The Marriage Act(82)

‘Stupid things. Like I don’t love her any more, that I want a divorce, that I’m not happy . . . stuff like that.’

‘And is any of it true?’

‘No.’

‘Can you explain your reasoning behind it?’

‘I hoped I was being recorded and it would force us onto Level One. Maybe then she’d take my marriage concerns seriously. But I don’t know if she has. She still doesn’t seem to care.’

‘Have you considered the effect this might have on Roxi’s career if your Levelling up is made public?’ Owen didn’t reply but Roxi heard him shuffling on Cooper’s leather sofa.

‘Can I take from your silence that you have considered it but acted regardless?’

‘Yes.’

‘So – and without putting words into your mouth – have you tried to sabotage her career to regain the Roxi you fell in love with?’

Owen hesitated again before agreeing.

Of all she had heard that day, this stunned Roxi the most. But she barely had time to process it before the next revelation appeared.

‘That’s not all,’ Owen continued. ‘I’ve been trolling her online, leaving nasty, hurtful comments on everything she posts.’

Roxi clasped her hand over her mouth. ‘What?’ she said aloud. A man sitting by an adjacent table turned sharply to look at her.

‘When did this start?’ asked Cooper.

‘Soon after she revealed she wanted to be the new Jem Jones. Do you remember me telling you how my son asked me if I could find him a new mummy because Rox never plays with him like his friends’ mums do? Before I went home, I sat outside your house, set up a bogus account using your wifi and started trolling my own wife.’

‘Why?’ asked Cooper.

‘Because I want to hurt her like she is hurting our family. Because she doesn’t listen. But mostly because I’m a bloody idiot.’

Roxi slammed the lid of the laptop shut, devastated by Owen’s betrayal. Yet amongst the hurt, a part of her understood why. And her anger wasn’t only directed at him, but at herself for allowing things to become so bad between them.

Something had to change. And, as far as she could see, it had to be her. But before she could give it any more thought, her watch pinged. And when she read the message, she closed her eyes and fought the urge to hurl her wine glass against the window.





65


Jeffrey




‘I’m not doing this today,’ announced Noah before their morning session began.

‘May I ask why?’ asked Jeffrey. He noted the dark rings around Noah’s eyes and uncombed hair, and a smile tugged at the corners of his lips.

‘These sessions are affecting my sleep, my appetite and how I do my job and I can’t afford to put lives at risk if I can’t concentrate. For my own mental health, I need a timeout.’

Luca turned to him. ‘When did you decide this?’ he asked, bewildered.

‘Last night.’

‘Have you considered that our sessions might be forcing you to confront your issues and that they’re manifesting themselves into your insomnia and lack of appetite?’ said Jeffrey. ‘Perhaps we could explore this further—’

‘I studied medicine for six years before I became a junior doctor, Jeffrey; I didn’t log in to an online course, get a certificate for turning up and call myself qualified.’

Jeffrey allowed the dig to pass unchallenged.

‘So please don’t patronize me with a half-baked diagnosis. My work is the one thing I don’t have to defend to you. Under the terms of the Marriage Act, ruling three point one, each half of a counselled couple is entitled to up to five mental health recuperation days in any one bulk course of counselling. I am taking all mine together.’

‘If you can find a medical professional who signs off on it first.’

‘Check your emails, you’ll see I had a conference call with a consultant early this morning and she has approved it.’

Someone has done their homework, thought Jeffrey. He refreshed his tablet’s emails and located the message, which had arrived as he was preparing for today’s session. Noah had timed its arrival to disarm Jeffrey. Cunning recognized cunning.

‘Where will you be staying?’ Jeffrey asked.

Noah cocked his head.

‘Under the terms of the Marriage Act, ruling four point seven six, mental health breaks cannot be taken at the property in which you reside, or you risk a delay to the recovery process. So where will you go?’

‘Um, a friend’s house.’

‘Which friend?’ asked Luca.

‘I haven’t decided.’

‘As you’ve told me yourself, many of your friends view your Level Two status as “toxic”. Perhaps you had best start calling around now until you find one who is accepting of your situation?’

Noah’s jaw tightened before he left the room and disappeared upstairs, phone in hand. Luca followed, leaving Jeffrey alone. He inserted an ear pod and switched the Audite on.

‘It’s only for a few days,’ Noah said in their bedroom.

‘And how’s that going to help us?’ Luca replied.

‘You need to trust me.’

‘About what?’