Adeline let out a scornful laugh. "It's your mother who's sick, not mine. Why should I care?"
Alex tossed a divorce agreement in front of me. "I already drafted it. Just sign."
Adeline found a pen and threw it at me. "I checked with a lawyer. As long as I leave the marriage with nothing and don't take a single dollar, I won't be liable for a cent of your debt."
"Hurry up and sign. Don't hold up my wedding to Alex."
I almost laughed. I reached over and signed.
She was walking away from the marriage with nothing just to dodge the debt. That meant the billions in my family's assets would never touch her hands.
The moment I set the pen down, Alex grabbed my arm and tried to drag me toward the door. "Come on, let's get to the county clerk's office and make it official. Nothing in the world is more urgent than this."
I shook him off. "My mother has surgery today. I don't have time for this."
Peggy kicked me in the shin. "Quit whining! Even if your mother dropped dead today, you'd sign these papers first!"
They dragged me out the door, hauling and shoving me the entire way to the county clerk's office.
The whole trip, Peggy ran her mouth at full volume, telling anyone within earshot that I owed a hundred million dollars.
People on the street stopped to stare.
"Apparently the guy took out a loan shark's money. His own wife's divorcing him."
"I heard he even tried to pin his debt on his brother-in-law. Wanted to weasel out of paying."
"What a lowlife. No wonder his wife and mother-in-law want him gone. I'd kick him to the curb too."
The clerk adjusted her glasses and asked, "Have the two of you finalized the terms of the divorce agreement?"
Adeline nodded and slid the document across the counter. "It's all settled. I'm leaving the marriage with nothing."
I had no objections. We completed the process without a word.
The moment we stepped outside, a smile finally broke across Adeline's face. "I'm free! I love you, Alex!"
"The second the cooling-off period ends, we're getting married!"
She threw herself into Alex's arms and kissed him right there in front of everyone. "Thank God I found you. A fresh start. Otherwise that worthless man would've ruined my entire life."
Peggy was even bolder. She shoved me hard in the chest. "Get lost. My daughter is carrying Alex's baby now."
"From here on out, she'll be living the high life. Never has to look at your pathetic face again."
I couldn't be bothered with them. I turned and walked away.
Alex gave Adeline's waist a squeeze, then pulled out his phone. "Grand Oceanic Hotel. I need a table for a celebration dinner tonight at seven."
"Your finest prix fixe. And two bottles of the '82 Lafite."
He raised his voice on purpose, making sure every word carried to my ears.
After he hung up, Alex grinned. "Hey, Ronald. We're throwing a little party tonight. Want to join us?"
I drew a slow breath, turned my head, and looked him dead in the eye. "Get lost."
Adeline giggled, clinging to Alex's arm. "Don't tease the fool, babe. He's a hundred million in the hole. He wouldn't dare show his face anywhere."
"Probably won't make it through the night. Some collector will catch up to him and leave him dead in the gutter."
Peggy spat on the ground. "Good riddance. That's karma."
Right then, a crowd surged up behind us.
At the front was a hulking, shaved-headed man named Bruno, trailed by seven or eight guys covered in tattoos.
Bruno peeled off his jacket and bellowed, "You owe money, you pay up. That's how the world works!"
Adeline and Alex flinched at the sudden roar.
Peggy spotted the collectors and whipped out the divorce agreement. "He's already divorced from my daughter. Kill him, gut him, do whatever you want. It's got nothing to do with us."
Bruno looked baffled. He jerked his chin at the men behind him, signaling them to bring someone forward. "Why don't you take a look for yourself and point out which ones are your people?"
Tim was dragged in, his face a mess of bruises—purple and swollen—and he was screaming like a stuck pig. "Mom! Sis! Brother-in-law, save me!"
"I owe them a hundred million dollars! If I don't pay up today, they're taking me!"
