The Stage is Set

I didn't fall in love with a stranger, Ella. I fell in love with the vibrant woman who played scared. The one who didn't treat me like a free meal ticket, who agreed to raise a child, really.. raise a child with me. I married you because I saw someone who needed an out as much as I did, and you can try and say it was an act, a show to trap me, as much as I thought I was trapping you to save you from a father that would have thrown you to any man who'd take you. She shook her head. I fell in love with the woman who took up my cause, while I was in jail, and ran with it. Who raised my child for me, and took memory crystals of all the days I missed, bot good and bad memories. Her fingers gripped the back of her chair tightly, as if letting go of it would have her crumbling.

The woman who I was never more sure of the first time we thought it was over and you .. I have courted you, Ella. I have courted you every day we've been together, and now you're saying I've not? I have given you, every bit of my heart, have put up with lies, manipulations, you choosing suicide instead of a life with me and now you come and say I've not courted you, and still insist on other people, a 'compromise'.

She moved to the door way, opened it, and reached a hand out, for the papers and a pen. As you say, there's no need to wait then. She was past tears now, she was angry, as she brought the papers over to the table, and opening the booklet to the last page, her signature scrawled across the line indicated for her before placing the pen down. There. Sign then. I'll have them taken before the Archon today, you won't have to worry about having a pathetic stranger for a wife to who death seems preferable anymore. I'll take Annie and go. The house will be sold, you'll be delivered any of your things. Benson and his family are now free. You give up all rights to the Tilani name and money. Annie will be declared a bastard, stripped of her inheritance and the Tilani name to make way for who ever I marry next to have the legitimate heir.

@Novella Tilani