Fletcher, it had to be said, was a master of empty promises. But Riley, it seemed, was happy to believe them.
With his new—or rather, old—flame pacified, they finally entered the records office together. The sight of them made Vivica feel sick, and she avoided looking at them for the entire process. While they were waiting for the clerk to finish, Fletcher glanced at the silent Vivica.
“Where’s Joseph?” he asked, his tone dripping with sarcasm. “How come he’s not here with you?”
“He’s in the hospital after you smashed a chair over him. How could he be here?” Vivica shot back.
“Who are you kidding? My dad said he saw him that day, rushing over to defend you, to be your knight in shining armor,” Fletcher sneered, his voice growing more bitter. “I can’t believe a divorced single mother like you managed to hook up with someone like Joseph Baird. No wonder you were so determined to leave me.”
Vivica ignored him, turning her attention to the woman beside him. “Did you hear that, Riley? He’s blaming me for insisting on the divorce. It sounds like if it were up to him, he would have never let me go.”
Before the words were even out of her mouth, Riley twisted Fletcher’s ear. “What did you just say? One minute you’re promising me a mansion and maids, and the next you’re getting sentimental about your ex-wife?”
“No, no, that’s not it! I was just talking,” Fletcher yelped, immediately backing down.
Watching him, Vivica felt a wave of nausea. The difference between being loved and not being loved was stark. The same man who had always lorded his authority over her as the head of the household was nothing but a spineless sycophant in front of the woman he truly loved.
She couldn’t stand to watch another second of it. Just then, the clerk handed over the documents. “Everything is processed. Here is the new property deed.”
Fletcher instinctively reached for it, but Vivica snatched it away first. He was left with his hand hanging awkwardly in the air.
“Thank you,” Vivica said politely to the clerk, then turned and walked away.
“Vivica!” Fletcher called after her.
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