Her Husband's Other Life novel · Chapter 7 of 24

Chapter 7: Emptied

On Monday morning I sat in Geraldine Penrose's office with a cup of tea I wasn't allowed to finish.

"Decaf," Geraldine said, when I tried to give it back. "Don't look at me like that. I raised three of my own."

Her desk was covered in paper.

On top lay a letter on heavy cream stationery, with a law firm's name across the top.

"His lawyer wrote back already," she said. "That's quick for a man who claims he wants to save the marriage."

She read it out in a flat voice.

Mr. Oxley does not consent to a dissolution at this time.

Mr. Oxley regards the events of April first as a social prank that his wife has misunderstood.

Mr. Oxley is deeply concerned for his wife's wellbeing in her condition.

"Her condition," I said.

"He's told them." Geraldine took off her glasses.

"Or his lawyer guessed. Either way, your husband knows the one thing I wanted him not to know."

"He took the report out of my hand."

"I know. You told me." She tapped the letter.

"Cora, listen to me. This letter changes nothing."

"He cannot force you to stay married to him. He can only make it slow."

"How slow?"

"As slow as he's willing to look bad."

"He doesn't look bad to anybody. He's the saint who stayed through the treatments."

"Not for long," Geraldine said. "Open your banking app."

I did.

The Family Future Fund was gone.

Keep reading free with an account. Start Her Husband's Other Life from Chapter 1, then sign up free to read the rest of this chapter.