My husband threw me and our son out—so I left without a word, and by nightfall he came home to strangers in a house that was never his

and my car keys in hand, waiting for Derek to understand what he had caused.

He dropped his bag on the floor.

“Lauren, answer me.”

I did.

“You told me to take my things and leave. So I did. And now the house is being secured.”

His face twisted.

“Secured from who?”

“From you,” Peter said, rising from the dining table before I could respond.

Derek turned, seemingly continue reading …