“Five years, Arizona. It’s been five years! Mariam has long regretted what happened. Back then, it wasn’t just even intentional; she only made a mistake because she was nervous. You can’t put all the blame on her. Why must you keep pressing her like this? You come out of prison, and you’re still so impulsive, so violent!”
A ringing filled my ears. My eyes stung with unshed tears.
“Daddy!” the little boy cried, rushing toward me. His face was wet with tears as he shouted, “She’s bullying Mommy!”
Before I could react, he rammed into me, slamming me back against the wall. His small fists pounded viciously into my stomach.
Agony tore through me. A metallic sweetness filled my throat, and blood surged upward.
Mariam quickly gathered him into her arms, her voice tender through her tears.
“It’s all right, sweetheart. It’s my fault. If Dr. Crumpler has any resentment, let her take it out on me. I deserve it. If not for me, she wouldn’t have ended up like this today.”
I trembled all over, staring at the ruined children’s room, my chest tightening with grief and blood.
“Enough,” I rasped, my voice hoarse and breaking. “Charlton… let’s divorce.”
For a moment, the air froze.