𝘿𝙞𝙨𝙨𝙞𝙙𝙚𝙣𝙩 𝘿𝙪𝙤 ; 𝙏𝙝𝙤𝙢𝙖𝙨 𝙎𝙝𝙚𝙡𝙗𝙮 [ BOOK 2 ]

FOURTEEN

CHAPTER FOURTEEN; RICH AND SAD

"At least make this last until Luca Changretta is dead."

"I don't think I can wait that long."

Caroline's words fell out of her mouth like vapour but landed in his guts as shrapnel. Thomas felt his insides tear, and the blood drain from his face, but he knew there was nothing he could do now, just by looking into her eyes in which no emotion could be detected, not a single feeling other than absolute hatred, but it wasn't superior than his own, because to know that he caused deep trauma to Caroline made him despise himself.

In the half-light Thomas looked like the shadow he'd became. Hunched over the wooden surface, he looked the image of a monster, casting humongous, lingering shadows against the back wall, one that seemed to creep ever so closer to the grieving woman, but she wasn't scared. In fact, she was empty and unable to feel threatened.

Caroline took their bond for granted, and in her naivety she thought it was unbreakable. But when that car pulls away it wouldn't only be broken, but shattered into fragments more numerous than the stars.

He wanted to beg, plead, get down on his knees and tell her that his life here had meaning, that their love had meaning, but he knew that face. It is the one she wears when her ears are closed and her mind has put up barriers to all new information. So no matter what he said it would only push her further away.

So when he stood up and walked closer, it was with a mask of contentment. He wished her well with the voice that came so naturally before his plan to do great things far away, it sounded like him but it wasn't. He was already in transition to become the person he never wanted to be; the monster of a man without her. The bitterness was rising like bile into her mouth and when she's gone he'll have no reason to swallow it anymore.

"I don't want an immediate divorce. Reason being that it will take at least four years to finalise." Caroline rejected his open arms and glared. "Meanwhile, you can live elsewhere whilst the children and I live here under the protection of myself, and anyone but you."

Thomas nodded slowly. "I respect your decision, but you can't keep our children away from me."

"Which is why we will arrange visitation."

"Care, I-"

"Save it, Thomas." Her words full, her heart empty. "I cannot escape this lifestyle, but as long as you are in the picture, there is no safety for our children."

Suddenly, Thomas yelled. "You don't understand how dangerous it is for us to be apart! If anybody catches a whiff that you are alone, they'll kill you!"

"From now on, I protect mine and my own." Caroline suggested her hand in the direction of the door. "Tomorrow night, yes, I will make an appearance by your side, only for business purposes, but that will be the last of it. Now, you must leave."

Because it was gravity that started it in the beginning after all, wasn't it? Pulling her towards him like they were the only two things in the cosmos. Floating. Existing. Tugging each other closer and stealing matter from one another without even realising it; two stars becoming self-destructive. And, over the course of time, like all stars do in the end, Thomas began to change. His core ignited and expanded as he clung to Caroline in some vain hope of staying anchored as their supernova detonated. An explosion beginning subtly.

And he left. Just like that, he turned on his heels and stormed out of the office, presumably making his way to their bedroom to where he'd gather his necessities and make his way out to the car that awaited for his arrival, and until she heard the front door slam shut, she breathed, blinking slowly.