Early update, I will be away next weekend, and because this chapter ends with a cliffhanger, I didn't want to make you wait for two weeks for the next chapter, so I decided to update this chapter today and the next chapter sometime next week...
Elliot
"No Josh, I won't be returning to do the building site today, you got this." I mutter and hang up. At least work is going great... damn it Kate, why?
This is just too much for me... and it's my own fucking fault because I turned a blind eye to too many things... there have been so many red flags, but I wanted her in my life, I had this perfect vision for my life and that did not include getting a divorce or having to deal with a wife that wants to fuck my older brother.
Arriving at home, I see Ava and Jamie playing in the family room, while their nanny, Cadie is watching.
"Oh, you are already home, Mr. Grey. Ava, Jamie say hi to Daddy." She says and the kids come running to me, so I hug and kiss my kids before they run back to their toys.
"Is Brianna napping?"
"Yes, and your wife is upstairs."
"Ok, I will be upstairs, please take the kids to play outside." I let her know and walk upstairs, this could very well turn into a yelling match with Kate and I don't want the kids to hear it.
On my way to our bedroom, I check on my youngest daughter who is sleeping peacefully, so I close the door and walk into the bedroom where Kate is on the bed painting her toenails.
"Why are you home?"
"Wow, loving are we?" I ask sarcastically and she huffs.
"I'm busy Elliot, tell me what you want or leave me alone."
"God damn it, Kate... why do you have to be such a fucking bitch all the time, is it that hard for you to act like a decent human being?"
"Today, yes it is."
"Is it because Christian stopped by or because you had a fight with Ana yesterday?" I ask and that finally gets her attention.
"Of course he told you... I wish he had just stayed in Taiwan... or even better just jumped off a cliff..."
"Enough! That's my brother you are talking about and if you dare to tell me he is not because we are not related by blood, I will lose it, Kate!"
"Fine, I won't say it... "
"Do you love him?" I ask because I need to know.
"Excuse me?"
"Do you love my brother?"
"Your brother is the actual fucking worst, Elliot, of course, I don't love him."
"Then why did you hit on him?"
"Because he's wealthy as fuck... I wanted that life with mansions, private jets, galas... I wanted that and what does he do... he called me a slut and then married my best friend and she doesn't even care for that life if anything him being rich made her uncomfortable."
"And maybe that's because he picked her and not you. Jesus Christ, Kate, is that all you ever wanted to be a rich housewife?"
"Yes, why is that such a bad thing?"
"If I have to explain it to you, it might be too late for you to change."
"Oh don't be so dramatic, you got what you wanted, you have your happy little family, three kids and everything you want."
"What I want, maybe I just want a wife who doesn't pretend to be all I want... I mean, I had to pay you to have kids with me!"
"And look what it got me, I have stretch marks and giving birth to your son actually almost killed me, you can be damn thankful I had Brianna and didn't just take care of it." She says and I have to close my eyes and count to ten remembering the day I found out Kate was pregnant again. She didn't tell me, but when I walked into the bathroom I found the test and Kate flat out told me she wasn't going to go through with the pregnancy... we had a nasty fight, because yes, Jamie's birth was dramatic, but her Doctor had assured us right after he was born that we could have more children if we wanted to. When Kate left that day, I was sure she was going to a doctor to make an appointment for the abortion... instead she returned, had Ana take the kids and as soon as Ana was gone with Ava and Jamie she dropped the act and told me what she wanted to have in return for keeping the baby. I should have divorced her right then and there... but I didn't and now I feel like there is nothing left to salvage in this marriage.
"It got you three beautiful, healthy and well-behaved children... although the last part is no thanks to you because you clearly never cared enough to actually raise our children. You leave that to me and our nanny."
"Don't you there put that on me... I told you right away that I'm not a motherly type of woman, you wanted the kids, you deal with them."
"Kate... why did you marry me?"
"What kind of idiotic question is that?"
"It's an important question because I'm trying to figure out if I can stay in this marriage with you." I admit and Kate glares at me.
"You wouldn't dare because if you even try, I'll take you to the cleaners. The house, your company, the cars, the kids... all gone!" She hisses and that all I need to know.
"That's all you ever wanted, right? You never cared about me, you just wanted a rich guy and when you couldn't have my brother, you went after me so you could still benefit from the Grey name." I say and she has the audacity to actually look me in the eyes, smile, and clap.
"You finally figured it out, congratulations!"
"Ok, I guess then I can leave." I mutter and start to stuff some clothes in my gym back.
"Oh please, don't be so dramatic..."
"Shut the fuck up, Kate... I mean how can you live with yourself knowing that you basically whored yourself out for money?"
"Pretty good actually." She says and I give up and leave the bedroom, walk into the nursery and grab the diaper bag for Brianna before I pick her up and walk downstairs.
"Ava, Jamie, come here." I call out and ask them to get their favorite toy before I get them all in the car with Cadie's help.
"Is there anything I can do, Mr. Grey?"
