Broken Promises

Part 12

"I've already told you-"

"I don't care!" Stevie freed herself from Don's grip, the anger in his eyes scared her, but she wasn't about to give in. "Yes, I've made a lo of mistakes, you being the biggest one of them, but I'm not going to do it again. I, unlike you, have changed. I have a family. I loved them more than anything in the world and I'm not about to jeopardize what I have."

His hands clenched into fists, Don took a couple deep breaths. "So, what you're saying is, I can go ahead and give Lindsey a call?"

"Do it." Stevie shrugged. "Do it. If I give into you now, I'm only making matters worse. I don't know, what's going to happen." She shook her head. "Maybe you're right. Maybe Lindsey will file for divorce or fuck a groupie, but at least I will know that I'm not the same person I once was, that I love him enough not to make the same mistake twice."

"You're bluffing." Don said after a moment of intense silence between them. "I can't say I appreciate your outburst, but I'm willing to give you a second chance."

Sighing heavily, Stevie cocked her head back. "You don't understand. I'm not that 25-year-old girl anymore. You took advantage of my vulnerability and I was too lost in that sex, drugs and rock and roll world. I've grown up. I've encountered too many men like you over the years to count. I know now that I can say, no." She looked at him and a part of her was surprised that he was letting her talk. "You can threaten me, you can go ahead and tell Lindsey the truth. I will deal with the consequences, but I will not let you take advantage of me again."

"Get out." Don spoke through gritted teeth.

"Gladly." Stevie replied and before she left, she took off the necklace he'd given her and threw it at him. "You can give this cheap knock-off to someone else."

Her facade disappeared the second Stevie turned her back to Don. Tears blurred her vision as she got into her car and started the engine with shaky hands. She stepped on the gas and sped off out of the driveway, taking the right turn towards home.

Her head was spinning. She didn't know if she had just made the best or worst decision in her life. She had already come to terms that Lindsey was going to find out about the affair. There was some truth in Don's words. Even though Lindsey had softened over the years, he still had some anger issues, there was no telling, what he was going to do. The idea of losing him absolutely terrified her, she couldn't imagine her life without him in it. However, she stood by her decision. She believed that the truth coming out was better than giving into Don once again.

Stevie didn't drive straight home. She needed to clear her mind, compose herself before she faced Adam and Ella. They already felt that something was off and she had no answers to their questions. While on her way, Stevie had made up her mind. She wasn't going to wait until Don decided to ruin her life, she was going to do it herself.