Page 65 of The Deadbeat DILF
However, a second later, Emily leaned back and crossed her arms, steeling her face. “What, exactly, was wrong? We had a lawyer oversee the divorce. Everything was done properly.”
“Yes. You hired Seth Blackmore, didn’t you?”
Emily nodded.
“Seth Blackmore is notorious for taking advantage of spouses,” I said. “The divorce agreement — including the terms of the alimony payment — is categorically unfair. I’d even so as far to label it as exploitative.”
Noel scoffed. “If it’s so unfair, then why did Robert agree?” He looked at his old friend. “You signed it.”
For a second, I thought Robert might back down. But clearly, I needed to trust his strength more, because he tightened his jaw. “I wasn’t in a good headspace when I signed the agreement,” his voice clear, yet firm. It reminded me of how he’d spoken when he’d stood up for me in front of my family, that day in the apartment. “I felt guilty, and in that moment, I would’ve given Emily anything she wanted. You both knew that.”
Shame flashed across Noel’s face, but then he shook his head. “Why are you bringing this up now? You haven’t said anything for years.”
“Because I had a fresh set of eyes look at it,” Robert replied calmly.
It was my time to speak up. “We’re here to tell you that we will either change the agreement, or get it nullified. You will pay back all the money you owe him. You are more than welcome tohire your own lawyers — in fact, I encourage it. I hope that we can settle, but if not, we won’t hesitate to take this to court.”
Emily and Noel stared at me in silence. A minute passed, and I felt like I was going to crack, but I held my composure.
I had to remain in control, even if all I wanted was to demand how they could treat the man I loved so badly.
That’s when Emily spoke. She whirled on Robert, eyes blazing with fire. “How can you do this to me?” she demanded. “I was finally starting to live in peace, and then you come back to tear it all up. And for what? Your own greed?”
Noel comforted her, placing a hand on her back while shaking his head at Robert.
“You’re the one who destroyed this family,” Emily continued. She almost sounded like she was sobbing, but her face was tight with anger “You abandoned your son. You abandoned me!” Her voice was shrill.
“I did not abandon Mike,” Robert said evenly. “I worked night and day to provide for him. I gave him the best I could. I paid for him to go to college. We divorced after he graduated, when he was an adult. I did not abandon you, Emily. At the time, I felt so guilty about my own infidelity, but isn’t it a coincidence that mere weeks after we divorce, Noel moves in? Isn’t it a coincidence that in the span of a few weeks, you two own the majority of the company? How long had you been planning it?”
Noel’s face went red. “How dare you?” he yelled. “How dare you accuse me of something like that?”
“I trusted you,” Robert said to him, and there was a hint of hurt in his voice. “We grew up together. You were like my brother. We played football together when we were kids, and then we worked shitty jobs together, and then we decided to build something of our own,together. I thought you were my friend.”
Noel opened his mouth, then closed it, apparently speechless. Despite his red face, I could see the shame and guilt filling his eyes.
Robert shrugged, looking more nonchalant than he must’ve felt. “It doesn’t matter anymore. I don’t care that you’re living in the houseIbought withmymoney. I don’t care that you stolemywife and the mother ofmyson.” His eyes hardened. “You’re the one living with my leftovers.”
That was cold. Noel thought so too, because he looked frozen.
What a pathetic man.
“Don’t you dare insult my husband,” Emily shrieked, thrusting a finger at Robert. “He’s more the man than you’ll ever be. You’re back here, trying to destroy my life, because you’re unsatisfied with your own pathetic existence.”
“Mom? Why are you yelling?” asked a familiar voice. The man walked into the dining room, wearing pajama pants and an oversized shirt, and rubbing his eyes like he’d just been woken up.
Robert stiffened beside me.
It was Mike.
When Mike’s eyes fell on us, his jaw dropped open. “What the fuck are you two doing here?” he asked. All of his tiredness melted away as he strode over the table, his eyes sharpening.
“Mike?” Robert’s voice was rough. “What are you doing here?”
“I live here,” Mike said, like his father was stupid.
Robert frowned. “I would have thought you’d have moved out by now.”
“He’ll move out when he’s married,” Emily snapped.
