Chapter 26
Bethany
Mom and Dad left almost a week ago. It feels so weird to have them with me practically every day for a couple of weeks and then things go back to normal. I keep wondering when Leon and I will head back to Miami but neither of us have said a word to one another about heading back. Maybe Leon wants me to settle in and feel more like my old self, but I’m not sure.
I’m getting ready to head down the stairs when I feel my cell phone vibrating in my back pocket. I pull it free, thinking Natasha is calling to check up on me yet again. My eyes scan over the screen and I’m shocked at the name from my caller ID.
“Hey. I didn’t think you’d be calling me for another month,” I joke. My lawyer told me he’d give me status updates once a month since nothing seems to ever move along in my divorce proceedings with Noah. I kind of feel like he wants me to be his ball and chain until the end of time. I’m at the point where I don’t even care anymore. He hasn’t been fucking with me for quite a while. It causes me to think he’s found another woman to take up his time, and if it means he’s leaving me alone, I’m all for it.
“Well, I wasn’t planning on it. I woke up to an email from Noah’s lawyers.”
“You did?” I question, raising my brows.
“Hell, you sound as surprised as I was.”
“I don’t think either of us ever expected an email. Now are you going to tell me what it said, or will I have to play guessing games?”
“I know how badly you’ve wanted to hear this news, Bethany, and I can’t tell you how happy I am to relay it. Noah signed the divorce papers and sent a notarized document stating he’s going to allot you half the profits of the house when it sells, and give you a hefty chunk of change.”
“Wow.” I say, unable to believe it. The only thing that could make this news better is if he were to sign away his rights to the eggs we froze in Philadelphia. Even though they weren’t fertilized, since he was my husband he signed some documentation as well. He’s just as much of an owner as I am, even though they were taken from my body.
“That’s not all. I have a separate document where he’s signed over his rights to the eggs. As of today, Bethany, we can proceed in the direction we’d hoped for.” I hear the pleasure laced through his voice. Though, it’s not just him who’s happy about the way this has moved in. I’m over the moon, ready to become a free woman! More than that though, I’m ready to get my life back.
“Oh god. Thank you so much Richard. You’ve brought me the best news I could’ve ever hoped for. I have to go share this great news, but if I need to do anything please let me know. Okay?”
“Sure thing, Ms. Rosenburg. I’ll email you if any other documentation is required.” The biggest smile I can muster up covers my face as he calls me by my maiden name and ends the call.
I slide my phone back into the pocket in my pants and run over to the bedroom Leon and I share, shoving open the door and rush into his arms, wrapping my own around him in a tight bear hug. “Shoot. Are you okay, sweetheart?”
“Yes, I’m thrilled actually. My lawyer just called and told me Noah signed the divorce papers. I’m finally on the path I wanted to be on! Not only that, but he signed over the rights to my eggs too. You know what this means, right? If I want to have a family in the future I can. I can fertilize those eggs, get a surrogate and start my family!”
Leon pulls away, looks down at me with those beautiful eyes of his and smiles widely. It practically beams from him. “You have no idea how happy this makes me. I’m not the one who matters right now. How do you feel about it all?”
“I’m elated, so thrilled. Honestly, I never thought this day would ever come. I felt like I’d be a prisoner, never able to truly escape him.” It’s true. Noah did such a great job at trapping me when I was physically with him, but after I left, he imprisoned me mentally— in a way I never thought was possible.
“This may be bad timing, but how do you feel about our relationship now that this has finally happened?”
“Even better. I feel free, Leon. I’m not really sure how else to describe it. I just feel so . . . excited for the future, for us.”
“Fuck,” Leon rubs his hand over his jaw, contemplating something but I’m not sure what.
“Is everything okay?” I inquire, wanting to know what’s bothering him.
“Yeah, better than okay. I’m just about to . . . fuck it. I want you to move to Romania with me, Bethany. I want this to last between us, but my place is there and if you want this to work like I do, I think you’ll come with me. I’ll leave you alone for now to think about this, but know how much I love you Bethany. I don’t want to spend a moment without you, and I want us to start our future in our home, if you’re willing.” Leon kisses me on the cheek and exits the bedroom quicker than I can chase him down, leaving me to my own thoughts.