What Doesn’t Kill You Makes You Stronger novel Chapter 2

The moment I mentioned clearing my name, guilt flashed through Hektor's eyes before quickly disappearing behind irritation.

"Jesus, Yunifer, why are you so fucking obsessed with the past?" he snapped, running his hand through his hair.

"I've never given a shit that you were in prison or that your body isn't perfect. Can't you just move the hell on?"

He paced in front of me, frustration radiating from every movement.

"I love you so damn much, and you won't even take care of yourself. It's honestly pathetic."

Realizing his tone was too harsh, he softened his voice.

"Baby, I just hate seeing you torture yourself over things we can't change," he paused, changing the subject.

"Hey, the care home called—your mom's doing better. Your birthday's coming up, right? I'll bring her home to stay with us."

I stared at him through my tears, saying nothing.

Avoiding my gaze, he backed toward the door. "I'll make dinner. Get some rest."

Before I could respond, he disappeared, the door clicking shut behind him.

Since quitting art for business, Hektor had become the stereotypical exec who couldn't find the kitchen in his own house.

No one would believe he'd cook for his damaged, disgraced wife.

But of course, everything Hektor did was ultimately for Laria.

Once his footsteps faded, I grabbed my phone and called my mother-in-law.

"I want out," I said flatly. "I'll sign the divorce papers whenever you want. Just make it quick."

After a stunned pause, her venomous voice hissed through the speaker.

"Who the fuck do you think you are, demanding a divorce from my son?" she spat.

"If it weren't for Hektor's misplaced charity in marrying you, trash like you wouldn't qualify to scrub our toilets."

"Without him, you'd be turning tricks under a bridge somewhere."

I bit my lip hard enough to taste blood, my hand shaking around the phone.

Eventually, as if granting me a royal pardon, she said.

"Fine. Five days. When you sign those papers, take your crazy mother and disappear from our lives forever."

For a whole year, my mother-in-law had threatened divorce weekly. Yet when I finally asked for it myself, you'd think I'd insulted the queen.

I must have passed out from exhaustion. Through the fog of sleep, I heard someone call my name. A hand touched my forehead, and I instinctively recoiled, though I couldn't escape completely.