Serenity (Inevitable #5)(135)

Lindsey glared at Matthew first, then at Casey. "He had no business listening in on a private conversation," she muttered sullenly. "He should have had the courtesy to let us know he was home."

Matthew gave a hoot of laughter. "Why? So that your web of lies wouldn't have become unraveled? You would have liked that, wouldn't you, Linz? Or if Casey had just kept quiet about what he'd heard and let your deception unfold according to plan. Fortunately, at least one of my children can be counted on to do the right thing."

Tears were already streaming down Hayley's cheeks, and she was basically blubbering as she pleaded, "Daddy, please listen to me. I didn't want to do this, I swear! But Mom forced me, she threatened - "

Matthew held up a hand to silence her. "Save it for now. I'll get to you in a few minutes, young lady. And believe me, you've got an awful lot to answer for. But right now, I need to make sure your mother fully understands the consequences of what she's put me through these last few months."

Lindsey lifted her chin mutinously. "You still aren't forcing me to sign those damned divorce papers, Matt," she insisted. "This changes nothing."

"Oh, I beg to differ, my soon to be ex-wife," he retorted. "You see, as soon as Casey told me everything he'd overheard between you and Hayley, I called my attorney. And he's positive that a judge would easily grant me a divorce after hearing the way you coerced our daughter into lying so blatantly, especially about being date raped. You'd be considered an unfit parent, and I could even get full custody of both kids if I wanted. However, I'm only taking Casey with me at this time. It's going to take some time for me to forgive Hayley for her part in all this."

Lindsey looked like she was going to be sick to her stomach. "You - you can't take Casey," she protested weakly. "I won't let you." 

"I can and I will," corrected Matthew. "And there's not a damned thing you can do about it. If you think I'd leave him alone here with you for one more night, you're crazier than I thought. He's already packed up most of his stuff, and it's in the car. Along with my things, by the way. We'll be going back to the condo tonight, and we've already found a great high school for him to attend in San Francisco."

Lindsey shook her head, sinking back onto her chair as though afraid her legs would give out from under her otherwise. "Fine. He can go with you. For now." She glared at her son again. "I'm so pissed off at the little tattletale right now anyway, I'm not sure I could stand having him anywhere near me. You've ruined everything, Casey. Everything."

Casey shrugged, clearly unfazed by his mother's anger. "Maybe for you," he replied nonchalantly. "But I'm happy to be going with Dad. And the new school I'll be attending is super cool. And what you and Hayley did was really mean, Mom."

"I did it for us, Casey!" Lindsey screamed. "For you and Hayley. So that you'd have your father back here where he belonged."

Casey shook his head. "No, Mom. I think you did it for you. Because you were mad that Dad left you. And even madder when he started seeing Sasha. You just wanted Dad back because he bruised your ego, and because he was happy without you. You wanted him to come back so you could get revenge, not because you cared about me or Hayley."

Lindsey's green eyes narrowed dangerously. "On second thought," she hissed, "maybe I won't care if you leave. You ungrateful, backstabbing brat. How dare you - "

"Enough!" demanded Matthew. "Leave my son out of this, Lindsey. He did the right thing, and there is no way I'm going to allow you to keep verbally abusing him. In fact, Casey needs to finish packing a few things, don't you, buddy? Why don't you go take care of that? We'll be leaving shortly."

Casey didn't need to be told twice, and fairly ran out of the kitchen where they'd been having dinner.

Matthew glanced back at a sullen Lindsey. "How long did you two honestly think you could keep getting away with this?" he asked, shaking his head in disgust. "Not only did you make Hayley lie about being date raped, you were going to make her pretend she'd had a miscarriage as well? Jesus, you are one sick bitch, you know that? Now, I strongly suggest you give your attorney a call first thing in the morning and set up an appointment to sign those divorce papers. My attorney has already let her know what's been going on, and she's reluctantly agreed that you no longer have a leg to stand on."

"Well, sounds like I'll just have to get a new attorney then, doesn't it?" declared Lindsey. "Because there is no way I'm signing those papers, Matt."

He shrugged. "Fine. Have it your way. I believe I already mentioned that your signature is no longer required. Based on your appalling actions of late, a judge will grant me a divorce with or without your consent. Of course, it would be easier and quicker if you'd finally cooperate and sign, but one way or another our marriage is finally going to be over with."