This has to end!

Dinner was good. Dante and I had cooked together. I wasn't the greatest of cooks, but with Dante's help, I knew I could do anything. We did everything together... everything except make love. And that's because he doesn't love me anymore. And I can't take it anymore. I can't take one more sleepless night, one more day of us pretending. It wasn't fair to our daughter. She needed the real thing, not this fake display.

Dante told Tammy that we both cooked dinner, together, and smiling, he leaned over, pressing his lips against my cheek. I closed my eyes tightly, biting my lip before pulling away. "Stop!" It came out short of breathless, but it came out. I opened my eyes, looking over at him, shaking my head. "I'm not doing this anymore, Dante. I can't." Turning my head to look at Tammy, I did my best to keep my tears at bay. "Your father and I aren't in love like we've been pretending to, bambina." I shook my head. "We've done all of this, trying to give you a happy, loving family, but it's all a lie. I'm sorry, but I just can't go on with this lie."

Tammy looked between the two of us for the longest time before standing up, causing her drink to spill over. "Why did you do this, Isabella?" she spat at me. She hadn't called me Isabella in a few weeks. I was actually surprised the first time Mama came out of her mouth, which was why it was such a shock to hear Isabella again. "I hate you! Why couldn't you just go on pretending? Daddy could have! But no! Nothing's ever good enough for you! I HATE YOU! She turned around, running away from the table and up the stairs to her bedroom. I wrapped my arms over my breasts, no longer able to hold the tears in.

I watched Tammy run off, in complete awe. I know B had threatened, numerous times but I never really believed she'd actually go and say it out loud. Not when her and Tammy were doing so well. Not when all our fake love and hard work was paying off and Tammy was finally letting her mom in.. I never thought she'd actually say it. But she did. She said it and sent our daughter into an rage and right back to hating her. "Why would you do that?" I asked, standing up and tossing my napkin on my plate. "We were getting places with Tammy. She was even learning to love you. To want you as her mom and you go and fuck it up because your selfish and couldn't handle a little kiss on the fucking cheek!"

I sighed, shaking my head. "All of this was for Tammy and you. This was for the both of you, to heal, to fix what was wrong BUT NO that wasn't good enough you haddddd to have me or you aren't happy. You're so fucking selfish, Bianca. This is why I don't want you. You couldn't even put our God damn daughter's happiness before your own. No you had to go and fuck shit up by blurting that out!"

"You know what, you can call me anything you want, because as long as I'm not the woman you love, nothing you call me matters." I slid the chair in, shaking my head. "I told you. I was sick and tired of living a lie, and OUR daughter deserves better than that! Yes, I know that she hates me and she probably always will now, but at least she knows the truth!"

"At least with the God damn lie she was happy. Do you not care or understand that? Or are YOUR feelings all that matters? You think sleeping in the same bed as a woman I can barely stand these days is a fucking cake walk? No. It's not but I sucked that shit up because my daughter was FINALLY smiling, happy, no tears, or anger, she was really happy and you snatched that away. You took her from me and now you took her from this. I'm truly done with you Bianca. I want NOTHING from you ever again. Neither of us do. You're God damn right I don't love you anymore!" I didn't mean that but I was so damn angry it came out. "So get the fuck out and leave MY family alone!"

I bit my lip, hugging myself more tightly. I knew this would happen, but somehow I hoped it wouldn't. I turned my head away, taking a deep breath, but it was useless. The tears were falling. I ran away from him, out of the dining room and to the foyer, grabbing my purse off of the bureau, running out the door. I didn't even grab a coat. I just left. I wasn't even thinking about how cold it was out there. I was gone, just like he wanted me to be.