I looked at him baffled.

“Wasn't the divorce trial scheduled for today? Why wasn't there a hearing today? Why’d you cancel it?” He stared at me impassively, but his tone showed displeasure.

Had he gone to the courthouse? No one knew we had postponed the trial. The only logical explanation was that he had been there.

“Something came up, so I had to reschedule it at the last minute,” I explained.

“Are you having second thoughts again?” His face grew stern. "How could you even consider it after what he’s done?"

I was much calmer than he was. I took a few sips of my glass of lemonade and said, "I might not be able to get a divorce anytime soon."

He fixed his eyes on my face. “Why not?”

“There’s nothing I can do. Matthew is using my parents to blackmail me,” I said helplessly. “I didn’t expect him to stoop so low.”

"Do you plan to let him manipulate you forever?"

“My hands are tied, okay? My father just had a stroke. I'd rather be humiliated than risk upsetting him."

We fell