An Unbreakable Addiction

Mia didn't want to discuss Zac with Hunter. There was no point. He would never understand, anyway.

"What's the point, Hunter? First, you accused me of trying to record you and Jenna just to push for a divorce, and now you're claiming I'm rushing to find someone new. Don't you have anything better to do?" She bit back the urge to call him simple-minded, aware it wouldn't be wise to push him too far. "Mia, let me make one thing clear," Hunter sneered, lifting her chin so she couldn't look away.

"As long as I don't agree, a divorce isn't happening. You want to take me to court? Fine. I've got the entire Genesis legal team backing me. You, on your own, don't stand a chance. And in the end, it'll be you who suffers." His eyes glinted with a mixture of amusement and menace. He was going to show her that she could never win against him!

Mia's chest tightened as she looked at him, the familiar ache of sadness creeping back in. "Hunter, you and Jenna already have a child on the way. Why keep holding onto me? What do you want from me? Just how far do you plan to push me?"

Even though she was on the verge of breaking, she stayed composed, refusing to lash out. Mia knew deep down that Hunter didn't love her, and what good would it do to go crazy over it?

To him, it would only be a joke. It saddened her to think about it. She had loved him for nine years. How had it come to this?

Hunter's eyes turned cold. "You want to know why? You trapped me into marriage three years ago, forcing my hand. So, get used to the idea of a lifetime of payback. Thinking you can walk away after three years? That'd be letting you off too easily." When Hunter got angry, his words could be brutal. The incident from three years ago, when Mia had trapped him into marriage, was a wound he couldn't let heal.

Hearing him say he planned to make her suffer for a lifetime stung, but Mia didn't want to go over the events of three years ago yet again. She had explained herself countless times, and he had never believed her. Let him think what he wanted. It didn't matter anymore. What mattered now was finding a way to convince Hunter to go through with the divorce. She didn't want to waste any more time or energy tangled in this three-person mess.

"Hunter, why don't we sit down and really talk this through?" She couldn't win in court against him, so maybe it was best to appeal to reason and emotions to get him to see her side.

No matter what he threw at her, she found she could absorb it and keep her composure. She realized her emotional resilience had grown stronger.

Hunter scoffed. "What's there to discuss?"

He had no intention of letting go. Why would he entertain a conversation about divorce?

"So, just because of what I did three years ago, you want to keep me by your side to make me miserable forever? Have you even thought

about Jenna and the baby? If you et

don't divorce me, that child will be labeled a bastard, a stain that will follow him his whole life. How can you stand to let your own child suffer like that?" Mia genuinely believed she was doing them a favor, trying to look out for everyone involved.

Mia thought to herself that there probably wasn't another wife as "understanding" as she was. Not only could she empathize with the other woman, but she was even willing to hand over her husband without a fight.

Hunter scoffed, a hint of mockery in his voice. "Should I applaud you for being so considerate?"

He had already made arrangements

for Jenna and the child to be well taken care of. When the baby was born, he would be recognized as part of the Jasper family, with all the rights and status that came with it. Anyone who dared call him a

bastard would be dealt with.

"I'm only thinking of what's best for you both," Mia said, keeping her tone gentle, hoping to persuade Hunter to agree to the divorce.