Breaking Point of Divorce (Hugh and Bethan) novel Chapter 9

They hadn’t seen each other for several days.

When their eyes met in the elevator, Bethan quickly looked away after catching Hugh’s gaze for just a moment.

She’d been staying at a cheap motel, crying herself to sleep most nights. She’d barely been eating—when she did manage to get food down, she’d just throw it back up. The cycle of sleeping, crying, and feeling sick had consumed her days.

Hugh hadn’t texted or called even once.

She thought she was getting better, that maybe she was finally moving past the hurt.

But seeing Hugh with his arm around Megan in the elevator felt like a knife twisting in her chest.

At least Miranda was out of the hospital now. There was nothing stopping her from filing for divorce.

Hugh’s jaw tightened as he took in Bethan’s appearance. She looked terrible—pale and thin, like she hadn’t slept in days.

As more people crowded into the elevator, Hugh looked away and pulled Megan closer.

“The elevator’s pretty full,” Bethan told her parents. “Let’s catch the next one.”

Back at her parents’ house, Bethan lingered instead of heading home.

Vincent went out to pick up groceries for dinner.

Miranda pulled her daughter aside. “Honey, what’s really going on? You and Hugh had a fight, didn’t you?”

A mother always knew.

Miranda had noticed how exhausted and withdrawn Bethan had been lately.

Tears started streaming down Bethan’s face, which alarmed Miranda. “Sweetheart, what did he do?”

Miranda knew her daughter was head-over-heels for Hugh. It would take something devastating to break her down like this.

Without a word, Bethan collapsed into her mother’s arms, sobbing.

Miranda understood immediately. Soon they were both crying.

When Bethan finally cried herself out, she managed to say, “Mom, his ex is back. I want a divorce.”

Miranda gently wiped her daughter’s tears. “Whatever you decide, your father and I support you completely.”

When they came out of the bedroom, Vincent was standing by the door, his eyes red. The grocery bags shook in his hands.

“This is my fault,” he said, his voice breaking. “I failed you.”

If he hadn’t lost everything in the business, his daughter never would have had to go through this. Over the years, they’d depended on Hugh’s support. He didn’t even feel he had the right to confront Hugh about hurting his daughter.

That night, Bethan stayed at her parents’ place.

When Hugh came home to an empty house, he wasn’t surprised. Bethan was thoughtful like that—of course she’d want to take care of her mom after a hospital stay.

He called his mother to let her know Bethan was back safe.

When Fiona heard Bethan had returned, she and Gwen rushed over but couldn’t find her.

“Her mom just got discharged,” Hugh explained. “She’s staying there tonight.”

Fiona was furious. “Hugh, shouldn’t you be there helping out when her mother comes home from the hospital?”

Hugh shrugged. “Mom, her parents are understanding people. They won’t hold it against me.”

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