Anna was stunned. âWhat?! How could you possibly have been seen when you put on such a convincing disguise?â
Estherâs movements faltered for a moment as she tried to recall everything that had transpired before she said, âMaybe someone found out who I really am when I exposed myself to the church and told Bradley about it. After all, nobody would resist the temptation of being paid.â
The people paid to pass on information to Bradley wouldnât care about Estherâs safety or what she had gone through. Their sole concern was the money deposited into their bank accounts.
âWhat could you possibly have done to deserve to be haunted by a man like him?â Anna wondered.
Initially, Anna thought Bradley was an attractive and mature man, someone any woman could spend their life with. Now, she realized he was a heartless monster.
Estherâs voice was filled with solace and sadness. âIf Bradley had any empathy, he would never have done such heinous things to a woman who bore his children. Itâs my fault for being so naive when I was young.â
Anna took a good look at her and consoled, âNo, thatâs not entirely right. You wouldnât have such a lovely son if not for him, would you?â
Esther smiled heartily at Felix, who was eating with Sunshine next to him. âSheâs right. As terrible as Bradley is, itâs thanks to him I have a wonderful son,â Esther thought.
âYouâll be a super attractive mother with a son and a daughter once youâve welcomed Pixie back into your arms!â Anna teased. âThink about it. Youâll instantly become the most beautiful and attractive woman if you walk hand in hand on the streets.â
âIâve made my decision,â Esther said with determination. âIâm filing for divorce from Bradley.
In the past, Bradley had wanted to divorce her, but now, it was the other way around.
âA divorce?â Anna anxiously asked. âWhat about Pixie? Whatâs going to happen to her if you go back there to sue him?â
âIâm not going back. Iâll leave everything to do with the divorce to a lawyer,â Esther replied.
Esther had never wanted to get a divorce from Bradley because she did not want her children to know the ugly side of their parentsâ relationship.
But now, that was no longer a problem. All of her patience shown to Bradley had become a joke when Bradley used Pixie to threaten her.
âDo it. Youâve got my support,â Anna said, extremely supportive of Esther. âWe no longer live in the old days when divorcees would get criticized and scorned. Itâs high time we women had the courage to say no to an awful marriage!â
Esther nodded. âIâll go make the calls.â
After wiping the oil from her hands, Esther found a quiet place to make a phone call. âJasper, Iâve decided to divorce Bradley. Could you introduce me to a good lawyer?â