Courtney's POV
But on our wedding day, just after we got our marriage license signed and our marriage officially recorded, the company got hit with a tax evasion scandal.
His parents dropped to their knees in front of me, pleading, "Courtney, Floyd can't go to prison. He's our only heir for three generations. If he gets a criminal record, it's all over for us!"
Then, his father added, "You and Floyd started the company together. Just say it was your decision. We promised, even if your record's stained, we won't hold it against you. Please, save Floyd. We're begging you."
Floyd held my hand tightly, shooting a sharp glare at them. "Don't pressure her! Courtney is everything to me. I’ll respect whatever she chooses."
Then he turned to me, tears brimming in his eyes. "Babe, if you're willing to make this sacrifice for me, I swear on my life I’ll never let you down. If I ever betray you, may I die a miserable death."
Caught between his vow and his parents’ pleading, I took the fall. I confessed and went to prison in his place.
For ten years, I endured hell behind bars. The only thing that kept me going was the hope that, when I got out, I’d finally be reunited with Floyd.
But in the end, all those promises were worthless.
Even mentioning those seemed taboo.
Once upon a time, I threw myself into love without hesitation. Looking back now, I was just a moth drawn to the flame.
I forced myself to stay calm as I said, "Either pay them off and cut all ties, or we get a divorce."
The moment I said it, his parents’ sympathetic expressions vanished.
"Absolutely not!" his mother snapped. "Do you think you can just waltz in and kick out our grandkids? You're nothing but a barren hen. What right do you have?"
I looked straight at Floyd.
For the sake of ten years of loyalty and pain, I wanted to give him one last chance.
But I guess he didn’t expect me to be this firm.
His face darkened, frustration twisting his brow. "Courtney, do you really have to do this? We finally have a chance to start over, and now you’re the one tearing our marriage apart?"
When I didn’t respond, he kept going. "You just got out. Maybe you're not ready to face reality yet. I'm not going to take what you're saying seriously right now. I’ll give you some time to adjust. But Courtney, my patience isn't unlimited."
I almost laughed in his face.
He cheated, built a whole other family, and still expected me to clean up the mess. Now he’s even pretending to be the bigger person?
What a joke.
Still, I didn’t bother arguing. I turned and walked out.
This place wasn’t my home anymore, and I had no intention of forcing myself to belong.
Just as I stepped outside, a Rolls-Royce pulled up to the curb.
Out came Camelia West, the bold, loud woman I’d met in prison, whom everyone respected. She’d been released just one day before me.
"Girl! I went to the prison this morning to pick you up, only to miss you. Figured you’d come here, and I was right!" She looked me up and down, then let out a snort. "Let me tell you something, your so-called 'devoted husband'? He’s a damn joke. While you were rotting in prison, he was out there making babies with some shameless woman. And they managed to have six kids! Even dogs aren’t that productive!"
Fuming, she pulled out a thick folder and slapped it into my hands.
"If this scumbag lived in a matriarchal society, he’d have been drowned in a dog cage by now."
I glanced down at the documents.
Page after page clearly showed records of Floyd taking a woman named Lizzie Woolridge to prenatal checkups and deliveries.
Six kids in ten years. The oldest was eleven, and the youngest was barely six months.
Which meant he started cheating even before we got married.
Inside were also seven million-dollar insurance policies, seven luxury homes, and countless transaction records.
