When Family Became a Place I Couldn’t Return To novel Chapter 33

Brody was clearly invested in Sheila, and Nelly wasn’t about to let a golden chance slip away.

From the other end of the line, someone must have overheard Nelly’s voice. Brody lowered his tone, soothing, “It’s nothing. I’ll be right there.” He ended the call quickly, like he was afraid of what Nelly might say next.

“Just sign it already. That way, your precious girlfriend won’t have to worry.” Nelly held out the pen again, but Brody didn’t even bother to glance at it. He strode right past her.

Watching him leave without a backward look, Nelly abandoned any pretense of pride. She grabbed his arm, gripping tight. “If you won’t sign it, then your darling can wait. I want to see just how loyal you really are, Brody, when self-interest is on the line. Are you going to care about her then?”

“Let go.” Brody’s gaze didn’t shift toward her, but his voice was cold and commanding. This time, he was truly angry.

Nelly clenched her jaw. His hand closed around her wrist. He didn’t even squeeze very hard, but the pain shot up her arm. Still, she refused to back down, and Brody finally lost all patience. He twisted his body, and Nelly was thrown off balance. Pain hit her stomach as she stumbled into the edge of the table and crumpled to the floor.

Brody’s reflexes kicked in, and he reached out, but stopped when he saw Nelly gripping the divorce agreement, her eyes stubborn and fierce. “For Carrie. For Finn. I’m begging you, just sign it.”

Brody’s throat worked as he swallowed. After a long moment, he walked over, took the agreement from her, and ripped it in half.

“Brody!”

Sheila had been sobbing on the phone, barely able to get her words out, saying someone had broken in. She was panicked, her sentences all jumbled, clearly not in a good state of mind. Brody remembered what Robin had warned him, and his heart pounded in his chest.

When he reached Sheila’s house, the front door was wide open. Inside, the place was chaos. The living room and bedroom were total wrecks, furniture tossed everywhere. In Sheila’s studio, every painting was slashed. On the big art wall, her portrait had been torn to pieces.

Brody’s frown deepened. He called out for Sheila, searching every room. Finally, he found the bathroom door locked. Without hesitating, he kicked it open. Sheila was in the tub, half her body underwater, limp and still.

“Sheila!” All at once, panic crashed over him. He grabbed a towel, lifted her from the water, and carried her quickly back to the bedroom.