CHAPTER 3: Divorce

Fiona stood rooted to the ground. She was expecting a divorce. If Jackson hadn’t been quick enough to demand a divorce, she would have done that first. After all, what’s there to stay in a deceitful marriage for? She turned and wore a small smile across her face, trying all hard to be strong for Rowan, who was clinging to her. She felt like a dagger was plunged into her heart, seeing Alaina and Jackson hanging all over each other, but what would she do? 

“Like I said earlier, Jackson, you don’t deserve me.” Her voice was firm, strong, and unwavering. Even though she felt betrayed by her husband and best friend, she wouldn’t allow them to see through her helplessness. 

Jackson fluttered his eyes. He'd expected Fiona to fall to her knees and beg him to take her back, knowing she had nothing to fall back on. Jackson had claimed ownership of every little thing she had. Jackson smiled wickedly, relishing in Fiona’s helplessness. He knew when she felt hurt, but he didn't care. 

“I wonder if you're just slow-witted naturally or just pretend you are, maybe because you were blinded by love,” he paused and took a confident step closer to Fiona. His imposing six-foot-one-inch figure towered in front of Fiona’s five-foot-six-inch stature. 

“Our marriage was an act of convenience. It was useful to me at that time, and now I don’t need it anymore. Thanks to you, all of these wealths,” Jackson gestured with his arms wide open. “I never loved you in the first place,” Jackson blurted. 

Fiona gasped. “You… never… loved… me?” She arched her brow, her palm becoming sweaty at the same time. 

Jackson smirked cockily. “It’s so obvious that you're slow-witted. I wonder how I ended up with you," he said, paused, and got closer to Fiona, his cologne hitting her hard. “I used you, Fiona. I was with you because of your money,” Jackson stated. 

At that moment, Fiona’s heart felt like a cracked vase, leaking blood instead of water. It felt like a heavy stone sinking in water because she couldn't believe that the man she had sacrificed everything for and burned bridges with her father would eventually tell her he never loved her. She's been a fool for love. 

Her voice quivered, but she tried hard to gain composure. “I will sign the divorce agreement, but on one condition.”

Alaina and Brenda wore smug looks, both mirroring the look on Jackson’s face. 

“What are your terms, Fiona?” His cold voice echoed.

“I will have custody of Rowan.”

Jackson's face looked distorted, as an obvious frown marred his features. He shook his head from side to side before he responded. 

“He stays with me!” His voice was commanding and intimidating. 

Fiona countered. “You took everything away from me, and now you want to take him,huh?” Irritation laced in her voice. “I can’t let my son live with gold diggers,” she said, moving her gaze between Jackson and Brenda before she continued.

“I can’t let him grow up with a betrayal,” she snorted coldly, giving Alaina a killing glare. 

Just as Alaina caught on to the fact that Fiona had called her betrayal, she marched forward and attempted to land Fiona a slap, but Jackson held her back. 

“Don’t you dare call me that!” Alaina, who had been silent for a while, yelled, hate dripping in her tone. Her eyes were glowing with rage, and they were also throwing daggers at Fiona. 

Fiona ignored her and directed his gaze to Jackson. If Rowan hadn't been with her at the time, she would have known how to deal with Alaina, but she doesn't want Rowan to witness violence because he is so small.

“I can’t leave Rowan with you,” Fiona repeated. You would know she is not willing to give up with the look on her face. 

Jackson thought for a while before he spoke. His voice was rigid and final: "Joint custody and nothing else."

Fiona gulped down nothing in her throat and responded. “Fine,” Fiona grasped the divorce paper and pen from Jackson, read through it, and then appended her signature. She returned them to him and grabbed Rowan’s hand once again, ready to leave. 

“Take it!” Jackson retrieved a small leaflet from the bar counter in the lounge, then scribbled something on it. He stretched it forward to Fiona. 

“This is compensation. Since you don’t have anything to fall back on. It would help a little. Not like I care about you though, but for Rowan. I want him to be okay,” Jackson said, his voice low and gentle this time, perhaps because of Rowan. 

