Chapter 4

"What brings you guys here?" I asked.

Jenny Coleman took my hands, scanning me top to bottom with genuine worry. "Isiah said you two fought, and you are set on divorce. We were scared he hurt you, so we hopped the overnight train to check."

I blinked, my fingers twitching.

She tightened her grip, unwilling to let go. "Without your backing all these years, Isiah would've never made it. Not long ago, you told me about lining up that expert for him. How did it come to this?"

Hank Coleman chimed in, "If that brat has done you wrong, I'll teach him a lesson and get it even for you."

My nose prickled at their genuine concern despite their weariness from the long trip. My mind flashed back to when Isiah and I bootstrapped the hospital.

We were both working ourselves to the bone. Jenny, out in the countryside, mailed me fresh farm chickens every few weeks. Hank bragged about his perfect daughter-in-law to anyone who'd listen.

My hand tightened around the strap of my purse—the one holding the divorce certificate, words stuck in my throat.

But as I glanced up, a flash from the fourth-floor balcony caught my eye. Isiah and Zoe were tangled in a heated embrace.

My heart iced over, bit by bit. Slowly, I released my hold and mustered a smile. "You've come all this way. You must be beat. Let's head up and take a rest."

I ushered them inside, lagging behind on purpose so they'd enter first. The door swung open to pandemonium: Zoe plastered against Isiah on the sofa, locked in a fervent kiss.

Jenny and Hank were stunned, their bags thudding on the floor. The crash snapped the pair apart.

"You animal! What the hell are you doing?" Hank snatched a slipper and flung it.

Zoe yelped, ducking behind Isiah. He stammered, "Mom? Dad? Why are you here?"

His face drained of color as he spotted me. "Floria, what the hell? Why'd you drag my parents into this? Clear it up. Zoe was just treating me!"

Tuning out his snarls, I dragged my suitcase from the bedroom.

Jenny jabbed a finger at him, her voice cracking. "How did I raise such a worthless son? Have you no shame toward Floria? Toward this family?"

Hank shook with rage. "And you brought your mistress home? I'll end you right here for tarnishing our name!"

He grabbed a golf club from the corner and swung at Isiah with all his might. He dodged, babbling excuses, but the elders weren't having it.

They laid into Zoe as the homewrecker, turning the living room into a battlefield of shouts and swats.

"I'm not a homewrecker!" Zoe shirked. "I'm pregnant!"

Zoe's wail sliced through the chaos, freezing everyone in place. Even Isiah went rigid. I huffed a mirthless laugh. Of course. The affair ran deeper than I'd feared.

Zoe turned pleading eyes to the elders, sniffling, "Isiah and I truly love each other. I know it's unfair for Floria, but the baby is innocent. It's Isiah's first child."

Isiah steadied her in his arms, facing his parents. "Zoe fixed me, and we owe her. Don't buy Floria's lies. Zoe doesn't even want a title; she just wants to give me an heir. If Floria could be generous, we'd have a kid in the family. I never wanted a divorce. Floria is just petty. Help me talk her down, please."

His warped reasoning hung in the air, slowly chipping at their resolve.

The club clattered from Hank's grip. The sixty-something man gnashed his teeth, stomping in helpless frustration.

After eight childless years, the promise of a grandchild outweighed everything.

Jenny's gaze bounced between Zoe and me, brow furrowed in torment. "Floria, you..."

The same people who had been furious just a minute ago were now looking at me with pleading eyes.

It was absurd but understandable. In the end, blood spoke louder than betrayal.

I smiled thinly, fishing the certificate from my bag. But Isiah, sensing leverage, puffed up with arrogance. "Floria, cut the drama. Zoe's cool being the second fiddle. Once the kid is here, you'll be their mom. You know I can't get hard for you anyway. Isn't it better this way? You get to be a mother without the pain."

He paused, adding, "Since you quit your job, stay home and take care of Zoe. I'll give you an extra $5,000 a month. The three of us can live peacefully together. What do you say?"

Share a roof with a cheater and his sidepiece? He could dream on.

Before I knew it, my hand flew up and cracked across his face. A cold smile touched my lips. "Enjoy your happy life with her!"

Amid their stunned stares, I slapped the certificate down. "Isiah, we're done. $5,000? Nah, I want half your assets."