You Had This Divorce Coming novel · Chapter 2 of 24

Chapter 2: The Heirloom

Calvin gives away her family charm in front of a ballroom, she takes it back off the baby's neck, slaps him and files for divorce on the spot.

Inside the banquet hall, Elise took a glass of orange juice from a passing tray and kept her eyes on her husband.

Calvin was flushed and cheerful.

He went from table to table with Selena, lifting his glass.

"My friend Nolan is overseas on a confidential infrastructure project," he told the guests. "He won't be home for a year, so I'm drinking his share today."

"Selena is still healing, so no alcohol for her. I'll take her rounds too. Bring it on!"

The guests cheered.

The juice tasted bitter and cold in Elise's mouth.

For five years she had stood beside Calvin at business dinners. He had pushed her to the front and bragged that she could out-drink anyone.

He had never once offered to drink for her.

She watched the color climb up his handsome face and felt sick.

She was about to step forward when the emcee called from the stage.

"Today is baby Miles's one-month celebration! His uncle Mr. Kenyon has prepared a special gift. Please welcome him!"

Calvin and Selena walked up with the baby between them.

Calvin lifted the green lacquer box and opened the gold clasp in front of the whole room.

Inside lay a gold baby charm, set with red garnets, shining under the lights.

The room gasped at it.

Elise felt the blood leave her hands.

"This charm is a family heirloom from the baby's aunt's side," Calvin said warmly. "It is worth a great deal. I'm giving it to little Miles, and I wish him a long life and a bright future."

That charm was a Harrow heirloom.

Her mother had brought it to her when she was six months pregnant, for the baby she was carrying.

Elise had locked it in the safe at Calvin's company so it would not get lost.

Now he had handed it to another woman's son without a word to her. His own daughter had not received a single gift from him.

She walked down the aisle and did not stop until she stood at the edge of the stage.

"Did the baby's aunt agree to that?" she asked. "You thought you could just give it away?"

Her voice cut across the hall.

Every head turned.

Calvin saw her. For a moment he looked alarmed. Then his face went smooth again.

He came down the steps, took her arm and pulled her out into the corridor.

"Ellie, why are you here?" he said in a low voice.

She pulled off her mask. Her voice shook. "Is there a reason I shouldn't be?"

"Make your scene later. Think about where you are." His jaw was tight. "Were you trying to humiliate me, shouting in front of everyone?"

She wrenched her arm free. "That charm was my mother's gift to our daughter. Who gave you the right to give it away?"

"Ellie, you've always been reasonable. Do you really have to embarrass me in a place like this?"

You've always been reasonable. She had heard that sentence a hundred times, and it always meant that she should give in.

"You gave my family's heirloom to your so-called nephew without asking me," she said. "Calvin, who is embarrassing whom?"

He glanced around and lowered his voice. "It's a gold charm. I ran out of time to have something made. Selena and Nolan aren't strangers. Why make this a big deal?"

"It isn't a gold charm," Elise said. "It's my family's heirloom. Get it back and return it to my daughter, or I won't let this go."

Pain tightened across her chest, and her surgical scar started to throb.

She could not stay upright. She dropped into a crouch, white in the face.

Calvin saw it. For one moment he looked unsure, and he stepped toward her.

A slim hand caught his sleeve.

"Cal, what's happening? Is Elise upset because you gave the charm to my baby?"

Selena stood over her in a custom evening gown, smiling, with no sign of having given birth a month ago.

"Oh, Elise, how worn out you look," she said. "I almost didn't recognize you."

Elise looked up at her.

Selena bent down and took her arm.

"Please don't be mad at Cal. He was going to bring the charm home for your baby, but I saw it and liked it."

"It's only gold. I'll buy you another one from a jeweler as a return gift. Okay?"

Her long nails dug into Elise's skin. It hurt.

Elise shoved her hand away.

Selena collapsed to the floor and cried out.

"What are you doing?" Calvin roared. "She just gave birth!"

He ran to Selena, lifted her up and turned on Elise with fury in his face.

Elise looked at the red marks on her arm. They were already turning purple.

She pressed her other hand against her scar.

"She just gave birth," she said. "What about me?"

"You're not like her," Calvin said coldly. "You're stronger."

Elise's face went white.

She forced herself to stand.

Before he could say another word, she slapped him across the face with everything she had.

"You are not like other husbands," she said. "You are worse."

Five years of swallowed insults rose in her throat and then went quiet. She had nothing left to say to him.

She turned and walked back into the banquet hall.

She went straight to the nanny who held Miles. The gold charm hung at his neck.

"What are you doing?" the nanny whispered.

"Taking back what is mine."

Elise pulled the charm over the baby's head and put it in her coat pocket.

Calvin came in behind her, rigid with anger. "Elise, how dare you..."

She turned around, and he stopped.

"I'm filing for divorce," she said, loud enough for the whole room. "I'll see you in court, Calvin."

He stood frozen. The anger left his face, and shock took its place, and then something close to disbelief.

← Chapter 1 · All chapters · Chapter 3 →

Want to keep talking to characters like these? Chat with AI romance characters: AI Boyfriend · AI Girlfriend · Dark Romance · Fantasy Romance · BL (Boys’ Love) · Billionaire Boyfriend · Mafia Boyfriend · Possessive Boyfriend · Hockey Boyfriend · Older Boyfriend · K-Drama Boyfriend · Anime Boyfriend · Vampire Boyfriend · Werewolf Boyfriend · Demon Boyfriend · Fae Romance · GL (Girls’ Love) · Anime Girlfriend · Goth & Alt Girlfriend · Gamer Girlfriend · Tsundere Girlfriend · Fantasy Girlfriend