Chapter 42 She’ll kill her.
The silence stretched, though there was still soft music playing in the background. The party was in full swing, yet it felt as though the high table had been transported to a different location.
“Well, does anyone have something to say about this?”
Roger was now seeing Karen in a different light, understanding her reasons for leaving abruptly. She had overheard everything that day and had decided on divorce, which he refused to grant.
“I accept my mistake, kitten. I was blind back then.”
“No, you were in love,” she corrected. “But not with me.” Roger was left speechless, and Molly was stunned to see him in such a state. This behavior was unexpected from someone accustomed to winning most arguments.
Karen's gaze shifted to Hector, her expression neutral. “I have one question for you.”
“Anything,” Hector said eagerly, a slight curl appearing at the corner of Karen’s lips. “The friend you were doing a favor for, who is he?”
“You know him,” Hector answered hastily, eager to leave the table and escape the embarrassment.
It felt as though she was being treated as a commodity, with her opinion disregarded. It was a gross display of disrespect.
“Dexter. He was secretly in love with you but didn’t pursue you because of his condition. That’s why he asked me to protect you, but I always thought you were fine. I never saw the need, but his words haunted me, so I decided to marry you.”
Karen missed Dexter, and the revelation of his feelings for her was surprising. She loved him too, but was it enough to consider marriage? She couldn’t say, but her eyes welled up with tears.
Dexter cared deeply, entrusting Hector to look after her. “Thank you for telling me.”
“I will go back to my seat now,” Hector said, hastening away as if chased by a storm. If he had known Karen had overheard everything, he wouldn’t have approached her again that day, but Roger had ruined everything.
Roger's gaze made her skin burn, but she met his eyes and made her request once more. “Well, in that case, Roger, I want a divorce.”
Roger’s gaze darkened dangerously, and his voice turned threatening. “That's not going to happen. I hurt you, but you have to give me the chance to make it up to you. Why don’t we go home and talk?”
He grabbed her hand, but Karen pulled it back, surprising him with her strength. “Don’t touch me. I’m not Tonia.”
She hadn’t seen Tonia, but a bigger problem loomed before her. Roger seemed intent on repairing their broken relationship and avoiding any mention of Tonia. “We aren’t divorced, Kitten.”
“Don’t call me that,” Karen gritted her teeth, her voice cold. “And I don’t want this marriage. It was forced,” she said firmly, causing Roger to stand up in frustration.
“What are you doing?” Molly asked, confused, but Roger’s focus remained on Karen.
“I only agreed to have this party because of her. I won’t have time to speak with anyone else until she’s ready to come home with me, so I’m ending the party now.”
Feeling suffocated, Karen massaged her temple, realizing it was Roger’s thirtieth birthday party, and she was now unsure what to do with the gifts she had bought.
“If I had known it was your party, I wouldn’t have come. I guess I will have to return the gift I got for the celebrant.” She couldn’t bear to see the disappointment in Molly’s eyes and gave her approval. “Let the party continue. We can talk after it’s done.”
Roger smiled, pleased that she had gotten him a gift without even knowing it was his party. “That’s more like it.” His gaze on her was more intense than how he used to look at Tonia or Lexi.
“I need to use the restroom,” Karen stood up, but so did Roger.
“I’ll come with you,” he said, extending his hand to hers. Seeing the confusion in her eyes, he added, “What? You think I’ll allow you to escape again?”
Karen looked helplessly at Giovanni, who had promised to protect her. “Son, let the woman use the ladies' room. Your mom can go with her if you fear she will escape.”
His mom? Wasn’t she in cahoots with his father, hiding Karen? “Sorry, Dad, but I can’t trust you and Mom. You kept her from me for months, so I’m going with her.”
Things were more complicated than Giovanni expected. “What about your partners?”
Roger paused. He had all the wealth but no woman to love him for who he was except Karen. As such, she was more important to him than any business avenue.
“We can have another party later, but I’m not letting her out of my sight,” Roger sternly retorted. Karen sighed. “All I want is a divorce. You don’t love me, and I already got over you.”
Roger smiled, but it didn’t reach his eyes. “Divorce, no, and after this party, we are going home. We need to talk, kitten, as husband and wife.”
The way he mentioned wife caused her to stiffen. Roger didn’t expect it when a shoe leather pressed against his toes. It was more painful than expected. “Ouch, what are you doing?” Did she just stamp his foot?
Karen snarled. “I will do worse if you call me kitten one more time.”
Roger stared at her. She wasn’t joking. Whatever made her so wild? Karen was never like this before. “Alright, Tigress,” he gave in. Karen lost hope. Was her name too hard for him to pronounce?
“Just call me Karen,” she sighed. Roger shook his head. “Will you stay if I do? I promise to be a good husband.”
Karen was not ready for this. “Please excuse me. I need to use the restroom.” Roger was about to follow her again, but she stopped him, her eyes pleading. “Please don’t follow me.”
Her gaze traveled to Tonia, who looked upset. When Roger followed her gaze, he understood what was going on. “Fine. If I don’t see you in ten minutes, I’m coming in.”
Karen could only sigh, but as soon as she made her way to the restroom, Roger saw Tonia following suit.
Rising to his feet, his father stopped him. “Let her be, Roger, she’s not going anywhere.”
Roger was uneasy. What if Tonia said something to upset or even hurt her? His gaze was focused on the exit Karen used with her timer on. No matter what, he won’t lose her again this time.
“You really love her, don’t you?” Molly acknowledged. Roger smiled. “You have no idea, Mom. I will never love another woman like her. You better help me win her back if you want grandchildren from me because I will live the rest of my life as a bachelor if I lose her again.” Giovanni yawned. "She isn't the same woman who left you, Roger. What if she doesn't meet your expectations?"
"We'll work it out somehow, but divorce is out of the question," Roger said seriously. Molly was at a loss for words but remembered something and informed him.
"I hope you two are staying with us tonight. You have to give her time."
Roger didn't agree. "No, I'm taking her home, Mom. This is between me and my wife. Thanks for your help, but I'll take it from here."
Giovanni could partly guess what was going to happen and warned him. "You can't force her, son."
Roger was about to say something when one of the guests ran to the auditorium from the ladies' room. "Somebody should help. She'll kill her."