Chapter 6 A Marriage Shattered in Public

I calmly turned off my phone screen.

In the past, I might have felt heartbroken. I might have lost control and demanded an explanation from Brooke. But now, none of it mattered anymore.

I printed out the divorce papers and, for the first time, took a taxi to Brooke's office. Back then, in her eyes, even that would have been considered wasteful. Money spent with nowhere better to go.

But when I arrived, I was told Brooke was attending a banquet. Security stopped me at the entrance.

I was about to leave when Isaac, who had stepped outside for some air, spotted me. In the end, as her rightful husband, I still had to rely on a few casual words from him—his charity—just to be allowed inside.

Isaac walked over, a provocative smile tugging at his lips. "Marcus, doesn't it feel awful, being unwanted by everyone? Too bad… Brooke's attention is all on my son and me. She can't possibly spare any time to care about how you're living. A thousand dollars isn't easy to live on, is it? How about this? I'll plead your case tonight, see if Brooke will toss you a few hundred more?"

In the past, I would have snapped in an instant. But now, my heart was like a pool of stagnant water—utterly still. All I could think about was how to end this marriage as quickly as possible.

When I did not flip out as he had expected, Isaac grew irritated. He suddenly leaned closer, lowering his voice. "You don't seriously think you can keep your place for much longer, do you, Sullivan? Brooke said she wants to have a child with me, a child that belongs only to the two of us. She even said that every time she looks at Jane's face, the part that resembles you makes her sick."

My gaze remained steady. "I feel sorry for your son, Jamison. Even his own father doesn't love him."

The heavy scent of his cologne was so overwhelming it made me nauseous. I instinctively stepped back to avoid him, but he shoved me hard, sending me crashing to the ground.

His eyes were red with anger, spit flying as he shouted, "Sullivan, you're a pathetic, unloved piece of shit! Who are you to judge me?"

My head hit the edge of a nearby table. A wave of dizziness hit me, and in that dazed moment, I was dragged back to that day—surrounded, humiliated, watched by everyone.

The surge of trauma snapped something in me. I shot to my feet, fists clenched, and swung toward Isaac's face.

But before I could land the blow, my wrist was seized. A powerful force shoved me away.

I staggered, barely regaining my balance, only to see Brooke standing in front of Isaac, shielding him. Her face was filled with an unmistakable warning. "What are you doing, causing trouble here, Marcus?"

Isaac had lost all his earlier arrogance. He clutched Brooke's wrist, sobbing softly, wholly aggrieved.

Brooke's gaze flicked to my reddened forehead. She froze for a moment, then raised her hand as if to touch it. "What happened? It's bruising—"

"I'm sorry, Brooke," Isaac choked out through his tears. "I got livid. I didn't want my son to be labeled as having a father who's someone's lover…"

Her hand stopped midair. The softness in her expression vanished, replaced once again by icy indifference. "Marcus, no matter what, you shouldn't have said something so outrageous. Isaac is sensitive and well-mannered, unlike you."

I looked at her face and suddenly laughed.

"This is a banquet. Whatever it is, we'll talk about it when we get home—"

She did not get to finish as my hand came down hard across her face.

Brooke's expression darkened instantly. Her face turned ashen as she brushed Isaac's hand away. "Have you finished your pathetic act, Marcus? Don't try to use something this ridiculous to get my attention!"

I yanked out the divorce papers and slammed them against her face, my expression filled with cold mockery. "You think I'm playing games with you, Brooke? You're wrong. Right now, all I want is a divorce."