When My Ex's Worst Enemy Became My Sanctuary novel Chapter 203

Mamie thought she must have misheard. Then Scott repeated himself, every word clear as day. “I need someone too. Why don’t we give it a shot?”

She pulled her lips into a strained smile. “Scott, don’t joke around. We’re not right for each other.”

“What’s not right? I actually think we’re a good match.”

Scott’s honesty left Mamie flustered. “We barely know each other. And I don’t think marriage is about settling for someone just because it’s convenient. Do you get what I’m saying?”

Scott’s eyes grew shadowed. Did she really see being with him as settling?

She kept going, her voice gentle but firm. “And I’m sorry for bringing this up, I don’t mean to hurt you. I don’t know what happened between you and Garth’s mom. Maybe I look a little like your ex-wife, but I’m not her. I don’t want to be anyone’s replacement. You understand, right?”

“I understand,” Scott said quietly. “But who ever said you were a replacement?”

Mamie froze. Scott’s dark eyes locked onto hers, and for a moment, she couldn’t read what was going on in his mind. In those few seconds, his gaze almost pulled her in.

She shook her head, trying to clear her thoughts. “Either way, we’re not right for each other. Sorry, Scott, but I have to go.”

She slipped away to her car, hands clammy with nerves. It felt like escaping.

She sat for a moment, taking deep breaths until her heart stopped racing.

Scott wasn’t someone she should get involved with.

Mamie couldn’t help but wonder if she’d sent the wrong signals. She needed to be more careful from now on.

Once she finally calmed down, she drove off. Scott stayed in the back seat, eyes fixed on her car as it disappeared, then spoke softly. “Aaron, let’s go.”

***

After three days of Layton’s persuasion, Carola finally agreed to the divorce.

Lately, Layton couldn’t even look at Elise without feeling annoyed. It was all because Dorothea was her daughter. If it weren’t for Dorothea, Carola wouldn’t be the target of everyone’s gossip right now.

The threat worked. Half an hour later, Dorothea appeared.

“Elise, why are you here again? I thought we already cut ties.”

“You’re the one who disowned me first,” Elise shot back, cheeks burning, but her chin held high. “Dorothea, how can you just sit back and watch your own mother get divorced? Does that make you happy?”

“None of this would have happened if you hadn’t ruined Carola’s wedding. Now Carola won’t speak to me, Alonzo ignores me, and even Layton can’t stand me anymore. All because of you.”

“Why can’t you just leave my life alone? Why do you always have to turn everything upside down?”

Dorothea’s voice was cool. “Why couldn’t you stay away from Albert? You’ve messed up their marriage and now they’re talking about divorce. Can you really sleep at night knowing what you’ve done?”

Dorothea looked at her mother’s trembling lips and let out a cold laugh. “I sleep just fine.”

She raised her chin a little. “And I have to ask, if we’re no longer family, why are you still trying to guilt-trip me?”