“You told her she was a mistake?” Nell was furious. No, furious was too gentle of an emotion compared to what she was.
“I did not,” Flynn returned, his tiredness obvious in his tone. “I would never tell her that.”
“But you implied it! She asked you and you had the chance to dissuade her, but you didn’t. You let her believe the worst thing a child could ever believe of themselves.”
Flynn wanted to disagree, but he knew he couldn’t. He had stayed silent at the worst time and let his daughter believe she was unwanted. But was she? “I couldn’t lie to her, Nell.”
Pure rage formed on Nell’s features and he was genuinely afraid of what she might do next. “I have dealt with your selfishness since the moment that we met. You told me you loved another women and a took it in stride. You have never loved me despite my unwavering support and misguided love for you. I have watched you build yourself a home out of the walls you’ve put up against the world and only ever asked to be invited in to visit, but now this is about so much more than me. I pleaded and begged you not to destroy whatever faith the people of this country had in you, yet you refused to trust me. I watched you shatter any hope our oldest had at inheriting a decent report with our people, all for your own ego and pride. I have done nothing but support you and stand by your side for over half of my life, but I am done. You do not get to make my children feel inferior the way you have made me feel. You do not get to break them as you’ve done to me. I will not let them suffer as I have at your hands.”
“What are you saying?” His voice was so lacking in emotion that it surprised even him. “You want a divorce?”
A manic laugh escaped Nell’s throat. “You would love that, wouldn’t you? No Flynn, you won’t be rid of me that easily. The children are mine and I will never let you take them from me. I know the way this works. But I will not ruin our children’s minds by pretending any longer. This marriage has been over for years, but I am through with the charade in front of the kids. They will know what we have become; strangers.”
“And if I don’t agree?”
“Flynn,” she gave such sickeningly sweet smile . “We both know you need me far more than I need you.”
He knew it was true. He couldn’t manage the kingdom without her at his side or there would likely be a revolution against him. Leila had said it best: Nell was the true King of Whitebridge. “Then we are through here?”
She let out one last exasperated breath and nodded. “Yes Flynn, we’ve been through for a long time now.”