Chapter 3 - The papers Marco needed me to sign
Marco handed me the envelope.
“Consider this your birthday gift to Leo.”
I didn’t take it.
“What is it?”
“An agreement.”
“For what?”
“Our separation.”
My mother gasped.
Marco continued as though discussing a restaurant reservation.
“You’ll move out temporarily.”
“Out of my house?”
“Technically, the property is marital residence.”
Technically.
Interesting choice of word.
The mansion had been purchased through an LLC I owned before our marriage.
Marco knew that.
Apparently, he was hoping I had forgotten.
“And Leo?”
Valerie answered.
“He stays.”
My entire body went cold.
“With whom?”
“With his parents.”
I looked at Marco.
Then Valerie.
“You mean with you two.”
Marco shrugged.
“That’s what’s best.”
I laughed once.
I couldn’t help it.
Marco’s smile disappeared.
“What’s funny?”
“You.”
He stepped closer.
“You think because you built some jewelry company, you control everything.”
“No.”
I looked directly into his eyes.
“I think because I own my company, I control my company.”
A few business associates exchanged looks.
Marco noticed.
He hated being contradicted publicly.
His hand hit my shoulder.
Hard.
I stumbled backward into the birthday table.
Flowers toppled.
Gift boxes fell.
A champagne glass shattered.
“MOM!”
Leo screamed.
My father surged forward.
Several guests restrained him before the confrontation became worse.
Marco pointed at me.
“Stop embarrassing yourself.”
I slowly stood.
Leo ran into my arms.
“Mommy!”
“I’m okay.”
Valerie crouched again.
“Leo, come here.”
He clung tighter.
“Come to your real mommy.”
“No!”
Then Leo suddenly released me.
He turned toward Valerie.
Pointed.
“You’re not my mom!”
Silence.
Marco forced a laugh.
“He’s confused.”
Leo shook his head.
“No, Daddy.”
Something about his tone changed Marco’s face.
Leo reached inside his little suit jacket.
“I heard you last night.”
Marco froze.
“What?”
“You and her.”
He pulled out a small phone.
My old backup phone.
“Leo?”
He looked at me.
“I’m sorry, Mommy. I took it from your desk.”
Marco lunged forward.
“Give me that!”
Leo jumped behind me.
I blocked Marco.
“Don’t touch him.”
Leo pressed the screen.
Then Marco’s own recorded voice came through the speaker.
“Once Andrea signs the papers, she’ll never know that Leo—”
Marco’s face turned white.
He grabbed for the phone.
I pulled Leo backward.
And Valerie screamed:
May you like
“Turn it off!”
That was when I realized the recording frightened her even more than it frightened Marco.
