Total pages in book: 33
Estimated words: 29965 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 150(@200wpm)___ 120(@250wpm)___ 100(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 29965 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 150(@200wpm)___ 120(@250wpm)___ 100(@300wpm)
That’s what kept playing through her mind on repeat as she sat on the back patio, her legs pulled up to her chest, her focus on the lake.
Had she been too stupid to see the signs? She closed her eyes and rested her head back on the chair. What difference did it make now? What she needed to do was go for a run around the lake, clear her head and try to put things in perspective. She had too much anger and energy to just sit around and wallow.
Her parents had left hours ago, but to be honest they hadn’t up much of a fight about Chloe staying. It’s not like they could force her to go. She was eighteen, after all, and Dominic and Clara had said it was fine if she stayed.
She stood and headed to her room, changed into some running attire, headed into the kitchen for a water bottle, then set off to get rid of the feelings inside of her. She knew a nice long run was exactly what she needed. At least she hoped. She needed to let everything fall away so that her mind was open and free again.
And so she took off, running harder and faster than she ever had, and finally letting the tears fall that she’d held in the whole day.
The sun was setting by the time Chloe made it back to the cottage. Covered in sweat, she was exhausted, but also felt pretty good. She’d had a good cry, gotten rid of all that sadness and anger, and just let herself focus on the things that mattered.
When she stopped by the back door, she could hear Clara shouting and cursing from an open window. Maybe she should do another lap around the pond, but she found herself listening.
“It’s always about you, Dom. When are you going to start thinking about me?” Her aunt’s voice was high and filled with anger.
“I don’t know what you want me to say, Clara.” Dominic’s voice was low, calm, and steady. “You’re acting like a child, a self-centered child. This isn’t my fault, yet you’re trying to place the blame on me.”
“Self-centered? Seriously?” Chloe heard cupboards slam shut. “This is why our relationship is shit, Dom. This is why I’ve gone elsewhere for what I need.”
Gone elsewhere. Was that why they divorced? Had Clara cheated on Dominic?
Man, Chloe should really go for another lap.
“Our relationship is shit, and has been for years, because you went off and fucked someone else instead of just agreeing to the divorce.” There was a moment of silence, and Chloe could imagine what her aunt’s face looked like right now. “But nope, you wanted to keep up appearances, but look how well that has gone.”
Chloe covered her mouth with her hand as she heard her aunt and uncle's private conversation. She felt like a voyeur, but still she couldn’t move.
“Would you have even told me about the affair if I hadn’t caught you in the act?” Dominic’s voice was pitched low, but still calm. “You know you wouldn’t have.”
Clara scoffed. “Oh please. Our marriage has been over for years.”
“You’re absolutely right. Which is why I served you with divorce papers, but because you want to seem like your life is perfect, you refused to sign them.”
“I signed your damn papers.”
Dominic laughed humorlessly. “Yeah, after I got my lawyer involved.”
“If you're so miserable why did you stay?”
“Because this house is just as much mine as yours. I worked my ass off with renovations, with making it a home I could live in. I wasn’t, and still am not, ready to just give that away, Clara.”
“You’re right. I can’t keep holding on to something that isn’t there.”
“I wish I'd never wasted all these years with you. Look at what it's gotten me!” Clara screeched. More slamming of drawers and cupboards followed her aunt’s harsh words. “There is no way I’m staying here.”
“You’re just going to leave Chloe, after the shit she went through?”
“Chloe is a big girl. She’s doing fine. Besides, you’re here and can look after her.” Her aunt’s voice was deceptively low. “I don’t even want to be here, not with you, not when the very sight of you makes my stomach turn. And you wonder why I cheated?”
“No, I don’t wonder,” Dominic said. “I’m sure the guy you wrangled is loaded. That’s what you’re after these days, right? Bottomless pockets and someone who lets you get away with whatever?”
Chloe was about to leave, to take that second run, but she was frozen in place as she heard her aunt spit out a string of insults to Dominic. A second later the sound of a car starting and peeling out of the driveway had Chloe swallowing roughly in unease.
As the sound of the car grew distant, Chloe turned to go back toward the lake. The sound of the back door opening had her glancing over her shoulder. Dominic stood there with his hands in his pockets, his focus on the lake. His expression was like stone. He held things in, concealed them behind a mask of cool and collected composure. He’d always been like that.