"Cut the crap and sign."
"Considering everything we've been through, I've left you a fair share of assets. Enough to live comfortably for the rest of your life."
But before Brendan could say a word, Cindy shot to her feet and ripped the divorce agreement to shreds. "Debbie, you gold-digging tramp! Have you no shame?"
She was practically frothing at the mouth. "You're leaving Mr. Sanchez a couple of properties while you swallow Henson Sterling Group whole? How dare you! That company is Mr. Sanchez's life's work!"
Watching her little performance, I almost laughed. If she only knew that Henson Sterling Group was mine, and the man she'd schemed so hard to get was nothing more than a live-in husband with no stake in any of it. Now that would be entertaining.
"Debbie, will you stop with this nonsense!" Brendan gripped my shoulders with both hands. "I'm going to chalk today up to you being impulsive. But if you bring this up again, I will be genuinely angry."
"Although... you really should learn a thing or two from Cindy. She's gentle, she's considerate, and she'd never fly off the handle the way you do."
There was no getting through to him. I didn't bother trying anymore. My lawyers were already preparing to file.
I gathered my things, ready to leave this house I'd lived in for years. It was time to go home to the family estate and look after my parents.
Brendan saw me packing. He didn't stop me. "Just stay at a hotel for a few days. Once Cindy finds a place of her own, you can move back. After all, it was your little tantrum that cost her the job. You owe her that much."
The moment he left, Cindy dropped the act entirely. "Oh my, isn't Mrs. Sanchez supposed to be so tough? What happened? Slinking off with your tail between your legs?"
"Without Mr. Sanchez, you're just another washed-up old woman. I really don't understand what you've been so high and mighty about all this time."
She taunted me, waggling her ring finger in my face. On it sat a diamond ring. The diamond ring. The one Brendan had used to propose to me.
I didn't indulge her for a second. My palm cracked across her face, and I seized her hand, wrenched the ring off her finger, and tossed it straight into the toilet. "What's mine gets thrown away before it ever goes to you. And for the record, everyone calls me Ms. Henson. Nobody has ever dared call me Mrs. Sanchez."
"Debbie!"
Behind me, Cindy's shrieking curses didn't let up.
The next day, I went to pick up a custom order.
My father's birthday gala was coming up soon. I could never get comfortable in those couture gowns, so months ago I'd commissioned a bespoke suit at considerable expense.
Standing in front of the familiar storefront, I felt a pang. The last time I'd been here, Brendan had come with me. He'd said that once I put on that suit, I'd look so striking he'd have to fight off every man in the room.
And now, in the blink of an eye, he was the one tangled up with another woman.
"Ms. Henson, your suit was already picked up by Mr. Sanchez."
Why would he take my suit?
Baffled, I floored the accelerator and drove straight to Brendan's place.
One look was all it took. I knew exactly what he'd done. The suit that belonged to me was on Cindy's body. She stood in front of the mirror admiring herself, then turned to Brendan with a simpering smile. "Brendan, don't I look so much better in this than that old hag Debbie?"
Brendan dipped his head and tapped the tip of her nose, indulgent as ever. "You're young. Of course everything looks good on you."
A few days apart and she's already calling him by pet names. I could have laughed.
"Sure, it looks good," I said, stepping forward. "But I wonder if people would still compliment you once they found out the suit was stolen."
