6
The moment they were gone, Landon dropped to his knees in front of us.
He raised his hand and began to slap himself, the sharp cracks echoing in the silent room.
“Renee, I was wrong! I had no idea they were such heartless monsters!”
“Don’t worry, I’ll teach them a lesson! My mother… she was just being foolish. She didn’t mean any harm. She was just trying to
scare Mina a little.”
Was he serious?
Scare her? She almost scared me to death! And you’re still making excuses for them? Mom, tell him to get lost!
Landon crawled forward, trying to take Mom’s hand. “Renee, please don’t be angry. From now on, I’ll listen to whatever you say,
okay?”
Mom, tell him you want a divorce! Why keep a man like this around?
15.05
Chapter 2
Mom looked down at him from her chair. She pulled a document from her purse and tossed it onto the coffee table in front of him.
“You said you’d do whatever I say. Fine. Sign this.”
Landon picked it up. The moment he saw what it was, the repentant, pleading look on his face vanished, replaced by a dark, thund
erous glower.
It was a divorce agreement.
“Renee, are you serious? Marriage isn’t a game! Mina is only a month old. You want her to grow up without a father?”
I snuggled in Mom’s arms and blew a milk bubble at him.
Better to have no father than a father like you! Sign the papers and get out!
Mom let out a cold laugh. “Oh, so now you remember she’s your daughter? Where were you when your six precious sons were trying
to kill her?”
“Don’t talk to me about fatherly love. You make me sick.”
My dad is just now realizing who he messed with. You’re amazing, Mom!
Hearing my mom’s powerful words, I clapped my hands with glee.
Landon’s face flushed a blotchy red. Realizing that intimidation wouldn’t work, he switched back to pleading.
“Renee, I admit, I lost my way. But I love you, and I love Mina.”
“Please, just give me one more chance. I swear, I’ll cut them all off. It will just be the three of us, a happy family.” He spoke with
such sincerity, his eyes even welled up with tears.
Keep acting! Mom, don’t fall for it. The second you turn your back, he’ll bring that whole pack of wolves right back here!
Mom held me close, gently patting my back. “Save the performance, Landon.”
“Either you sign, or I hand this evidence over to the board of directors and the police. Your choice.”
Hearing this, Landon ignored the divorce papers and started hitting himself again, harder this time.
“Renee, I’m not a man! I’m worse than an animal! I was blinded by my mother and those boys!” He sobbed, tears and snot running
down his face. “Hit me, curse me, do whatever you want to me, as long as it makes you feel better!”
Wow, he’s really committed to this melodrama. But his slaps are too weak. It’s like he’s petting himself. No sincerity at all.
Mom, get the bodyguards to help him. He clearly can’t do it properly himself.
A slight smile touched Mom’s lips. “Alright. Since you’re so sincere, I’ll help you.”
She nodded to the bodyguards at the door. “Help Mr. Sterling clear his head.”
Two towering men stepped forward, grabbing Landon by the arms.
Panic flashed in his eyes. “Renee, you can’t be serious! No, I’ll do it myself!”
But the bodyguards paid him no mind. They started slapping him, hard, left and right.
CRACK! CRACK! CRACK!
The sound was music to my ears.
Yes! That’s the right amount of force! So satisfying!
15/05
Chapter 2
15.65
Within seconds, Landon’s face was swollen and bruised, blood trickling from his nose and mouth. He mumbled through swollen lips, “Stop… please… I was wrong… Renee, have mercy…”
Mom waved a hand, and the guards stopped.
Landon clutched his face. “Renee… are… are you satisfied… now?”
“For the moment,” she said, glancing at him coldly. “But I don’t want to see your face again. You should disappear. Immediately.”
He struggled to his feet. “Okay, okay, I’m going. I’ll go right now.”
“I’ll stay at the office for a while. We can both cool down. Don’t let this stress you out.”
With that, he limped away, a pathetic, beaten man.
Mom, you’re a legend! That was awesome!
I danced with joy in her arms.
Mom leaned down and kissed my forehead, then picked up the divorce papers from the table. She stared at the empty doorway, her eyes hardening.
“I gave you a chance to leave with dignity. It seems I’ll have to help you find it the hard way.”