"No, but maybe book yourself a hotel room, we won't return anytime soon and my wife is not going to be fun to be around... oh and Cadie, please book an actual hotel room and not a cheap motel, use the credit card I have given you for the kids... I'll contact you once I have figured out a new living situation for the kids and myself, for now, we will be at my parent's house... I might need you there to watch the kids if no one is at home." I let her know and drive to my parent's house. They have so much stuff for the kids that I didn't need to pack for them, I just hope it's not too much for them that I basically just move myself in with the kids. But I can't go to Mia's because Ethan is Kate's brother and while I know Ana would let us move in, I don't want to intrude while she and Christian are trying to figure things out, so going to my parents is the best option for now.
As I arrive my mom is just getting out of her car, so I tell the kids to wait for a minute and get out too.
"Hello darling, I didn't know you and the little darlings would be coming over." She says as she hugs me.
"I know... Mom I... " fuck this is hard and suddenly the enormity of what this means comes crashing down on me and I feel tears burning in my eyes.
"Elliot, you are scaring me, what is wrong?"
"I left Kate and I was hoping the kids and I could stay here for a while." I get out and my mom just pulls me into her arms and holds me.
"Ok, now let's get the kids inside, darling... I'll ask Dana to watch them."
"Dana?"
"I had to fire Gretchen... she was ogling your brother like a piece of meat the entire time and it was making him uncomfortable. Dana is in her early fifties, so it's a better fit for us." She explains and we get the kids into the kitchen, where Dana gives them milk and cookies while my mom and I sit down on the patio, where I tell her all that has happened.
"You know sweetheart, I always had a feeling that Kate is not right for you, but you seemed so sure that I didn't want to bring it up and she put up a good front over the years, but we can make this work. If you truly believe there is no way to salvage your marriage, your Dad and I are here to help you."
"Thank you, mom and I yes, as much as it hurts to say it, I don't see a way to salvage my marriage... Kate never loved me and I want love, I want a real wife... a mother for my children... I want the real deal mom, not a pretty illusion."
Christian
As I arrive home around eight in the evening I see Elliot's car in the driveway and just know that this is not a good sign. So, I walk inside and find Elliot outside by our old treehouse.
"Hey bro."
"Hey, did you stay with Ana until now?"
"I stayed until 5 then I had my appointment with Dr. Harper. I take it your talk with Kate didn't go well?" I ask and he huffs.
"The kids and I are staying here for now... I would have kicked her out, but she would have never left and I didn't want more drama, so I took the kids and left."
"Do you think you guys can work things out?"
"No, I'm getting a divorce, Kate confirmed that she only married you as the next best thing and because of the Grey name and I want more... maybe I'm selfish, but I want real love, not the fake shit I was getting from Kate."
"Damn... I'm sorry this happened to you."
"It's ok, I've let this go on for way too long... I wish I would have listened to Dad and had gotten a prenup."
"You don't have one?"
"You didn't have one either." He points out.
"True... do you think Kate will turn this into war?"
"Yes, she already said she is going for everything, including custody of the kids... it's going to get messy." He says and I look at him. He deserves so much more and not just having a bitch of a wife who is using him and is now going for everything he has worked so hard for.
"Maybe not."
"What?"
"Maybe I know a way to make her go quietly."
"No, I know what you are up to, but no, this is my battle."
"Elliot, I have more money than sense, I don't even know what to do with it all. You don't have a prenup, so she can legally demand half of everything you own and you might have to share custody with her. So, why not give her money and in return she has to agree for you to have sole custody of your kids and to sign the divorce settlement."
"If she knows you are the one who gives the money she will demand a crazy amount."
"Then don't tell her... offer her like five million, she will demand I don't know twenty, you get mad, tell her you don't know where to get that much and that you need time, a day later you call her and agree... no big deal."
„I don't know... I don't want to owe you that much..."
„Elliot, I don't want it back, sleep over it for a night."
„Ok... want a drink?" He asks and reaches behind him to reveal a bottle of my Dad's favorite whiskey.
„He gave you the bottle?"
„Yup... he said if I can drown my issues for one night... but if I wanted to I should do it in style." He says takes a sip. „Fuck, that tastes like ass." He mutters making me laugh, but it's true, I don't care much for the taste either.
In the end, we sit down on the ground, not even talking and just sharing the comfortable silent and an occasional sip of whiskey until we hear quick footsteps.
„Sir?" I hear Taylor and get up when I hear the urgency in his voice.
„What is it, Taylor?"
„Luke just called me... Ana and Kate Grey both just got arrested after they have gotten into a physical altercation at Ana's house."
„What, how the fuck did that happen?"
„I'm not sure, Luke said he was trying to break the fight up when the cops arrived, a neighbor must have called them."
„Fuck! I need to get my Dad. Where are they?"
„Ana was taken to the precinct, Kate Grey is on the way to the ER... but Sir, there is more."
„More... how can there be more... oh my God... is Arielle ok... Taylor, what is going on?" I damn near scream at him, my mind racing with all sorts of horrible scenarios in which Ana lost it after Kate harmed our baby.
„No, Arielle is fine, Gail is with her... but... Gail overheard their argument and what started their brawl was Kate Grey confessing that Ana didn't fall down the stairs on your sister's birthday... Kate Grey pushed her." He says and I see red... this is it, I will fucking kill her...