When Family Became a Place I Couldn’t Return To novel Chapter 125

“I only ever felt responsible to take care of her. There was never any love.” Brody had never bothered to explain himself before, but right now, he really wanted Nelly to understand.

“Brody, I thought you might finally say something original.” Nelly let out a cold laugh.

She realized she’d been naive. For a moment, she’d actually thought Brody might have a real reason for everything. Responsibility without affection. Wasn’t that exactly what he’d said to her when he handed her the marriage agreement? He’d told her he had to take responsibility for the baby she was carrying, but love had nothing to do with it. As long as she accepted that, he’d never be the bad guy.

“It’s true. I don’t have feelings for her. Maybe I even…” Brody paused. Honestly, his feelings for Sheila were probably even less than what he felt for Nelly. Not that he even knew what he felt for Nelly. The words just wouldn’t come out.

“Brody, aren’t you tired of listening to yourself say that? Because I am.” Nelly’s voice dripped with sarcasm. She tilted her head, locking her gaze on Brody, who couldn’t look her in the eye. For the first time, she thought he actually looked a little pathetic.

“So, you feel responsible for Sheila? For what, exactly? Because she dumped you all those years ago and your pride can’t let it go? Or is it because she loved you so much and you repaid her by starting a family with me, so now you owe her some big apology?”

“Nelly, with Sheila, it’s really just…” Brody faltered under her questioning. He went silent, and Nelly just stared at him, icy and expectant. But he couldn’t get the words out.

Robin had taken his own life just to give him his heart. Brody always thought Robin’s death was a tragic coincidence, that getting his heart was fate. It wasn’t until Sheila left the country that he finally learned the whole truth.

Sheila loved him. That love had cost his father his life. His whole existence had only ruined Sheila’s family. He couldn’t handle it. He just couldn’t face it.

“Why aren’t you saying anything now?” Nelly noticed the way his face darkened. His silence only made her angrier.

“What’s wrong? Can’t own up to what you’ve done? Or is it that Sheila means nothing to you either, because you’re so numb you could have anyone by your side?”

Turns out, there really was no bottom to her disappointment in him.

Brody let out a cold laugh. “Yeah. I don’t have feelings. I told you that a long time ago.”

Nelly rolled her eyes. She was wasting her breath. “When are we signing the divorce papers?”

Brody’s throat tightened. He’s being backed into a corner like this, and he should have just said yes to the divorce on the spot. But he couldn’t bring himself to do it.

“Let’s wait a bit.”

“What’s there to wait for?”

“You added a lot of terms to the agreement. I have some things I want to add too. I’ll get my lawyer to draft a new copy. We’ll see then.”

Jonah didn’t answer. He just smiled faintly, then turned and got back into his car. A moment later, the luxury car pulled away.

Only after the car had disappeared did Brody crush out his cigarette and get into his own car. He sat there for a while, engine running, but didn’t drive off. Eventually, he pulled out his phone and called Alan.

“What’s Nelly been up to lately?”

The question caught Alan completely off guard. How would he know what Nelly was doing?

“Sir, I’m not sure…”

“Find out,” Brody interrupted, his voice frosty. “I want to know what she’s doing, who she’s with, everything.”

“Yes, sir.” Alan barely got the words out before Brody hung up.

Seriously, what is going on? Aren’t they supposed to be getting divorced?

That night, Nelly tossed and turned, unable to sleep. Jessie’s words from earlier kept echoing in her mind. Brody had a heart condition. He’d had a transplant. Remembering the way Brody hesitated earlier, Nelly couldn’t shake the feeling that he was hiding something from her, something big.