Chapter 3
Cassie started babbling, her words tumbling out in a jumble. "I just think... Adam has it tough... Maybe we could help him out..."
I cut her off, saying, "Enough. I don't want to hear it anymore."
I turned and walked back to the couch, sitting down.
I said, "Tomorrow, my lawyer will reach out to you. The property, the savings, everything will be divided according to the law."
"No!" Cassie shouted, suddenly rushing over and grabbing my hand.
Her hand was ice-cold. "I won't let this happen! I won't agree to a divorce!"
She started crying. Big tears rolled down her cheeks.
She said, "Jacob, I messed up. I really did. Please, don't do this. Can we just sit down and talk? It was all my mom.
"She insisted on putting Adam's name on it. She said it would make his girlfriend's family look good. I just lost my head for a moment. I really didn't mean to."
She was dumping all the blame on someone else.
I just watched her act in silence.
This was the woman I'd slept beside for five years. Inside, my heart felt numb and cold.
If I hadn't taken a closer look at that contract today...
If I'd just signed my name and swiped my card without thinking...
That 1.8 dollars would've ended up as Adam's pre-marital property.
It would have nothing to do with me, or with this home, ever again. And I'd be nothing but a complete idiot.
I said calmly, "Cassie. Do you know what struck me most today?"
She looked at me with tearful eyes.
I continued, "I feel like I am not your husband. I'm just your family's workhorse. The guy who makes the money and gets milked for everything you want."
She shuddered and let go of my hand.
She said, "No... that's not it..."
I said, "You know exactly what's going on. I'm tired. I don't want to play this family game anymore."
Suddenly, the doorbell rang. The sound was sharp and insistent.
Cassie, like she was clutching at a lifeline, rushed to open the door.
Three people were waiting outside the door. My mother-in-law, Miranda Olsen, my father-in-law, Rowan, and Adam.
The whole Olsen family showed up together.
Miranda came right up to me as soon as she walked in.
Her finger was almost poking me in the nose. "Jacob, you heartless man! What has Cassie ever done to deserve this? Why are you treating her so badly?"
Rowan followed behind, face grim.
Adam hung back at the end, head down, refusing to meet my eyes.
Cassie was holding onto her mom, sobbing. "Mom, he wants to divorce me..."
"What?" Miranda's voice shot up another octave.
She snapped at me, "Divorce? What gives you the right? Let me tell you, Jacob. No daughter of the Olsen family gets sent back like some defective product!"
She plopped down on the couch across from me, banging her hand on her thigh in frustration.
She said, "If you don't give us an answer today, we're not leaving!"
It was a full-blown family showdown. The curtain had officially risen.
I watched this whole ridiculous show unfold right in front of me.
Strangely, I felt no anger at all. I just wanted to laugh.
Leaning back on the couch, I poured myself a glass of water, taking my sweet time.
I took a slow sip of water and asked, "An explanation? What exactly do you want from me?"
Miranda demanded, "Why are you picking on Cassie? Why are you bullying Adam?"
I shot back, "Me? Bullying them? I gave Adam 150 thousand dollars to start his own business, and he blew it all. Is that me bullying him?
"I paid for you to stay in the best hospital suite, dropped tens of thousands of dollars on your treatment. Is that me bullying you?
"I was about to shell out 1.8 million dollars for his wedding house today. Is that me bullying him?"
With every word I spoke, Miranda's expression soured even more.
Adam hung his head even lower, unable to meet my eyes.
"That's... that's different!" Miranda shot back, grasping at straws.
She continued, "You're my son-in-law! Isn't your job to make money for us to spend? You should be grateful that Cassie married you!
"Do you really think you'd be where you are today without her?"
I let out a laugh and said, "Honestly, I really don't know what I've got today that's thanks to her.
"I make one million dollars a year, and I earned every penny myself, working my ass off at the company.
"This house? I paid the down payment with my own money before we even got married. Sure, we paid the mortgage together after that, but I covered most of it."
I turned to look at Cassie. "Now, as for Cassie... She makes one million dollars a year. In the past five years, has she ever contributed a single cent to this family?
"Other than buying herself bags and clothes, what has she ever done for this family?"
Once again, everyone was stunned into silence.
Cassie's face went ghostly pale.
Adam finally looked up, mumbling under his breath. "Jacob, you're a grown man. Why are you even arguing with Cassie about this? Just let it go..."
"Shut up!" I snapped. My voice was sharp and commanding.
Adam jumped and clammed up right away.
I stood up and walked right up to them. I said, "Let me make this clear. First, the divorce is happening. No discussion."