“I have to protect my son,” he said. “Every moment I spend away from him is so that I can make money to take care of him.”
“Oh, please. You spend most of your time with your new girlfriend.” She tore off another bite of her sandwich, knowing that her anger was starting to get the best of her.
“I’m a good father, okay?” He narrowed his eyes. “I know I don’t see Finn a lot, but I pay the child support.”
“Because you’ll go to jail if you don’t,” she reminded him.
“Yeah, well, everything is going to change,” he said. “When I get full custody I’ll be able to see Finn whenever I want. I won’t have to pay a bunch of child support and I won’t need to make phone calls to you asking for permission to see him.”
“You can see him whenever you want now,” she pointed out. “All you have to do is show up when you say you’re going to.”
“Oh, like you showed up to our home to screw your boss?”
“Keep your voice down,” she said. “People might recognize us.”
“That’s all you care about,” he said coldly. “Hiding the truth so everyone thinks you’re a perfect victim. You know what people are saying about me online? They think I’m a jerk because I told the media the truth about you.”
Anger flared in her. “You blabbed to the media to try to get Finn away from me. Don’t pretend like you did that for ethical reasons.”
“Yeah, well, I’m not finished with you, Heather.”
“What’s that supposed to mean?” she choked out, dread suddenly creeping down her spine.
“You need to learn a very valuable lesson about the real world, Heather,” Gary said harshly. “Your boss doesn’t want you. Not really. You’re just a thrill to a guy like him. And when the thrill is gone he’ll toss you aside. I’m the only man who ever really wanted you.”
“That’s not true.” Her entire body was shaking with fury. “Simon wants me.”
“I knew it,” he shot back. “You’re still screwing him. Exactly like I said you were.”
“Why did you come to see me today?” she demanded. “To hurl accusations at me?”
“No. To get ammo to use against you,” he snarled. “Your boss isn’t the kind of guy I want you seeing, and the judge will agree with me.”
“Why? Because Simon proves you wrong?” she asked. “Because he wants me and that makes every insult you ever tossed at me a lie?”
“Enough.” He scowled at her. “This is the first guy you’ve been with since me. In fact, in your whole life, you’ve only ever been with two guys. You have no idea how to handle a real relationship. And Finn needs a mother who is careful and knows what she’s doing.”
She might have only been with two men, but at least she had loved Simon once. Maybe she didn’t love him now, but she cared about him deeply. Her connection Simon was more than physical now. There wasn’t a day that went by that she didn’t think of Simon. And she was tired of feeling guilty about that.
“At first, I really thought you were coming after me because you were jealous of Simon or something,” she said. “That might be part of it, but you’re more than jealous. You never thought I’d amount to anything without you, and it’s killing you to see me try to get some happiness now that you’re out of the picture.”
“Watch what you accuse me of, Heather,” he warned.
She crossed her arms. “Are you threatening me?”
“I don’t need to,” he said. “As long as I have a chance to get my son away from you, you’ll do as I say.”
“No, I won’t.” She didn’t know if she’d end up regretting her defiance, but she was too angry and disgusted to keep her anger inside. Their marriage had been a disaster, but he didn’t have the right to keep trying to control her like this.
“Reporters have been coming after you, and that puts my son in danger,” he said. “Which is why I’m sure the judge would love to hear what a danger you and your rich boyfriend pose to Finn.”