Total pages in book: 135
Estimated words: 124451 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 622(@200wpm)___ 498(@250wpm)___ 415(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 124451 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 622(@200wpm)___ 498(@250wpm)___ 415(@300wpm)
I gasp, pain slicing through my chest as though someone is physically shoving their hand through my body and squeezing my heart with a death grip. “How … how is this possible?” I whisper as tears begin to well in my eyes.
Brielle reaches across and takes my hand, giving it a gentle squeeze. “Judging by everything else I found in his office, it’s clear Orlando is a very dirty lawyer. I can only assume Trenton hired him to make this happen without your consent. I found a ledger mixed in with all the papers I stole from his safe, and there was a big payment from your husband around the same time those papers were signed. I can’t pretend I know what it costs to file divorce papers, but lawyer fees for something like that definitely shouldn’t be that high.”
I drop the papers into my lap and place my hand over my mouth to keep from sobbing in front of this sweet girl. “Thank you for bringing this to me, Brielle,” I whisper, realizing this was how he was able to get away with marrying this other woman in Australia.
She awkwardly stands and gives me a tight smile, though the heartbreak in her eyes only makes it harder to meet her gaze. “For what it’s worth,” she says, “I handed everything I found over to the police yesterday, including proof that Orlando messed with the results from Addie’s rape kit, so he’ll be going away for a very long time.”
My eyes widen just a fraction in disbelief. “What about Tanner?” I question, my heart still so broken after discovering what he’d been involved with as a fourteen-year-old boy. “Were you able to find the hard copies of those … photographs?”
Brielle nods. “Yeah, I found them and Tanner destroyed them, but I still think he needs to come clean about what happened that day.”
“As do I,” I tell her. “But it’s in his hands now, and I need to trust that he’ll do the right thing.”
Brielle smiles. “I’m sure he will.”
With that, she starts to walk back to the door, but a thought occurs to me. I reach down and scoop up the old iPhone off the carpet. “Brielle, sweetheart,” I say, glancing up as she stops and looks back at me. “Would you do me a favor and ask Tanner if he has one of the old iPhone chargers for this? I found it in a box of Trenton’s things, and considering everything else I’ve discovered about the man, I feel it’s in my best interest to see what else he has kept from me.”
“Oh, sure,” she says, walking back and taking the phone from me before quickly flipping it over to check what the charging port in the bottom looks like. “I, uhh … I think I might actually have one of these. I’ll have to double-check, but for some reason, Mom used to keep a box of old chargers and cords that never actually fit any of our devices. I’ll sneak back in and see what I can find.”
I give her a fond smile. “How are things with your mom?”
Brielle shrugs her shoulders. “Who knows?” she mutters, a real sadness in her eyes. “The things she’s had to put herself through over the past few months to protect me from him … I can’t even tell you how much that kills me, but despite all of that, I still feel so angry with her.”
“Oh, honey,” I say, pulling her into a quick hug. “Everything is going to work out for the best. It’s completely normal to feel angry. She pushed you away, and even if her intentions were good, it still hurts. It’s perfectly fine for you to take your time healing.”
Bri hastily wipes at her eyes before pulling back and giving me another tight smile. “Thanks,” she murmurs, before holding up the phone. “I’ll see if I can get this working for you.”
And with that, she’s gone.
An hour later, I make my way downstairs with an empty bottle of wine, knowing all too well that if I’m going to make it through the next ten years of memorabilia, I’m going to need to start fresh on a new bottle.
Making my way to the kitchen, I stop to find Tanner and Brielle slaving over the hot stove, and my gaze snaps to the clock. I suck in a horrified breath. “Oh my goodness, dinner!” I rush out. “I completely lost track of time. I’m so sorry. Go sit down, I’ll finish up.”
Tanner shakes his head. “It’s fine, Mom. We’ve got it under control. Sit down and relax.”
I gape at my son. Who the hell is this stranger standing in my kitchen? Though, I suppose that’s a bit of an unfair comment. Ever since Addie was hurt, Tanner has really stepped up to become the man of this house. He was there in my darkest times and kept my chin up when I thought about giving up. He’s really been my rock over the past few months.