The Divorce

Chapter 8

We entered the ballroom to see the huge dance floor in the center already full with couples, surrounded by tables that had people chatting away to each other. I noticed my mother and brother sitting at a table on the far left and took Trent's hand and Liam's arm and began to guide them over there.

We sat across from where my mother and Jayden had stopped talking to stare at the three of us as we joined them. Liam tried smiling at Jayden but he just glared back. This annoyed me since Jayden and Liam used to be good friends. Jayden looked over at Trent and smiled at his nephew as he watched him look around in amazement.

My mother was the first to speak clearing her throat to gain everyone's attention, "Liam I see the rumors are true, you are back."

"Yeah, I missed the city," Liam smiled not catching my mothers undertone of displeasure at this observation; this drew a frown from me.

My mother's statement seemed to encourage Jayden, "Yeah, I'm sure you did." He replied sarcastically.

"Jayden!" I exclaimed astounded at my brothers hostility.

Jayden laughed before saying, "Seriously, Bella? Your divorce goes public and suddenly he shows up."

"The whole world does not revolve around mine and Charles divorce." I snapped at him.

He smirked before continuing, "No, But its funny the one person the whole world knew was against your marriage suddenly returns."

"That was years ago we've all moved on." I tried to reason.

Before my brother could answer Liam chimed in, "I'm not going to lie and say I don't still love your sister because I do and I probably always will but I've moved past that. She's my best friend."

"You expect us to believe that," My brother argued.

Liam smiled lightly, "No, but I will prove it."

From the corner of my eye I noticed someone racing towards our table, I turned my head to see Tatiana in a beautiful purple gown that matched my brother's tie running towards us.

She finally reached us and managed to stutter out, "Watch out Ice Queen and the devil himself are headed this way."

"Thanks for the warning," I thanked her as I noticed my mother-in-law approach with my soon-to-be-ex-husband in tow.

My mother-in-law whispered in his ear then they both looked over at me and began to head this way.

My mother-in-law greeted the table politely with a smile, "How nice it is for you to join us. I do hope you are enjoying your evening."

"Isabella, can we have a word?" Charles asked me getting right down to business.

I got up from my chair and patted Trent's hand to let him know I'd be ok before answering, "Sure."

I followed him through the ballroom, out into the hallway and into one of the lounges where he held the door open as I entered and closed it behind me. I walked over to the set of armchairs by the fire and sat in one while he took the other.

"What were you playing at out there?" Charles asked softly. I was taken a back by the gentleness in his tone.

I regained my composure before replying, "We're getting  divorced, Charles. Its finally time I start accepting that and move on with my life."

"Did our marriage mean that little to you?" he stuttered, I had never seen him stutter so I looked up and caught a brief flash of pain in his eyes.

My heart broke at his question and his pain, "No, our marriage meant everything to me, it gave me a beautiful little boy and some of the happiest years of my life."

"Why are you so determined to get out then?" He whispered as a tear rolled down his cheek.

Before I could answer the door swung open and in walked his mother with a sinister smile on her face. Charles quickly wiped his face of any emotion and replaced it with a look as cold as stone.

His mother stood beside him placing her hand on his shoulder showing a united front and began her speech, "I told you in the beginning you would not last, dear Isabella, but did you listen no. You could have saved yourself all this pain. You are not good enough for the likes of my Charles. He used you to get his perfect little family image. It was so easy." She laughed manically.

I waited to see if Charles would try and defend our marriage but after minutes passed I stood up opened my purse and handed her the signed divorce papers and headed for the door. As I put my hand on the handle I turned to see my now ex-mother-in-law with a grin spread across her face reading the papers while Charles had a heart-broken look.

"Mrs. Van Der Houston I say this with the upmost respect all the things you said were wrong the happiest I have ever been is when I was married to Charles, he gave me Trent and for that I could never regret anything about our marriage. You go on about how I am not good enough for your son, when in fact your son is not good enough for me he is weak, he let you break us apart but I do not care anymore I need a strong man to bring up my son and that is clearly not him. I'm sure you will find someone a perfect fit for Charles if they are selfish and uncaring then they will be the perfect match for the man you have made him into. But I will tell you this not once have I seen a smile on his face since you reappeared in his life." I admitted.

She looked over in shock, which quickly turned to anger, "Don't you dare tell me what is best for my son?"

"Don't raise your voice at me, you will regret it. I will let you know a secret you may have won this battle but I will win the war," and with that I left.

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