Chapter 2 - It's Pathetic

I felt sick. "Our whole relationship... was a lie?"

"Not at first. But once I got what I wanted, what was the point? You're not exactly stimulating company." He picked up the papers, thrusting them at me. "Sign."

Tears blurred my vision. "No. I need a lawyer to look at these first."

His laugh was cold. "Good luck finding one who'll take your case. Claire's made sure every decent attorney in the city knows not to touch this. You'll get nothing from me, Angel. Nothing."

"I don't want your money! I just— "

"Oh shut up with the innocent act! Everyone wants something." He grabbed my arm, pulling me towards the bed. "SIGN THE DAMN PAPERS!"

I flinched slightly. "Let go George! You're hurting me!!"

The bedroom door opened, and my stepmother Olivia stood there, her thin lips curved in a smile.

Behind her was my stepbrother Victor, his eyes always gleaming with something that made my skin crawl.

"Is everything alright?" Olivia asked sweetly. "We heard shouting."

George released my arm. "Angel's being difficult about the divorce."

"Oh Angel," Olivia sighed, as if disappointed in a child. "Always making things harder than they need to be. Just like your mother."

The mention of my mother sent a fresh wave of pain through me. She had died five years ago, unable to afford proper healthcare after my father gambled away our savings before killing himself. Olivia had never liked her, even when they were both married to my father at different times.

"This isn't right," I said, trying to sound stronger than I felt. "You can't just throw me out."

"Actually, I can," George said, pulling on his pants. "This house is in my name. The cars are in my name. Even your precious little gallery job? That's gone too. I called Richard this morning. You're fired."

"What?" The room spun. "But I need that job! How will I —"

"Not my problem." He buttoned his shirt, not meeting my eyes. "You have one hour to get your things and get out."

I looked at Olivia, hoping for some shred of familial loyalty. "Where am I supposed to go?"

She shrugged.

"You should have thought about that before letting your husband stray. A real woman knows how to keep her man satisfied." She glanced at Lisa, who had returned wearing a silk robe. "Some of us are just more talented in that department."

Lisa smirked. "Still a virgin at twenty-two. No wonder he came looking elsewhere."

Heat flooded my face. George had always said he wanted to wait, that our first time should be special. Another lie.

"One hour," George repeated, gathering the divorce papers. "And take only what you brought into this marriage. Which, let's be honest, wasn't much."

I stood there, paralyzed by shock and betrayal, as George left the room with Lisa trailing behind him, her hand possessively on his back. Olivia lingered, her cold eyes assessing me.

"I always knew you'd end up like this," she said quietly. "Your mother had the same weakness, too trusting, too kind. It's pathetic."

She turned to leave, but Victor stayed, leaning against the doorframe. At twenty four, he had always made me uncomfortable with his lingering looks and 'accidental' touches.

"You can always stay with me, Angel," he offered, his eyes traveling down my rain soaked blouse. "I have a spare room. We could...get to know each other better."

"No, thank you," I managed, wrapping my arms around myself.

His smile turned cruel. "Suit yourself. But when you're sleeping on a park bench tonight, remember my offer."

When they finally left, I sank to the floor, my legs unable to hold me any longer. How had I been so blind?

I had truly truly believed George loved me.

We had grown up in the same poor neighborhood, though he had always been popular, a hustler with dreams bigger than our surroundings. When he'd finally noticed me, it had felt like a fairy tale.

I had encouraged him to invest the little money he had in a risky venture that had paid off enormously. Within two years, he had turned that investment into a small fortune, enough to start Sinclair Enterprises.

When he proposed, I thought it was because he loved me. Now I realized I had just been a prop in his rags to riches story.