“How does that make you feel, Brad? Do you feel like shit? Do you need a hit to forget all this pain?”
“Amanda!” Bryan said.
“I want you to hurt like how I’ve hurt. I want you to feel the pain I felt when you forced your drunk, high-ass self on me and then left me alone for days. ”
I could hardly see her through the tears in my eyes. She hates me.
“Amanda, please calm down,” Bryan said.
Amanda looked over at Bryan and then at me. “I’m sorry, Brad. I don’t think I can do this right now. ” She started to make her way to the door.
I jumped up. “Amanda, please! I’m begging you to just give me a second chance. ”
She turned back to me, and tears were falling like rain down her face. Just as she was about to open the door, I heard one of the nurses telling someone not to come into our room.
Amanda glanced over at Bryan and then me. “I’m sorry. I just can’t do this right now, Brad. I won’t give up on you, but I just can’t do this right now. ”
When she opened the door, my mother and father were standing in front of her.
“What’s going on here?” my mother said, looking around.
“Excuse me. I was just leaving. ”
My mother grabbed Amanda by the arm and forced her to stop. “Oh no, you’re not. We’re all going to sit down and talk about this. That is my grandchild you’re carrying, and you will not walk away from your marriage and abandon your husband like this!”
“Mom—”
“How dare you! How dare you even show your face here! If it weren’t for you and your mind-controlling, bitch-ass ways, none of this would have happened,” Amanda said.
My mother sucked in a breath of air and looked back at my father.
“How dare you talk to me that way! I’ve done nothing but set up everything, so you and my son could live a comfortable life with no worries. ”
Amanda let out a laugh as she tried to yank her arm out of my mother’s grip. “I don’t want your money. I’m moving as soon as I graduate from school. You will never tell me what to do ever again. ”
“Don’t blame this on me. You were the one who couldn’t keep your husband happy. God knows how you treated him to drive him to drugs. ”
“That’s enough! Let go of my wife right now, Mother. ”
Amanda and my mother both snapped their heads toward me.
“What?” my mother said.
“Let go of my wife’s arm now. As a matter of fact, I need you to please leave. You weren’t invited to this meeting. ” I started shaking but not from the desire for anything. I didn’t need alcohol or drugs. All I wanted was my wife. I longed for her touch and only her touch.
“Brad, I think maybe you’re just upset and not thinking clearly. ”
“No, Mom, I haven’t been this clearheaded in a long, long time. I stand behind Amanda one hundred percent on whatever decision she makes. ”
I glanced over toward Amanda. She was just staring at me…stunned.
“Dad, I didn’t want to do this now, but I see I have no choice. I’m going to quit my job with the company. ”
“What?” Amanda and my mother said at the same time.
My father nodded as if he knew it was coming.
“I’m sorry, Dad, but working for you and taking over your company is just not my dream. ” I looked at Amanda and smiled. “Not our dream. ”