My eyes lock on the document. “And what is that?”
She sets it down on the corner of the desk between us. “Open it and see.”
Heart in my throat, I snatch up the file and open it. Tears sting my eyes as I read the bold statement along the top: PETITION FOR DISSOLUTION OF MARRIAGE.
“Oh god,” I whisper, my fingers brushing tentatively over the page. It’s signed. “How did you…”
“My son is an imperfect person, Tess,” she admits. “I know this. I have always known this. He is quick to anger and action. He can be obstinate. Lord knows he and I have fought many battles over the long years. You fought your battles too.”
We both know that’s an understatement. “Why now, Bea? What changed?”
She clears her throat. “Troy is a passionate man, Tess. Sometimes that passion overtakes reason. Without reason, we can make poor decisions. We can take actions that are…regrettable.”
I narrow my eyes at her, trying to puzzle out the truth. “What are you trying to say?”
She holds my gaze, her eyes sharpening as she lifts her chin. This is corporate mergers and acquisitions Bea, boardroom Bea, “let’s make a deal” Bea.
“Oh god,” I whisper, letting the truth hit me like a crashing wave. I see the moment her eyes flicker, and she knows I know.
“I need to know it ends here,” she says, gesturing to the papers. “You have your freedom. Now you can go…and leave Troy in peace.”
I hear the words she’s not saying: Now you can go…and don’t press charges.
Indignation hardens in my chest. She’s not here for me, and these papers are no gift. They’re a buyout. A hush payment. She’s protecting her son. She will always only ever protect Troy. Not me. Never me.
“What finally tipped your scales? You ignored the abuse because he was always careful. There was never any proof, no witnesses. It was my word against his—”
“Tess—”
“So, what changed, Bea?” I press. “Did you find out about the stalking and harassment? Maybe someone tipped you off about the photographer he’s had trailing me for weeks.”
“I don’t know what you’re talking about,” she replies, every inch the boardroom tiger protecting her wayward cub.
I narrow my eyes, hooking on the truth. “It was the TRO, wasn’t it?”
Her eyes flash, and I know I’m right.
“He used your name, didn’t he? He roped you in to pull strings with the judge. You’re not just protecting him now. You’re here protecting yourself…aren’t you?”
“You have what you wanted,” she says, pointing to the papers. “The divorce. That’s what you said you wanted, yes? We were generous. It’s an even split, per the laws of the state of Ohio. All assets, all properties—”
“I don’t care about assets and property.” I slap the documents down on the desk. “That’s your obsession. You care about the look of things. I never did.”
“I know,” she replies solemnly. “It’s how I knew this marriage was doomed to fail.”
Her words hit me like a punch to the gut. I drop my hand down to the desk, gripping it tight.
“You were always too headstrong, too uncultured,” she goes on. “You fit into our lives like a rusty, broken wheel. I did my best, for Troy’s sake. You were what he wanted at the time, and I can deny him nothing.” She pauses, her gaze tracing my features.
I lean instinctively away, hating her appraising eyes on me.
“And then I saw how broken you were,” she says. “A bird without her feathers, yearning to fly. So, I took you under my wing. I played the part of your doting mother, your business advisor. I taught you to dress and speak and act. All the while I watched as you two pecked at each other. I watched you bring out the worst in my son, and I was helpless to stop it.”
“And his worst carved out the best of me,” I challenge. “I thought it was gone, lost forever. I thought I would never know that wild, happy Tess again. You call me a rusty, broken wheel. Do you know what Ryan calls me?”
She purses her lips, saying nothing.
“Dream girl,” I say, a smile lighting my face. Love for him fills me, lighting me up as I face down my last remaining dragon, sword and shield in hand. “You’re right about me, Bea. All my life, I’ve been a lost bird, looking for a home, somewhere I could feel safe and loved and free to be myself. In my ignorance, I thought maybe money and power could buy those things. I was so wrong. It took me walking away from everything to find that home at last.”