Chapter b10 /b

    Leonel stumbled through downtown like a zombieb./bb[/bb] /b

    On the sidewalk, kids were running around their parents,ughing and ying.[]

    Nearby, a new mom was holding her baby while chatting andughing with the dad.[]

    They passed right by him, and he whipped around to stare at the family until they were gone.[]

    Once upon a time, we’d dreamed of scenes like that–him holding our baby, me holding onto him.[]

    If he hadn’t been screwing around with Amari, if he’d just been a decent husband to me.[]

    Would he be the one with that happiness now?]

    Once the thought hit, crushing regret mmed into him, leaving him gasping and shattered.]]

    A weekter, I never expected to run into Leonel on the street.]]

    The man who’d always been obsessed with his image now had greasy hair and hollow eyes, staring nkly at something in the

    distance.

    I followed his gaze.[]

    Inside a luxury watch boutique, Amari–who’d been ghost for weeks–had her arms wrapped around some strangerb, /bcarefully picking out watches.

    She was spending his money, ignoring his desperation, while keeping another man.[]

    “Amari!“]

    Leonel shoved past the doorman and burst inside.[]

    Amari jumped back, startled.[]

    “What the hell are you doing?!” Leonel was livid.[]

    Amari blinked, then covered her nose when she saw it was him.[]

    “Buying my good buddy a watch!“[]

    Years of lies hit him like a bullet to the brain.

    Regretb, /brage, madness–everything exploded in his chest.[]

    He grabbed a crystal vase from the disy and brought it down hard on Amari’s head.[]

    The crowd screamed and scattered.[]

    b92.3/bb% /b

    bPurca /bPaterosho? Then Why’s the Baby Tus: Exetoy. Hur Ceisb. /bSoumatesb! /b

    Amari hit the floor, but he climbed on top of her like a psycho.[]

    Smash after smash.

    By the time the cops showed up, Amari was a bloody mess andpletely still.]

    Leonel had totally lost it.[]

    The police dragged him past me as they hauled him away.]

    His face suddenly brightened.[]

    “Honey, did youe to take me home?“]

    “Baby, I love you so much! Wait for me to get some cronuts for you! Wait for me!“]

    I wouldn’t wait for him. I’d NEVER wait for him again.[]

    Due to his mental breakdown, Leonel was locked up in a psych ward for life.]

    But the living still owed their debts.

    The divorce settlement said all the money Leonel had lent out now belonged to me.[]

    Professional debt collectors beat those so–called “brothers” until they were bloody messes, and they were sobbing to pay up.]

    The crying and begging echoed behind me as I walked toward the exit.]]

    Nothing but blue skies ahead–my future was waiting.

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