How to Destroy a Cheater Without Saying Goodbye novel Chapter 31

If Hedwig were willing to end her marriage, breaking free from this wreck would be all too easy.

But this no longer had anything to do with Blanche—she was done involving herself.

Suddenly, Loraine's voice cut through the air, cold and unyielding. "I won't allow you to get a divorce. You're Miss Simmons. If word got out that you can't even manage your own marriage, you'd become a laughingstock."

"You are the lady of the Yates family. What you should be managing is our family's power, our standing, our wealth—the legacy you'll leave for your children."

"And yet here you are, letting yourself fall to pieces over a mistress who's not even worth mentioning. You disappoint me."

Hedwig dropped to her knees, unable to believe these words were coming from her own mother. "Mom, he betrayed me—he cheated on me! And you still expect me to just grit my teeth and accept it?"

"Vincent made the kind of mistake every man makes. As long as he treats you with respect, keeps up appearances, you shouldn't fuss over the rest." Loraine pulled Hedwig to her feet, her tone growing even colder. "I'm not telling you to swallow your pride. I'm telling you what really matters."

"With the Simmons family behind you, Vincent wouldn't dare go too far."

"He's been begging your brother for an investment, hasn't he? This is your chance. I'll help you put him in his place—make him leave that woman and come back home where he belongs."

"Don't talk about divorce again."

"Mom, that woman is already pregnant with Vincent's child. He's been taking her out in public, parading her around like she's Mrs. Yates. Is this your idea of respect?" Hedwig's voice was raw, tears streaming down her reddened cheeks.

"You only have one daughter—Tia. If that mistress gives Vincent a son, bring the boy home and raise him yourself. Vincent won't dare object." Loraine didn't bat an eye at Hedwig's outburst; instead, she offered this "solution" as if it were sound advice. "If she wants to present herself as Mrs. Yates, let her. At least she knows her place. With her around, you won't have to worry about Vincent's other flings."

The Ms. Harvey Loraine spoke of was none other than Blanche's mother, Sheila Harvey.

So this was how Loraine saw things: nothing mattered more than the image of a respected matriarch, not even her own daughter's happiness. If she could so easily manipulate her own child's emotions, what hope was there for anyone else?

To her, Blanche's mother had been nothing more than a cautionary tale—a friend to her face, yet always looked down upon as naïve and weak.

Blanche's mother had been strong and decisive, qualities Loraine saw as worthless.

Blanche could not stand to hear her mother belittled, could not stand to see her legacy trampled on—or to let Loraine keep playing puppet master with their lives.

She threw open the study doors and strode to Hedwig's side, helping her up as Loraine stared in disbelief. "Hedwig, don't be afraid. I'll stand with you—you have my support if you want to divorce Vincent."