Chapter 2

2

Seeing the cold determination in my eyes, Joanne lost her temper. "Fine! If you want to leave, leave. Get out today, and don't bother coming back!"

She signed the divorce papers with a flourish. I grabbed the documents and walked toward the door without looking back. "Uncle Evan, aren't you taking your stuff?" Leo called out.

"Dad said he wants to move in tonight to stay with us, and your things are kind of in the way." I couldn't tell if Leo was being an innocent child or if he was as heartless as his mother. Hearing that made me regret every sacrifice I had made for him over the last decade.

In the middle of the night, I walked down the long, empty street alone. I didn't know where home was anymore. Every bit of effort I had put into that family felt like a pathetic comedy.

I wandered aimlessly for half an hour until a pair of bright headlights blinded me. A car pulled up right beside me. "Evan, it's been a long time!"

It was Jace. He rolled down his window and smirked. Before I could say a word, he spoke first. "Joanne said she and the boy were scared being home alone. I'm heading over to keep them company."

Jace showed me a text on his phone. Joanne had sent him a message in a sweet, flirtatious tone. "Hubby, it's just me and Leo here. Won't you come over and stay with us?"

Joanne and I had never been that sweet. Even our monthly intimacy felt like she was just checking off a chore on a list. "Evan, thanks for looking after my son all these years. Now that I'm back, I'll take it from here."

Jace's eyes were full of provocation. He was doing this on purpose. Since we were kids, he had always tried to steal anything I liked. He even blamed my birth for stealing our mother's affection.

"I know you did a lot, Evan, but Joanne's heart only has room for me. I've got to get going. They're waiting!" Jace sped off, leaving me standing in his exhaust.

I was shaking with so much rage that I felt the blood pressure spiking in my head. Something warm started dripping from my nose. When I saw the red blood on my fingers, my vision went black, and I lost consciousness.