Marcus’s POV
I’d tried calling Betty all morning, but every call went straight to voicemail. With each try, it bugged me more. I checked my messages, hoping for some explanation, but there was nothing. Just silence. Did she block me?
I ran a hand through my hair, fuming as I tried to make sense of it all. Betty had been distant since that night together, but now it felt like a wall had dropped between us. I was about to try calling her one more time when a message popped up from my mom. Marcus, can you come home? We need to talk.
I frowned, quickly typing back Can’t it wait? You can always drop by my place.
Her reply came instantly. It’s important. Better to discuss this at home.
With a sigh, I grabbed my keys and headed to the house, my mind still on Betty. As I drove, my frustration with her began to mix with an uneasy feeling about this meeting. Our house in the Upper West was our family’s stronghold—a symbol of everything that held us together. But when I pulled into the driveway and saw my father’s car parked there, my stomach twisted.
Clenching my jaw, I strode up the front steps and into the house. In the foyer, I spotted my dad, standing casually by the staircase, and every memory of his betrayal hit me all over again.
“What are you doing here?” I demanded, my voice low with anger.
He barely glanced at me, a smirk on his face. “You mean, in my house?”
I could feel the fury rising. “You made it clear you wanted nothing to do with us. And now, what—you show up here like everything’s fine?”
“Marcus, calm down.” My mom’s voice came from the other room, weary but controlled.
I turned to see her and froze as I notice another figure stepped out of the room: a young woman walked up to my father, practically draped on his arm, with bleached blonde hair, heels that looked impossible to walk in, and a smirk that mirrored his own. My blood boiled as I realized who she was—the woman he’d left us for. This was Leticia, his bimbo.
“Mom, what’s going on?”
My father stepped forward, his hand resting possessively on Leticia’s shoulder. “Your mother and I are finalizing our separation,” he said, his tone indifferent. “Leticia and I… we’ve decided to settle here.”
“You’re taking our home?”
“Leticia prefers this place, and I promised her she’d have it. Your mother can take the apartment. Seems fair, don’t you think?” My dad gave a smug smile.
I clenched my fists. “Fair?” I hissed. His betrayal stinging like never before. “You’re abandoning us for this… trollop, and you want to strip us of everything we have left? This is our home. MY home.”
“Watch your tone, Marcus!” His face darkened, and he took a step closer. “You don’t understand what I’ve sacrificed for this family.”
My mom’s voice broke, and I turned to see tears in her eyes. “He wants the house, Marcus. And… and I can’t fight him on this.”
Her pain shattered me. I reached for her hand, giving it a reassuring squeeze. “You don’t have to go anywhere, Mom. This is our home.”
My father scoffed. “I have a prenuptial agreement with your mother, Marcus. She has no legal claim to this property. She’ll leave with what I allow her to take.”
“Let me guess,” I said, my voice dripping with contempt. “You’re not signing a prenup with her, are you?” I glanced at Leticia, who looked unfazed, just tapping away on her phone.
My mom took a shaky breath, pulling her hand from mine. “I don’t care about the money. I don’t need any of his property. Just… please promise me you’ll keep supporting Marcus’s education. He’s been working so hard, and that’s all I ask.”
My father shrugged. “You have my word.” His tone was dismissive, as if my entire future was just another negotiation.
The front door clicked shut behind my father, and the room went quiet, the air heavy with everything he’d left behind. For a moment, I could hardly breathe. Mom was staring blankly at the floor, her face pale, and her hands shaking slightly. I realized with a pang that this was the first time I’d ever seen her truly fall apart. I moved closer, gently placing a hand on her shoulder. “Mom…”
As soon as she heard my voice, something cracked in her. She covered her face with her hands, stifling a sob, and sank onto the couch, her shoulders heaving. She choked out, her voice muffled. “What are we going to do, Marcus?”