Chapter 7 The Real Disappointment
Diana’s face darkened as whispers filled the air.
“That boy must be spoiled by his grandma, choosing another woman over his own dying mother?”
“Right. If my child did that, I’d want nothing to do with such an ungrateful pair.”
Diana stood frozen, her face flushed with rage.
Abigail turned to Felix, who had been watching silently. “Let’s go.”
After they left, Diana, stung by the stares, stamped her foot. “What are you all looking at?”
The crowd scattered at her outburst.
Diana clenched her jaw, her hunger forgotten.
“Damn you, Abigail,” she hissed. “You’ve played this well. Just wait until Anthony learns what you’re really like. We’ll see how long you last!”
Meanwhile, outside the restaurant, Abigail walked aimlessly, her expression troubled and lost in thought.
Felix stepped forward, blocking her path.
Chapter 7 The Real Disappointment
“The car’s over there. I’ll give you a ride,” he offered.
2/6
Abigail snapped back to reality, nodded, and followed him to the car, grateful for the distraction.
“Are you staying with Amy now?” Felix asked as they settled in.
Abigail nodded in response.
“Not planning to find a place of your own?” he probed further.
Abigail nodded again, then quickly shook her head. “If there’s a suitable place, I’ll move out,” she clarified.
Felix’s lips curled into a slight smile.
He remained silent for a moment before speaking again.
“Honestly, I’ve always found it hard to believe that someone so caught up in love could excel in law school and be one of Professor Swift’s top students, besides me,” he remarked.
Abigail gave a somewhat self–deprecating smile. “Sorry to disappoint you.”
Felix shook his head. “On the contrary, you just showed some spirit,” he said, recognizing the real Abigail beneath the layers she had built around herself because of a man.
“Most divorce cases I handle don’t end in divorce,” Felix said.
Chapter 7 The Real Disappointment “People can’t go through with it?” Abigail asked.
“No. They use divorce threats to scare their partner, hoping for guilt and concern to save an unfulfilling marriage. One compromise, and the divorce is forgotten,” Felix explained.
Abigail pressed her lips together, thinking.
Felix’s smile deepened. “But you’re different. You mean it.”
“Can you see determination in my face?” Abigail laughed awkwardly.
“No. I see calmness,” Felix replied.
A calmness beyond love and hate – the quietest kind of disappointment.
The car pulled up to Amy’s darkened house.
Abigail stepped out as Felix lowered his window.
3/6
“Sorry about today – not the best first impression. I’ll make it up to you with dinner sometime,” she said.
Tired, she kept it brief, waving goodbye before heading upstairs.
Felix watched her go, his smile widening. “Abigail, this wasn’t our first meeting…” he whispered.
After his meeting, Anthony checked his phone to find missed calls from Diana and Marcus. He decided to stop by the
Chapter 7 The Real Disappointment Robinsons‘ old house before heading home.
4/6
Walking in, he found Marcus crying on the couch with Michelle consoling him. Diana sat nearby, visibly furious. The whole house felt tense,
“Dad!” Marcus jumped up and ran to him, grabbing his leg.
Anthony lifted him up. “Why are you crying? What happened?”
“Your wife did this!” Diana snapped.
Marcus wiped his tears, “Dad, I called Mom to pick me up, but she said no. She said she wouldn’t care even if I died, and told me not to call her anymore.”
Anthony’s expression darkened. “She said that to you?” he asked incredulously.
“Yes, Dad,” Marcus replied, his voice trembling. “She also said she’ll have new kids and won’t be my mom anymore. If Michelle hadn’t picked me up today, I would have been in so much pain!”
Michelle stood up, taking Marcus from Anthony’s arms. “Marcus, don’t talk to your dad about this. He’s already tired from a long day at work,” she said softly.
But Marcus clung to her, pleading, “I don’t care, I don’t want my mom anymore. Michelle, I want you to be my mom. Please, be my mom!”
Chapter 7 The Real Disappointment
5/6
Michelle, trying to comfort Marcus, looked slightly embarrassed. “Kids just say what’s on their minds, Anthony. Don’t take it to heart.”
Anthony’s face grew darker, and before he could respond, Diana slammed the table and stood up.
“Speak their minds? I think Marcus is speaking the truth. You should divorce her already. That woman is cheating on you and humiliating me. She doesn’t deserve to be my daughter–in–law!” Diana exclaimed.
Anthony frowned. “Mom, what do you mean by that?” he asked, his voice tense.
“I saw that woman with a man at a restaurant,” Diana said tearfully. “When I approached them, they attacked me!” She displayed her reddened wrist. “They even threatened to sue me and send me to jail…” Her voice faded.
“What else?” Anthony’s voice was icy.
“She called me ‘Auntie.‘ She said she wants a divorce, doesn’t want the kids – just wants to be with that man forever!”
Anthony seized a cup and hurled it to the floor. Diana fell silent; Marcus stopped crying, too frightened to move.
“Anthony,” Michelle intervened softly, “maybe there’s a misunderstanding. Don’t frighten the children. Why not ask Abigail directly?”
6/6
Chapter 7 The Real Disappointment
Seeing Marcus’s fear, Anthony’s anger cooled. “She’s blocked
me.”
“Use my phone,” Michelle offered. “She won’t recognize my number. We need clarity.”
Anthony took the phone, paused, then dialed.
Abigail, just finished cleaning, answered the phone and heard his stern voice.
