The Return of the Woman They Understimated

Clara's pov

"Clara, if we divorce I promise that you will never see Luke again!"

A cold smile ran from ear to the other, curling my scarlet lips, "Who says I'm fighting for custody anyways? I'm kicking both you and your son out of my life."

He was dumbfounded, I took full advantage and yanked my hand out of his grip.

Not another word was uttered between us as I stalked over to the front door.

Without wasting time I fished out my phone and booked an immediate appointment with my attorney.

We met at her firm, she pushed up her thickly framed glasses when I said I wanted a divorce.

"I don't mean to pry, but are you sure about this, Mrs Winston?"

I chewed on my bottom lip, the doubt clouding her features made sense.

For almost decade I had been more of a loyal laptop than a wife to Nick, all he had to say was jump and I would ask 'how high?'

But not anymore.

"Yes, I'm sure. Begin drafting the papers-"

"Okay, but I'll have to warn you that the best case scenario will be 50/50 custody for Luke..."

"I'm not filing for custody, rather I want to give up my parental rights," I said point blank, my lawyer froze up, it was years of professionalism that allowed her to resume the motions without probing why I would not seek custody for the boy that I had raised as my own.

The drafting process chewed up most of my day, but at the end of it all I carried a folder containing a document that would help me finally sever all ties to Winston.

I was halfway to my car when a text struck my phone.

It was from my soon to be ex-husband.

((Get to the hospital now, Cassie just passed out!))

I clicked my tongue.

Typical Nick. He didn't think I was serious about the divorce and was already galavanting with his mistress again.

Good, I want her to be there anyways.

I already knew the hospital where she was, from the reception I was headed straight to her ward.

My heart kicked against my rib with every step.

This was the place.

The place where I gave her my kidney, the one she supposedly fed to street dogs.

Here was where I finally came to the truth that the two people I loved more than anything in the world care for me just as much as a piece of gum stuck under their shoe.

A lump continued to form in my throat however it didn't stop me from taking confident strides until I reached the ward room.

There was a square shaped opening at the door, through it I saw Luke throwing himself into Cassie's arms, Nick shook his head but you could see a little smile tugging the corner of his lip.

From here they looked like the perfect little family.

Now wouldn't it be tragic... So tragic if they were to lose it all?

I pushed the door forward making my entrance.

"Aunt Cassie, I wish it was my mommy who was sick instead of you."

"Luke,"Nick said his name in a tone of warning, "you shouldn't say that out loud."

I sighed quietly, the problem wasn't what he said but that he said it. Cassie stroked Luke's head.

"Nick you're always so hard on him, he's a kid he can't help but be honest all the time."

"Yes!"Luke said with vicious vindication, "Aunt always understands! I wish you weren't sick, can we get ice cream after?"

I instinctively stiffened, Luke had a sweet tooth like most kids and would eat ice cream and chocolate all day if you'd let him.

Within myself I chuckled bitterly, was that what made me the bad mommy? Because I didn't let him ruin his health? Hilarious.

I coughed because seeing them so happy was starting to make me sick to my stomach, Cassie was the first to notice me.

Her lips broadened into a big smile.

"Sis, you came..."

Nick finally noticed, he stomped over to me.

"I've been trying to get a hold of you all day. Where have you been?"

I gave him a passive shrug then presented the folder.

"Preparing our divorce agreement, don't tell me you haven't reached out to your own lawyer?"

His mouth opened as if inviting a fly to hover in.

"Are you still going on with this joke?"

"It's no joke Mr Winston," I said, thickly separating the document from the folder and pushing it into his fingers.

His eyes quickly scanned through, bulging wider after each line of ink at the end of it he balled up the agreement, tossing the trash.

I was hardly shocked.

Nick's short temper was nothing new to me, neither was his immaturity.

"I can just print another one," I said, meeting his eyes.

"We are not getting a divorce,"he insisted.

Hearing the word 'divorce' thrown around finally started making its impact on Luke, he subconsciously pulled away from his biological mother's arms then tipped his head off to look at me.

"Mommy are you divorcing daddy?"

"I'm not your mommy," I corrected him immediately, stabbing my finger towards my sister, "she's your mommy, isn't that what you wanted?"

Luke tried to grab my skirt, I took a quick step backwards he noticed, instantly his eyes swelled with tears.

My fingers twitched, the habit of a former life coming to hunt me. Before those tears never failed to melt away any anger I had but now they only solidified it because I saw them for what they were not true expressions of pain but manipulation learnt at such a tender age.

"Clara, please if you're going to be angry at anyone be angry at me... I'm the one who was shameless enough to come back."Cassie wanted to throw her little pity party but I was quick to shut it down.

"It's good that you understand your position," then I snapped to my husband, "now let's talk about my divorce settlement.”