Scornful Revenge

Chapter Thirty-Seven

 Alice's eyes widened as she turned to face Esther.

"What? I told you that if you wouldn't do it, I would."

"I was going to just now!" Alice exclaimed.

Tom stood there in shock, watching the two bicker with one another. His breath hitched in his throat as the words echoed in his ears. Alice wants a separation. He couldn't fathom it. Why would she want that? What had he done that made her want it? Why was Esther there? Why was any of this happening? Tom's hand shook as he ran his fingers through his hair and adjusted his glasses.

After a moment, Alice and Esther looked back up at Tom and waited for his response. Alice furrowed her brow and took a step forward as Esther kept her distance.

"Tom?" Alice asked quietly.

"Did Esther put you up to this?"

"What?"

"Did Esther put you up to this?" Tom repeated.

"No. She's just here for support."
"So say it."
"Excuse me?"

"I need to hear those words leave your mouth. Look into my eyes and say it." Tom told her.

Alice licked her lips as she tilted her head up to gaze into his eyes.

"I'm sorry, Tom, but I want a separation."

Tom scoffed as he stumbled backwards, shaking his head.

"Why? Why do you want a separation?" He inquired.

"I'm not happy, Tom. I haven't been happy in our relationship for so long." Alice confessed.

Tom's eyes widened as he ran both his fingers through his hair, unable to comprehend what was happening.

"Why did you never say anything to me? Why now? What are you talking about?" Tom questioned her frantically.

"It's true, Tom. I'm not happy and I need time away from you."

"Alice, if it's something I did, just tell me. Tell me what I did wrong and I-I-I'll fix it. I'll fix it, I promise!"

"It's more than just something someone did wrong. It's so much more than that." Alice spoke breathlessly.

"We need to go home and talk about this, okay. We need to talk this through."

Alice scoffed as she shook her head, tilting her head back to try and stop herself from crying.

"Now... now you want to talk things through. Perfect! Where was this Tom six years ago!" Alice shouted.

Her voice echoed through the lobby, earning the attention of the group a few feet away from them. They all watched in confusion seeing the distorted look on Alice's face. Tom swallowed the lump in his throat as Alice glared at him.

"I don't even know if I want to talk to you."

"Alice, we have to," Tom protested. "Have you even thought this through? What do we tell the kids, hmm? Which one of us is going to move out? What are we going to tell the kids when they start asking why mommy or daddy lives somewhere else?!"

Alice looked down at her feet, unable to hold back her tears any longer.

"We have to talk this through, okay. I'm not just going to accept this without knowing why."

"Well, I've had to accept a lot without knowing the reason why." She retorted.

"What are you talking about?"