Benicio stormed off in a huff, leaving me smirking as I stepped back into the house. Now that the divorce from Kolton was finalized, it was time to think about my future. I needed to deal with the pregnancy soon; keeping Kolton's child wasn't part of my plan. Kolton and Marceline were nothing but treacherous villains, heartless to the core. I had to plan ahead to prevent history from repeating itself.
I went into the bedroom and opened the box where I kept my savings. Taking out the few hundred dollars I'd managed to save, I carefully stitched the bills into the lining of my jacket. Just as I finished, Kolton returned with Marceline draped over him like she couldn't stand on her own. She clung to him, her voice sickeningly sweet as she noticed me coming out. “I can't walk any further. You have to carry me to the bedroom!”
Kolton had completely abandoned any shred of dignity. Right there in front of me, he scooped Marceline up and carried her off to the bedroom. Soon, the room was filled with her giggling, which went on for quite a while. Eventually, Kolton emerged, shamelessly asking me, “Marceline's anemic and needs something nourishing. Go buy a turkey and make her some soup.”
Throughout our marriage, I hadn't spent a dime of Kolton's money. Everything he earned went to his mother and brother, and I foolishly thought he was just being a good son. Little did I know it was because he didn't care for me at all, treating me like free labor for his family. In what felt like a previous lifetime, I realized Kolton's cruelty only on my deathbed. Not this time. He wouldn't take advantage of me again.
“Alright,” I said calmly, extending my hand. “Give me the money, and I'll get a turkey to nourish Marceline.”
Kolton was used to barking orders and never paying a cent for what he demanded. My request for money took him by surprise, his expression souring. “Can't you pay and I'll reimburse you later?”
“I don't have any money,” I replied.
“What about your salary?”
“I've spent it all. We've been married for three years without me seeing a penny from you. Do you think I don't need to eat or drink? Besides, your mother constantly demands money and food from me. I'm not a magician.”
I leveled my gaze at Kolton, reminding him slowly, “You promised me five hundred dollars for the divorce to support me and the baby. Give me the money now.”
Kolton's face darkened. “I don't have that much right now.”
“Are you trying to back out? Kolton, I've been more than generous by letting you take care of Marceline, but you have to be fair. I'm carrying your child, so you have to pay up, or else…”
I let the sentence hang, knowing Kolton was fully aware of the consequences. If news got out about his affair with Marceline, it wouldn't bode well for his career or reputation. To keep his comforts, he needed to keep me quiet.
Reluctantly, Kolton handed me five hundred dollars, his jaw clenched as he decided to buy the turkey himself. Once Marceline heard about Kolton giving me the money to silence me, she was livid. She dropped her weak act and stormed over to confront me, “Alaina, what makes you think you have the right to Kolton's money?”
