"If you hadn't run into the street like a lunatic that day, would I have gotten these scars all over my head trying to save you?"
"It's been years. Are you really going to hold one mistake over me forever?"
"I owe Faith a real family. What exactly do you have to feel sorry for yourself about?"
The next morning, I was sitting in the dining room.
Tony slapped a document down on the table.
Across the top, in bold letters: Parental Recognition Agreement.
"Sign it."
He pulled out a chair and sat down, rapping his knuckles on the table.
"Rufus has an interview at Stratton Academy next week."
"The school requires both parents to be present, and the child has to be a legitimate dependent registered under a local household."
"You'll issue a statement acknowledging Rufus as your biological son and register him under your name."
I looked at the agreement, then pushed it off the table onto the floor.
"Not a chance."
Tony slammed his palm against the table.
"Don't push your luck!"
"Faith is willing to let her own son call you 'Mom' for the sake of keeping the peace. What more could you possibly want?"
I stood up and looked him dead in the eye.
"Tony, let's get a divorce."
He froze for a second, then let out a sharp, humorless laugh.
He bent down, picked up the agreement, and tore it in half.
"Divorce? In your dreams."
He pulled out his phone and dialed the CFO.
"Luke Lawrence, cancel every credit card under my wife's name. Every single one, primaries and supplementaries."
"Any funds moving through the company accounts require my signature. Not a cent goes to her without it."
He hung up and immediately dialed another number.
This time, he put it on speaker.
"Mr. Lin, regarding next quarter's partnership, our company has decided to terminate your supply contract."
An anxious voice crackled through the phone.
"Mr. Henson, you can't be serious. We've been partners for five years. Mrs. Henson has personally managed this account the entire time..."
Tony cut him off.
"I'm running the company now. I say it's terminated, it's terminated."
He hung up and tossed the phone onto the table, irritation rolling off him in waves.
That was when Faith came downstairs wearing my silk nightgown.
She walked over to Tony and nestled into his arms like it was the most natural thing in the world.
"Babe, why are you so worked up this early in the morning?"
Tony wrapped his arm around her waist, but his eyes stayed locked on me.