Chapter 4
They knew exactly where to stab so it would hurt the most.
All the affection we once shared had now become sharp weapons, used to stab me right where it hurt.
After all those years of humiliating myself just to please them, what did I ever gain from it?
They still looked down on me.
So why should I keep putting up with it?
I grabbed Laurel by the collar and slapped her hard across both cheeks.
"I've wanted to do that for ages. Keep your filthy mouth shut, you two-faced bitch," I spat.
Then I swept everything off the table, sending it crashing to the floor.
Shards flew everywhere, and the whole living room was a total mess.
"Since you all call me a shrew, then I'll show you what a real shrew can do," I said.
Thinking back on all the crap I put up with these past eight years, I gotta admit. It felt damn good right now.
All that patience just made them see me as a helpless little bunny, someone they could mess with and humiliate however they pleased.
Now I got it.
Enduring it had never done me any favors. If I didn't fight back, people would just walk all over me.
Aurora clutched her chest, gasping, her face twisted with fury as she shouted for a divorce.
I smiled. That was exactly what I wanted.
"Fine. Then have your precious grandson hurry up and sign the papers," I said, pulling the divorce documents from my bag and slapping them in front of Kamari.
But Kamari didn't even bother to look at them.
"Nicole, I get that you're emotional after losing the baby, but this is too far. Clean up this mess and apologize," he said.
I shot him a weird look, honestly wondering if he'd lost his mind.
I'd already put the divorce papers right in front of him. Did he really think I was just messing around?
"Kamari, I'm done with your family. I will not apologize. Just sign the damn papers. I want out, and I want it now," I shot back.
His face darkened. "Are you serious? You're really going to leave Robert behind too?"
I glanced at Robert hiding behind Laurel, my chest tightening.
But after everything the Larsons had taught him, he couldn't stand me. Even fighting for custody would only make him resent me more.
"Ever since Robert was born, you took him away from me. It's not that I don't want him. You forced this on me," I said.
I didn't care how the Larsons reacted. I just turned and walked away.
Eight years, and I was still the outsider, the girl with a criminal parent.
Even my own son recoiled from me.
So what in the Larson family was worth missing?
As soon as I got in the car, I saw Kamari chasing after me, banging on the window, desperate. "Nicole, let's talk this out!"
I ignored him, slammed on the gas, and sped away.
Back home, his calls flooded my phone nonstop.
I ignored every one, knowing he only wanted to talk about the divorce.
When he couldn't get through, he started spamming me with texts. [Why are you really divorcing me? Is it just because of that dog? Laurel didn't do it on purpose.]
[Or is this just you being jealous? Laurel and I grew up together. She's like a little sister to me; that's all.]
[I even sent you a new gift to say sorry. Why can't you just let it go?]
His messages kept popping up, but I didn't reply to a single one.
Even now, Kamari still couldn't understand why I wanted a divorce.
He still thought I was just overreacting about what happened on our wedding anniversary.
When I didn't reply, Kamari started spamming me even harder, his texts coming in nonstop.
The constant pinging of notifications was driving me crazy.
I shot back: [Just sign the divorce papers as soon as possible.]
Kamari went silent. For days, not a single message. I didn't rush him.
After eight years of centering my life on him, I figured he needed time to adjust to me finally walking away.
During that time, I searched for a job.
Eight years as a full-time housewife had left me out of touch with the world. Most of my old skills were useless.
I found a job at a dessert shop nearby.
Making desserts really tested my patience and needed my full attention, which was just what I needed to take my mind off all the drama with the Larsons.
Apparently, I had a talent for it. Most desserts came naturally to me once I tried them. The more I got used to the routine, the more I found myself loving it.
The dessert shop was just around the corner from my apartment complex, and it had plenty of regular customers.
People couldn't stop praising my desserts, and some kids even begged their parents to let them come every day. It made me laugh and shake my head.
Being around these folks every day, I started to feel like I was finally finding my place in the world again.