Chapter 2

Before noon, I drove to Robert's place.

No gift. Just a folder.

The second I walked in, I saw Jocelyn pressed up against Calvin, her hand resting on his belt. The shape under his pants showed, slightly raised.

She smiled sweetly, holding a bowl of pricey tonic, feeding him bite by bite.

Calvin kept smiling, opening his mouth like he loved every second.

When he saw me, his brows lifted. He shifted on purpose, flashing that bulge at me, smug as hell.

Two years of marriage, and Jocelyn had never fed me so much as a piece of fruit. That shy, gentle side of her—I never got it.

Robert came over at the noise. Saw the thin folder in my hand, and his face dropped.

"Finley, didn't I tell you to bring gifts for Jocelyn and Calvin? What's a birthday without presents?" He shot a glance at the kitchen, then back at me, already annoyed. "Go cook something. After that, go buy gifts for my daughter and son. And listen—if it's not worth a few grand, don't bother coming back."

Every word landed like an order.

I didn't move.

The way they looked at me—like I was a servant—should've pissed me off.

Instead, I felt weirdly calm.

"Robert, I'm not here to celebrate Calvin's birthday. You want me to apologize to someone wrecking my marriage? Not happening."

"Wrecking your marriage? Are you insane?" His face dropped. "Calvin is Jocelyn's brother. What's wrong with them being close? Just because she's married, she's supposed to forget her own brother? Don't forget—you're the outsider here!"

I looked at him, bitterness rising in my chest.

The scene dragged me back two years.

Jocelyn's mom, Olivia, was dying in the hospital. Her career was taking off, so I dropped everything and stayed by her mom's side, day and night.

Calvin never showed up. Not once.

But before she died, Olivia grabbed my hand and begged me to let Calvin move into my house, to promise I'd set him up for the future.

I hesitated for a second.

She pointed at me and started cursing. "You're my son-in-law. If you don't take care of my family, you're failing your duty! I'll have Jocelyn divorce you!"

I had no choice but to agree. I looked at Jocelyn.

She just gave me a calm look.

"Finley, Calvin is my brother. Between you two, you're the outsider."

Right.

I was the outsider.

So this—whatever she had going on with her own brother—this was her excuse?

Robert snapped, "What are you standing there for? Go cook! Calvin's in recovery. If you mess up his condition, just see if Jocelyn doesn't divorce you!"

I let out a faint smile and tossed the folder onto the table, calm for once. "Jocelyn, let's get divorced."

I looked at her, lighter than I'd ever felt.

Robert froze mid-sentence. The room went dead quiet.

The spoon slipped from Jocelyn's hand and hit the floor. She stared at me, like she couldn't process it.

Calvin frowned, pulling her into his arms right away. "Finley, you've got some nerve, using divorce to threaten her."

He sneered, all smug. "You really think Jocelyn can't live without you? Look at yourself—what about you is even worth her? People already say you're dragging her down. If anything, you should know your place and get lost."

Jocelyn stayed in his arms. She didn't react to the divorce—just looked down, worried about him.

Everything had settled, and her eyes reddened. She shot to her feet and yelled, "Finley, what do you want from me?! Calvin's been my brother for over ten years. His dad helped my family—what's wrong with me treating him?

"He finally made progress, and you just ruined it! Do you really have to force me to choose between my marriage and my family? Can you grow up for once, Finley?!"

Like she'd done nothing wrong—like all of it was on me.

I let out a cold laugh. "Treating him? If he's got erectile dysfunction, shouldn't he see a urologist? Why come to a psychiatrist?

"And since when does treatment mean you helping him get turned on? Go outside and look—what kind of sister wraps herself around her brother in a parking garage?"

Jocelyn's brows pulled tight.

She looked like she wanted to argue, but nothing came out.

She wasn't in the neighborhood group chat. She had no clue everyone had already seen it.

Embarrassment flashed across her face. She ripped the divorce papers to shreds.

Her voice shook with anger. "I'm telling you—I'm the one dumping you, not the other way around!"

She grabbed Calvin's hand and dragged him in front of me. "I know you're just trying to provoke me. Apologize to me and Calvin right now, and I'll pretend this never happened. Otherwise, don't even think about stepping foot in this house again!"

Calvin looked at me, smug.

Robert stood there too, frowning, waiting.

I looked at Jocelyn—so full of herself.

All I felt was disgust.

I turned and walked out without looking back.