Chapter 3: Cracks in the Kingdom
Chapter 3: Cracks in the Kingdom
The next morning, Preston appeared outside my condo.
Security never let him inside.
Instead, they called upstairs.
"Ma'am," the concierge said. "Your husband insists on speaking with you."
"I don't have a husband."
A long pause.
"I'll let him know."
Ten minutes later, my phone exploded again.
Why are you humiliating me?
Dad answered this one.
Not with words.
With paperwork.
By three o'clock, Preston had been served with divorce papers.
An emergency protective order.
And notice that all authorized users had been removed from every account under my name.
His American Express stopped working during lunch.
His gas card declined.
His luxury gym membership vanished.
The condo key card deactivated automatically.
Apparently, it was difficult pretending to be successful when someone else had funded the image.
That evening, Eleanor called.
I answered.
"So," she began coldly, "you've decided to destroy your marriage."
"No."
"I've decided to leave it."
"You embarrassed this family."
"No, Eleanor."
I looked at the framed pharmacy diploma hanging on my wall.
"Your son did."
She laughed.
"A slap?"
"Yes."
"Women today are too sensitive."
I remained silent.
She kept talking.
May you like
"Every marriage has discipline."
I quietly pressed Record.
