"You... you..."


    Sandra was so furious she could barely catch her breath.


    Abell hurried to calm her down. "Come on, dear, you''re working yourself up over the kids and making yourself sick before you''ve even taught them a lesson."


    It took Sandra a while to steady herself. Her hands trembled as she pointed at Timothy. "Just listen to the nonsenseing out of your mouth! No wonder Jessy wants a divorce. Is it that she doesn''t know what''s good for her, or is it you who''s failed as a husband? Even yesterday, Sallie was saying the same things. You''ve been married seven years, and your own sister still dares to talk about your wife that way-who''s to me for that, if not you? If you never intended to treat her right, why did you marry her at all?"


    Timothy frowned. "I haven''t treated her badly. She''s just too demanding always overthinking everything."


    He''d provided for her, given her a home, done everything a husband was supposed to do.


    So what if they never had a big wedding? Their marriage certificate was legally binding-wasn''t that more practical than some fancy ceremony?


    But she still chose to be suspicious, still used him of having something with She.


    He''d humbled himself enough in front of her. Justst night, he''d held her hand- wasn''t that enough to show he cared?


    But she never saw the sincerity in his heart.


    "Timothy''s right, Grandma. Don''t let Jessica''s innocent face fool you," Sallie chimed in. "You have no idea-she neglects her own kid and still flirts with other men-"


    "Enough!" Sandra cut her off. "I''ve lived long enough to know someone''s character when I see it. But you two-brother and sister-you take things too far. If you can''t make this marriage work, then just get divorced. No need to drag it through the courts. Timothy, since you think she''s so ungrateful, and you''re so unhappy with her, let''s just settle things privately. If you''re too embarrassed to talk to her yourself, I''ll ask Vince to mediate. And we''ll make sure she gets proper child support-name your terms, I''ll get in touch with Vince."


    "No way!"


    "No way!"


    The twins answered in unison.


    Sandra snorted. "You two really are twins, aren''t you?"


    Same thoughts, through and through.


    Theyined about Jessica, yet neither was willing to let her go.


    Sallie was worried She would swoop in if the marriage ended, while Timothy had never truly intended to divorce.


    He could nitpick all he wanted, but when it came down to it, divorce was off the table.


    Sandra fixed Timothy with a re. "You refuse to treat her well, but you won''t let her go, either. What is it you really want?"


    She was standing on the stairs of the second floor, listening to every word.


    She heard it all, clear as day. Even Timothy''s adoptive mother was urging him to divorce, and still, he refused.


    "Grandma, please stay out of this. I''ll handle things myself," Timothy said.


    Sallie quickly echoed him. "Yes, let Timothy deal with it."


    If Timothy didn''t want a divorce, all the better.


    They couldn''t let that happen. She


    had nearly thrown herself at


    Timothy


    the other day-if they divorc


    who


    knows what would happen?


    Abell realized the kids were too old now for the older generation to interfere. He


    turned to Sandra. "Let Timothy sort it out himself."


    Sandra stormed off to her room, fuming.


    Abell followed her inside.


    Sandra turned to him, upset. "I just can''t help but feel sorry for Jessy. If she really wants the divorce, I want to support her. But now Timothy''s the one refusing-honestly, I''mpletely confused by them both."


    "She sounded pretty determined about divorcing today," Abell replied gently. "Maybe she thinks the courts will grant it, one way or another Don''t worry yourself, dear. We''re too be getting worked up over


    old


    this."


    The Novel will be updated first on this website. Come back and


    continue reading tomorrow, everyone!