s voice sharpened.

“I’m her mom. I have every right to weigh in. You’ve been married to Mia for five years, living in her house and living off her money. She’s never looked down on you for it, and now you’re acting like you’re too good for this family.”

Daniel met her gaze without flinching.

“You make it sound like a business transaction. It’s not. What I bring to this marriage doesn’t show up on a bank statement.”

Ruby scoffed.

“That doesn’t change the fact that you don’t bring home a paycheck and Mia pays the bills. Call it whatever you want, but you’re still living off her.”

Zion immediately put on an uncomfortable expression.

“Ruby, Daniel’s spent years taking care of the house too. That’s not nothing. Please don’t say that about him.”

Ruby patted his arm.

“See? At least you know how to appreciate people.”

Then she turned back to Daniel.

“Unlike some people who cook a few meals and somehow convince themselves they’ve sacrificed everything for this family.”

Daniel looked past her at Mia.

“Is that what you think too?”

Mia didn’t answer directly.

“Mom could’ve said it better, but you have taken this too far over the past two days. Sit down and talk this through. There’s no reason to keep upsetting everyone.”

Just like always.

She was willing to take everyone’s side except his.

Daniel gave a small nod.

“Got it.”

He walked over to the coffee table and picked up the pot of tea.

Ruby mistook the gesture for surrender and sat back down.

“Good. Pour Zion a cup and apologize. You’re a grown man. Stop getting worked up over everyone Mia cares about.”

Daniel picked up the empty cup in front of Zion and slowly filled it.

Zion reached for it.

Daniel moved the cup out of reach.

Then he walked over to the trash can and poured it out.

A second later, he emptied the rest of the pot after it.

Not a drop remained.

Ruby’s expression darkened.

“What are you doing?”

“That tea was mine.”

Daniel set the empty pot down.

“And I’d rather pour it down the drain than serve it to someone who isn’t welcome in my home.”

Zion’s hand remained suspended in midair.

His eyes quickly reddened.

“Daniel, I only came with Ruby because I wanted to check on you. If you don’t want me here, I can leave.”

“Then leave.”

Daniel didn’t hesitate.

Zion clearly hadn’t expected him to say that.

He stayed where he was.

Mia stood and stepped between them.

“Daniel, Zion is a guest.”

“Whose guest?”

“Mine.”

“This house belongs to both of us. I have just as much right to say he isn’t welcome here.”

Mia’s expression went cold.

“Do you really have to embarrass everyone like this?”

Daniel looked at her.

“So you do know what it feels like to be humiliated.”

His voice remained calm.

“Last night, we were having dinner with my parents, and one phone call from Zion was enough for you to walk away from the table and spend the evening comforting him.”

He glanced at Ruby.

“Today, your mom brought him into my home and insulted me to my face while you sat there and let it happen.”

His gaze returned to Mia.

“But I pour out some tea I bought, and suddenly I’m the one embarrassing everyone.”

“Mom is just blunt. She didn’t mean anything by it.”

“You don’t get to decide whether it was hurtful.”

Ruby was furious.

She pointed at Daniel.

“Unbelievable. Mia, just look at him. He doesn’t have a career, he’s done nothing with his life, and now he suddenly thinks he can talk to everyone however he wants.”

Daniel took a step toward her.

His expression went cold.

“Ms. Walker, you really shouldn’t be the one lecturing me about family.”

Her expression changed.

Daniel didn’t give her a chance to interrupt.

“You left your twelve-year-old daughter with her elderly grandfather so you could marry into the Quinn family.”

Ruby went still.

“Then, once you had the life you wanted, you came back with a stepson who wasn’t even related to Mia and started acting like the devoted mother.”

The color drained from Ruby’s face.

“You cared more about the Quinn family’s money than your own daughter.”

Daniel’s voice never rose.

“And now you’re standing in a house I helped pay for, telling me how I’m supposed to live my life.”

He walked to the front door and pulled it open.

“This is my home too, and neither of you is welcome here.”

His gaze shifted from Ruby to Zion.

“Take him with you and get out.”