THE DISABLED HEIRESS, MY EX-HUSBAND WOULD PAY DEARLY.

He let that hang heavy in the air. Then he straightened his jacket, turned his back to both of them, and took a slow step toward the door.

The silence burned until Abigail's voice broke it, sharper now, her pride stung deep. She pushed herself up from her seat, her glare locked on his back.

"So, Robert," she snapped, her voice quivering with rage, "you actually insulted my family, right? You stand in front of me and say my family should not cry, should not push? Is that what you just did?" Her tone cracked with fury as her finger pointed at him.

"You can disrespect me all you want, but I have never never tolerated anyone disrespecting my family."

At that moment, Victoria shook her head with clear disappointment, her voice laced with both sarcasm and frustration. "Just look at him," she said, pointing at Robert. "Be blinded by love, Robert. Be completely stupid. You think Cora is going to save you? You think Cora is untouchable? You think this foolishness you're doing won't blow back on our family?"

Her eyes darted to Abigail. "Just imagine my own brother standing here, running his mouth like this… saying all these things to someone who actually cares about him. Someone who's been loyal to him. Someone our family has been working so hard to connect him with. And now he's spoiling everything just because of what? Because of a girl? Because of Cora?"

Then, as if realizing Robert had no plans to apologize, she turned directly to Abigail, her tone softening. "Abigail," she said in a controlled, apologetic voice, "I'm so sorry. On behalf of my brother and on behalf of my entire family, please don't take what he said to heart. Please. Robert doesn't mean it. He's just angry or confused or maybe overwhelmed. There's no way absolutely no way he would actually insult your family. That's not possible. He would never do something like that. And I'm so sorry that you had to hear him say those things."

Abigail stared at Victoria for a second. Her chest was rising and falling slowly, clearly holding back a tide of emotion. She crossed her arms, and her voice came out sharp and cold. "That's exactly what happened," she said. "That was exactly what he said. He insulted my family, and I'm not going to condone that nonsense. I won't. I've tolerated a lot, but this? No."

She took a step forward, her voice rising. "This has gotten to a point where I cannot just stand there and fold my hands anymore, hoping he'll change or come to his senses. I'm done letting things slide. I won't take disrespect not toward me, and definitely not toward my family."

But Robert didn't flinch. He stood still, his jaw tight, his arms folded. His voice came out firm and unshaken. "Like I said before," he muttered, "I'm familiar with your games. All of them. I've seen it before, and I've played along long enough."

He looked directly at Abigail now. "None of your emotional blackmail or false accusations are going to work on me like they used to. You want me to fold again? You want me to crawl and beg you, hoping you'll forgive me? No. It's not going to happen."

He then slowly turned his head toward Victoria. "And you too. I know what you're doing. You're twisting this narrative, making me the villain, trying to push me into a corner. But I'm not falling for it. Not anymore."

Looking back at Abigail, he added, "Mind you, I didn't insult your family. I didn't. But I know you'll twist my words however you want to make yourself feel better. That's fine. Do whatever you want. But I still stand my ground."

He took one final step back. "I didn't insult your family," he repeated slowly, clearly and firmly. "And no matter how loud you scream or how many people you try to pull into this drama, I won't let you guilt me into silence again."

At that moment, as the words "this marriage is over" left Abigail's lips, her voice was calm but heavy with finality. Her eyes didn't blink, her hands clenched into fists, and there was no hesitation in her tone only the thick silence of a woman who had finally had enough. Robert had pushed her too far, and now she was done. Absolutely done.

Victoria's face froze for a second, as though she couldn't believe what she had just heard. Then she shot up from her seat so fast that the chair behind her screeched across the floor. "No, no, Abigail, it hasn't gotten to this point," she said, waving both hands in front of her like she was trying to erase Abigail's words from the air. "Please, calm down. Let's just... let's just breathe and talk this through, okay? I'll talk to Robert. I'll talk to my parents. Just please don't say that. Don't say you're calling it off."

Abigail's lips curled into a small, bitter smile. "So now you're asking me to calm down? After your brother stood right here and disrespected me, disrespected my family, and made it clear he doesn't even want this marriage? Where were you when he said all that? Where were your apologies then?"

Victoria looked cornered, desperate, even a little shaken.

"I know, I know. What he said was wrong. I agree with you. But please, think about the families. Think about how much effort has gone into this marriage. You know how much both sides want this to work. Abigail, just think about it."

Then Abigail let out a slow, tired breath, her voice steadier now but still cold. "Don't guilt-trip me with the family talk. I wasn't the one who created this mess. I didn't tell Robert to say those things. I didn't tell him to treat me like some extra baggage he has to tolerate. I tried. I've always tried. But it's clear now he doesn't want this. He doesn't want me. And I'm not going to force myself to stay in a place where I'm not respected."

Victoria opened her mouth again to respond, but Abigail raised her hand to silence her.

"No. Don't defend him. His actions speak louder than your excuses. And you know what? I'm proud of myself for drawing the line. I deserve peace. I deserve respect. And if Robert can't give me that, then he doesn't deserve me."

Then she picked up her purse from the table and stood up, adjusting the strap on her shoulder with calm control. "This is me saving myself before I lose everything my respect, my sanity, my peace. And you can tell your brother that I said thank you. Thank you for showing me who he really is before it was too late."