Fiona took the check from him and verified the amount he wanted to compensate her with. Ten million dollars. That would really go a long way for her and Rowan, Fiona thought. She stared down at Rowan, then back to the check in her hand. If she had ever been told that she would be a single mother, she would have denied it, but here she was already a single mom at twenty-eight years old. She raised her head to meet Jackson’s cold gaze. 

She shook her head with a mocking grin, then squeezed the check and slammed it against Jackson's face. 

“You want to compensate me with my hard-earned money, huh?” She bellowed.

“Rowan and I don’t need anything from a golddigger like you, thanks. Enjoy the fortune with your mistress,” she said with a tone of finality and turned away, leaving Jackson, Brenda, and Alaina gobsmacked by her sudden outburst. 

“Fiona…” Jackson called and tried to run after her, but Alaina dragged him back. 

“She should be happy you offered to compensate her,” Alaina said. “Don’t let her take your generosity for vulnerability.” Alaina took the check from the floor with a concealed smile on her face. 

“She is such a fool to reject such a great offer. What a scumbag she is,” Brenda snorted derisively.

Jackson stood rooted to where he was. His body might have been present with them, but he was far gone in his thoughts. He was thinking of how Fiona could survive as a single mother with nothing since he took everything she has. 

“Jackson!” Alaina nudged him back to reality with her shoulder. 

Outside their home, Fiona and Rowan were seen walking out of the gate, dragging behind them luggage bags that contained their belongings. 

Just as Fiona was about to step out of the gate, she bumped into someone who was also trying to make their way through the gate. Fiona raised her head to meet the killing gaze of Claire, her sister-in-law, who never misses an opportunity to show how much she despises her. 

With an unkind gaze, Claire poked Fiona up and down. “Look who is back from prison, wow! An ex-convict in my brother’s house?” She spat with disdain.

“You think my brother was going to live with a criminal?” She tutted, “Nah! Never, I can’t let him.” Claire continued with her mean-spirited comment. 

Fiona, who just stared at her like she was looking at a ghost.

“Has your tongue been cut off in prison? Say something b*tch.” Claire glowered as her hand shot out, aiming for Fiona’s face. But before her fingers could connect, Rowan, the protective one, stepped between them, his small body acting as a shield. 

His voice, surprisingly loud for a kid, echoed through the air. “Don't hit my mom!” he shouted as his eyes turned red with anger. 

Claire froze, her hand hanging in the air. A look of surprise crossed her face, quickly replaced by anger. She sneered at Rowan. 

“Look at this little brat,” she fumed. “Get out of the way, you shrimp,” Claire hissed. Her voice was low and menacing. She tried to shove Rowan aside, but Fiona grabbed her by the arm. 

"Don't you dare lay a finger on him," she yelled, her grip on Claire's arm surprisingly strong.

“Get your filthy hands off me!” Claire bawled, fighting to break free from the grip. Fiona shoved her away as they both made their way outside the gate. 

“You will regret laying your hand on me,” Claire shouted from inside, stomping her feet towards the main house.

“Mama, don’t you love Daddy anymore?” Rowan’s voice snapped Fiona out of the daze she was in. She never expected him to ask such a question. She crouched down in front of him, then cupped his cheek. 

“Row. I still love dad, okay?” She lied after thinking of a possible response to his question. 

“Well, you don’t have to lie to me, mama. I hate Daddy, too, because he made you cry.”

Fiona instinctively pulled him into a warm embrace, stroking his windblown curls for what seemed like an eternity. 

“Let’s go to Grandpa’s house,” Fiona pulled away. 

A big smile appeared on Rowan’s face. “Do I have a grandpa?” He probed, searching for answers in Fiona’s eyes. 

Just as Fiona was about to respond to Rowan, a black Mercedes-Benz AMG halted in front of them, prompting Fiona to stand up from her initial position. 

Fiona tried to look through the car’s window; maybe she would be able to see who was the person that drove in front of them, but she couldn’t because the window was all tinted. 

“Who could this be?” She thought to herself.