From “Clingy” to Gone My Independence Was His Biggest Regret novel Chapter 41

Chapter 5

Chapter 5

I shoved him off, clutching my chest, gagging–but nothing came up.

You can’t see I’m sick? You just had to come here and make me sicker.”

My voice was ice.

collapsed back on the chaise as Grace dabbed my face with a warm cloth.

Scarlett.” Theodore snapped, “you’re still the lady of this house.”

Stop picking fights with Serena. She’s fragile–she can’t take this stress.”

snatched the teacup from the table and hurled it at him.

Serena! Serena! Is that all you see? Have you even asked me once how I’m feeling?”

Get out!”

heodore’s face flushed red, then pale.

cut opened on his temple. He stormed off in a fury.

e didn’t come home for days.

nd in New York, gossip spread like wildfire.

he women who once envied me were practically lining up to spit on my grave.

1. rs. Agatha Vanderbilt made sure everyone knew–Serena had severed all ties with her family.

ven Cornelia saw how dangerous Serena’s presence was.

le played soft with me, trying to soothe me, while ordering Theodore locked in his study.

o visitors. No more money sent Serena’s way.

>rnelia meant to starve the affair out of existence.

it three years of marriage isn’t nothing. I couldn’t just turn it all off.

I carried a bowl of broth to his study myself.

e moment he saw me, he exploded–knocked the bowl clean from my hands.

of soup burned my skin.

e blamed me for everything–called me false, manipulative, petty.

ud I was no different from the squabbling wives clawing at each other in their parlors.

dutched my scalded hand and stared at him.

or the first time, I saw him dearly

nd my whole heart went cold.

heodore had a title at court, but it was meaningless–just a decoration.

10:38

Chapter 5

Cornelia could lock him up for a while, but not forever.

One day he went to attend a hearing.

His father pulled him aside, asked about the gossip.

Theodore stood there, head lowered, silent.

And when his father reminded him of the frenzy he’d raised to marry me–of the promises he’d sworn–Theodore mumbled he would do right by me, make it vork.

But halfway home, a letter from Serena arrived.

And he turned straight to East 12th Street.

hat morning, my mother came to see me.

ler face was worried, her hands trembling as she cupped my cheeks.

Scarlett, why keep this from us? Why not tell us when things got this bad?”

buried my face against her shoulder and sobbed.

he stroked my hair like when I was a girl.

You don’t have to fight alone. Your father and I will stand behind you.”

hen she sighed, voice heavy.

Oh, if only we hadn’t been so blind.”

He looked so devoted, so handsome, so well–born. We thought he’d never waver.”

But he’s just another faithless man.”

My poor girl.”

lifted my head, words careful but desperate.

Mother if I were to divorce him.”

he went quiet. At last, she said,

fit comes to that, you’ll come home.”

four father and I will have you. But now–you’re with child. You need to think of the baby,”

froze, staring at her.

:-child?

er eyes lit up, a smile breaking

Grace told me you’ve been sick. I guessed it right away. The doctor confirmed it

was stunned. I had a baby. My baby.

Children can mend things,” she said gently

With a baby. Theodore might settle down. You might even win his heart back

he joy shattered like glass.

Chapter 5

Even my mother thought the reason my marriage was falling apart was because I hadn’t given him a child.

Everyone must think the same.

That I was the problem.

Was this child a blessing–or just another chain?

Father was overjoyed when he heard, urging me to think of the child before all else.

He scolded Theodore, said Theodore knew he’d gone too far.

But then he begged me to let it go, forgive.

A storm brewed inside me.

Had I been wrong? Was I the selfish one?

Before Theodore, I’d had plans of my own.

To see the world. To study abroad.

To live beyond the walls of some mansion.

And now?

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