Chapter 3

3

Watching his silhouette disappear around the top of the stairs, I finally spoke.

"Silas Hayes."

The moment she heard his name, Mandy reacted as if she had been electrocuted.

She screamed hysterically, clutching his collar with all her might.

"Don't let her say your name! Don't! I don't want to hear her voice!"

"Silas, make her leave! Throw her out!"

Silas halted immediately, looking down to rub her back in soothing circles.

"Good girl, Mandy. Don't be scared. I'm right here."

His voice was so tender it practically dripped with honey. He held her securely, helping her catch her breath.

He completely ignored me standing down below.

Mandy buried her face in his neck, sobbing broken accusations.

"She wants to steal you… I know it… She's always trying to…"

"She won't. Nobody can take me away from you."

Silas's voice was deep and steady as his fingers ran gently through her hair. "I'll always belong to you, Mandy."

I stood at the bottom of the stairs, watching him comfort her tirelessly for nearly ten minutes.

It wasn't until Mandy's wails softened into quiet whimpers that Silas finally looked up.

His cold, detached gaze swept over me.

"What did you want to say?"

"Let's get a divorce."

When I said the words, my voice was so steady that it surprised even me.

Silas froze mid-step. Mandy seemed to sense the shift in the air and grew quiet as well.

He slowly turned around, a mocking sneer curling on his lips as if he had just heard the most ridiculous joke in the world.

"Divorce?"

He repeated the word slowly, wanting to make sure his ears weren't playing tricks on him.

He let out a short, mocking laugh and walked down the steps, glaring down at me from above.

"Savannah," his voice dripped with raw condescension. "Did you lose your mind in that hospital bed? Or is this…"

He dragged out the sentence, his eyes trailing contemptuously over my empty right sleeve and pale face.

"Is this just another pathetic trick to get my attention?"

I clenched my remaining left hand, my fingernails digging into my flesh.

Seeing my silence, he scoffed, his gaze turning even colder.

"Look at yourself right now. How many days could you even survive without me, huh?"

His words cut into me like sharp blades. "A cripple who can't even take care of herself doesn't have the right to ask for a divorce."