"Isn't that hilarious? Sleeping with another man, but crying out for her husband."
"And for me? God, that made it even better."
My fist connected with his face.
Blood spilled from the corner of Tristan's mouth as he hit the ground.
"Godfrey Simmons! He came here out of the goodness of his heart to bring you back, and you hit him?!"
"Daddy, Uncle Tristan bought me a toy car! Why did you hit him? Waaah..."
Marina walked over with Nathan in tow.
Nathan clutched a toy car to his chest and planted himself in front of Tristan, shielding him. He said I was a bad daddy.
And just like that, I understood.
Tristan had planned this.
But what chilled me to the bone wasn't Marina. It was my son.
Marina stared at me. "After you left this morning, Nathan cried and refused to go to school. Tristan took him to the children's park for the whole morning and bought him that toy car."
"Then he got worried something might have happened to you and offered to come find you."
"He was trying to do a good thing. And you did this to him?"
Right on cue, Tristan whimpered, "Ms. Pruitt, my face really hurts."
Marina's expression softened with concern. She cupped his face gently, then helped him to his feet.