Chapter 6
Halfway through the dinner, I stepped outside to get some air.
As I passed through the backyard, I saw a figure lingering near the old oak tree.
I walked over quietly.
It was Olivia, holding a steaming bowl of water and pouring it at the tree’s roots.
I rushed forward and grabbed her wrist.
She screamed.
Scalding water splashed–half on the tree, half on me.
Ignoring the burn, I yanked her by the collar and slapped her hard.
A red handprint bloomed across her pale cheek.
Jordan’s family arrived just in time to see it.
Mrs. Bennett was the first to scold me for being “out of line.”
I tuned her out.
I dropped to my knees, crying as I looked at the blistered tree roots.
Jordan ran over in a panic.
When he saw Olivia’s red cheek and burned hand, his concern was immediate and obvious.
“Chloe, have you lost it?”
“You hit her over a damn tree?”
“Jordan, do you even know what she was doing?”
“She poured boiling water on my tree!”
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Only My Ashes Could Cure His Insomni
Chapter 6
Olivia clung to his arm, sobbing.
“Jordan, please… I swear I didn’t.”
I turned to her, glaring with everything in me.
“Enough, Chloe!” he snapped.
“You’re making up crap just to attack her.”
“Try coming up with something believable at least.”
He gently dabbed the water spots off Olivia’s clothes with his blazer.
“Jordan, that tree is what I use to make the herbal sachets that help you sleep!”
Years of care, destroyed in a second by boiling water.
Hearing my words, Olivia finally seemed to realize what she’d done–but only dropped to her knees in fake apology.
“I’m sorry, ma’am… I didn’t know those leaves were for your… uh… sachets.”
I didn’t respond.
Jordan stepped in again–always for her, never me.
“Chloe, I’ve been more than patient with you tonight.”
“Don’t push it.”
“It’s just a tree, I’ll write you a check.”
“A check?” I scoffed.
“How do you put a price on all the time and love I poured into that tree–and into you?”
He looked at me like I disgusted him.
“You wanted to play gardener, that’s on you.”
“Don’t try to guilt–trip me with some dumb tree.”
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Only My Ashes Could Cure His Insomnia–Too Bad I’m Not That Generous
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Chapter 6
His words rang in my head, loud and cruel.
Years of care, all one–sided.
I stood up slowly, met his eyes, and said clearly,
“I’m done. I want a divorce.”
I went inside to treat my burns.
That night, Jordan stayed up comforting Olivia.
And me?
I sat with my dying oak tree till the sun came up.
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Only My Ashes Could Cure His Insomnia–Too Bad I’m Not That Generous
