All Chapters of Eight Divorces Too Many: Chapter 1 - Chapter 9

The moment I stepped out of the courthouse, I saw Charlotte Crowe coaxing Victor Sterling with a soft, indulgent look on her face.Half an hour ago, Victor had been at home, threatening to kill himself. Now, after only a few words from her, he was smiling like nothing had happened.Every time I saw something like that, I felt that same strange, disorienting disbelief.Was he really the same person who had smashed a glass bottle, held a sharp shard to his throat, and screamed until his voice tore raw?Today was supposed to be my third wedding anniversary with Charlotte.Only, calling it our third anniversary was almost laughable.If we counted from the first time we got married, then yes, it had been exactly three years.But in between, we had divorced and remarried, then divorced and remarried again.It had only been a month since our most recent wedding.Now, we were divorced again.In three short years, we had married eight times and divorced eight times.I never thought t

"Gregory, do you even hear yourself right now?" Charlotte hissed. "I only asked you to make dinner. Why are you making such a scene?"I clenched my teeth against the pain and said nothing.But in Charlotte's eyes, my silence looked like defiance.Victor stood off to the side and said in that sour, needling tone, "Charlotte, I think Gregory just can't stand me. Every time you ask him to do something for me, he acts like it's some huge burden. If you married someone like him, won't I end up getting kicked out of your house?"Charlotte's eyes flashed with anger. She grabbed my hand, dragged me into the kitchen by force, and shoved me hard against the counter.There was no warmth at all on her cold, expressionless face."If you can't make the food Victor wants tonight, then you can stay in this kitchen until morning!"With a bang, Charlotte slammed the kitchen door shut.A purple bruise had already formed around my wrist, and when I hit the corner of the stove just now, the skin on

"Gregory, what are you doing?" Charlotte asked, rattled.I pulled my hand free and looked at her calmly."I think it's pretty clear. From now on, if you want dinner, you'll have to make it yourselves."Charlotte's face froze, and unease flickered through her eyes. She opened her mouth to speak, but I had already pushed my suitcase forward and turned toward Maeve Rivers, a smile appearing on my face for the first time in a long while."It's been a while, Maeve. Sorry you had to come pick me up yourself."The coldness on Maeve's face softened, and a trace of sympathy appeared in her eyes."If things were this bad, you should've called us a long time ago. With us here, no one gets to bully you."The words were clearly aimed at Charlotte.As Maeve spoke, she even glanced in Charlotte's direction.Warmth rose in my chest. Even after all these years, Emma and Maeve still protected me the way they used to.Maeve took the suitcase from my hand."If there's nothing else, let's go.

I didn't return a single one of Charlotte's texts or calls.Before I could put my phone away, she called again. I hadn't planned to answer, but my finger had already pressed the button out of habit.Charlotte's frantic voice came through at once."Gregory, where the hell did you go?"Why didn't you answer my calls all night? Why didn't you reply to any of my messages?"And who was the woman who picked you up last night? Why have you never told me about her? What exactly is your relationship with her?"Say something. Answer me!"I had to admit, hearing Charlotte so furious she was almost losing her mind gave me a strange sense of satisfaction.In the past, watching her and Victor stay tangled together had made me so angry that I felt sick.Now, she finally got to taste what that felt like."What does who she is have to do with you?"Charlotte, don't forget that we're already divorced. Even if I have another woman now, there's nothing wrong with that."What, you and Victor ca

Victor's voice shook. "You're leaving me for this man?"I frowned instinctively.I had only just sensed that something was wrong with Victor when Charlotte began speaking in a hesitant voice."Victor, whatever it is, we can talk about it when we get back. Right now, I need to clear things up with Gregory."Victor had always given in to Charlotte, but not this time. His voice came out sharp and desperate."No! Charlotte, I heard everything you just said. You can't leave me. I won't let you!"Charlotte's anger flared as well, and she shouted back."Victor, you're a grown man now. I have my own life, too. Why do you keep clinging to me? Because of you, Gregory and I have divorced eight times. When are you finally going to let me go?""Your life is mine! If he won't marry you, then I will!" Victor blurted out. Charlotte froze in shock. She stared at him in horror, as if she could hardly believe those words had come from his mouth."You're out of your mind. You have to be out o