Chapter 1

Florence Hanson looked at me impatiently and said, “Aren’t you just doing this because you want me to try to win you back? You’re too old to be throwing such tantrums, Tyson.”

I had asked for a divorce many times, but Florence had never believed that I would really leave her.

What she did not know was that, as she was signing the closing statements for the lawsuit, she had also signed a divorce agreement.

“I’m serious, Florence. Let’s get a divorce.”

When I brought up getting a divorce again, Florence’s smile finally faltered.

“Stop messing around, Ty. Divorce isn’t something you can just throw around whenever you want.”

Then, she patted me comfortingly and said, “Enough. I’ll just think of this as a joke this time, but you’re not allowed to do this again. Besides, everything is already done and dusted, and no one can change the past. Maria will be fine after some intensive treatment.

“It’s true that Isaiah went a little overboard, but it was Maria’s fault for not looking where she was going. You have to let it go.”

I pushed Florence away and looked at her in disbelief.

Her tone was casual and light. It was as if Isaiah Jordan had crashed his car into an animal instead of my mother, Maria Schultz. My mother had once tirelessly cared for Florence for three days straight when she had a high fever.

Isaiah was standing to one side. He spoke up after hearing what Florence said.

“It’s my fault for not being more aware of how fast I was going. That’s why I accidentally hit Mrs. Schultz. Flo, I think you should spend more time with your husband tonight. You don’t have to stay with me while I work overtime.”

“You don’t need to worry so much about this, Isaiah. It’s not your fault.”

Florence looked at Isaiah as if her heart was breaking for him. She caressed his face. Meanwhile, she treated me as if I had committed a horrible, unforgivable crime when I had said nothing at all.

I took a deep breath and turned to walk away.

Florence must have been surprised at my silence. She called for me to stop. “Isaiah told me to spend time with you tonight, so let’s go home together.”

After getting in the car, I found a pair of men’s underwear in the passenger seat. My blood turned to ice when I saw it.

The car slowly started on its way.

I said gently, “Take me to the hospital. I’d like to see Mom.”

Florence’s grip tightened on the steering wheel. “I’ll go with you.”

Before the car could get even a foot further, Isaiah called.

“Florence! I was joking earlier! Are you really spending time with Tyson? I even gave you a few minutes to change your mind, but you didn’t even notice that I was mad? I’m not talking to you anymore!”

Isaiah cut the call, but his shrill voice resounded in my head for a long time after.