Chapter <b>7 </b>
“Congrattions! The little mermaid finally made it to shore and gets to live happily ever after with her prince.“]
“But guess what? What do you think this fairy tale’s real ending <b>is </b>gonna be<b>?</b><b>“</b>]]
Once upon a time, wasn’t I a little mermaid too?]
For love, I cut off my own tail and walked into the graveyard called marriage.
I traded my voice away and lost the right to exin what love meant.[]
Every step felt like walking on knives, watching helplessly as the man I loved tangled himself up with someone else.]
But I’m done. I’m so fucking done.[]
I pulled out the divorce papers I’d prepared and mmed them in Leonel’s face.
“Leonel, let’s get divorced.“]]
He fumbled to catch them, and his pupils shrank when he saw what was inside.]
“Divorce? You want to leave me with nothing?<b>“</b>]
We’d made a pact once–no matter how bad our fights got<b>, </b>neither of us would ever mention divorce.]
He knew I was serious. Stumbling, he tried to grab my hands, panic in his voice:[]
“Kendall, I was just freaking out before. It’s my fault.“]]
“Let me exin, okay? Don’t do this. Please?”
His expression softened, but then his eyes swept over my stomach and he froze.
Finally noticing it waspletely t.[]
“Where’s the baby<b>?</b><b>” </b>
He grabbed my shoulders <i>so </i>hard it hurt:]
“I’m asking you! Where is my child?“]]
I let him shake me, a cold smile slowly spreading across my <b>face</b><b>.</b>[]
“Casey, bring it in.“[]
I took a <b>cooler </b>from Casey’s hands and casually tossed it on the floor.]
“<b>Take </b>a look. This is my wedding gift <b>to </b>Amari, from you.”
<b>hapter </b>
The cooler opened. Leonel took one look and copsed.[]
He seemed to lose it, asking over and over<b>: </b>“Why? Why? Why?!“]
I stared down at him emotionlessly, my heartpletely dead.[]
“When you jumped in the ocean to save Amari<b>, </b>our baby-”
“No.” I corrected myself with a bitterugh. “Your and Amari’s baby was already gone.“[]
Leonel’s head snapped up, eyes wide with horror.[]
“You… you know everything…“]
He tried to lunge at me.]
Casey had finally had enough and kicked him hard in the chest.]
“You son of a bitch!“]
Leonel crashed backward, his head mming against the floor.]
I towered over him, every word cutting deep.]
“Leonel, remember when yourpany was about to go bankrupt? My parents swallowed their pride and borrowed money from every friend and rtive to bail you out. Later, when my dad was dying and needed money for a kidney transnt, you were ‘traveling for work‘ and wouldn’t even answer your phone.“[]
“How fucking ironic that I only found out today–the day my father died because we couldn’t afford the surgery, you were out buying Amari a house, dropping TEN million!“]
Hot tears poured down my face, my hands shaking as I spoke.[]
“I was such an idiot, working my ass off for this family, giving everything for your career. I got you sess while I lost everything!”
My hand came down hard across Leonel’s face.]
“Leaving with nothing is thest bit of dignity I’m giving you!“]]
Every word hit where it hurt most.
He hung his head, expression unreadable.]
But Amari flew into a rage, pointing at Casey and me and shrieking:
“Talk is cheap! I bet you and this homewrecker have been screwing around behind Leo’s back! You just want to dump him and run off together<b>, </b>you fucking-“]
Before “bitch” could leave her mouth, I grabbed a trumpet from one of the musicians and smacked her over the head with it.[]
“Is it your turn <b>to </b>talk? You’ve got some fucking nerve!“]
Amari burst into tears with a loud “WAAAAH!“[]
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