#Chapter 82-Read Between the Lines

“Hello?” My mother’s voice is shrill on the other end. “What have you done, Esme?” I narrow my eyes, confused by the direct question with no indication of where it’s going. “What are you talking about, Mom?” “First, I find out you’re divorced, and now I find out Ryan is going on trial?” I sit down on my couch. “I told you I was divorcing Ryan. Just because you tried to guilt me into staying with him didn’t mean I’d listen.” “Esme! What are people going to say about you? And what are these charges on Ryan? The news won’t reveal more than these charges came from your lawyers?” “Mom,” I sigh. “Ryan did multiple illegal things to me. I don’t want to sit here explaining myself. You don’t hear a word out of my mouth. You just assume Ryan is innocent, and I’m wrong.” “He was your husband,” Angie growls. “And he tried to rape me!” I snap back. My teeth clench inside my mouth as I tremble. “He broke the restraining order on me! He stalked me! Threatened me! Does none of