The Heart Made of Broken Gold

Chapter 10: The Affair

Elizabeth accompanied Anne and Jack back to their home. Meanwhile, King Henry remained in New York. While at a bar, King Henry noticed an attractive woman drinking a beer. This caught him off guard as he had never seen a woman drink beer before. Curious, King Henry approached the woman and introduced himself as Henry Tyler. The woman, named Catherine Brooks, revealed that she was Anne’s cousin. King Henry inquired if he could join her, to which Catherine asked if he was married. King Henry admitted that he was married, but confessed that he did not love his wife and had only married her to provide his son with a name.

“Why don’t you divorce your wife?” Catherine asks.

“I am going to divorce my wife,” King Henry replied.

“You can sit down. I do not like seeing a married man until I know for sure they are leaving their wife,” Catherine replied.

“You do not have to worry. My wife and I will be divorced soon,” Henry replied.

Months later, Jane becomes aware that King Henry has been frequently visiting New York. Jane is aware that King Henry has a lover in that city. Since the birth of Edward, King Henry has not shown any affection towards Jane. Eventually, King Henry returns to his kingdom. Jane hesitates to ask King Henry a certain question because she already knows what his response will be. However, she realizes that she cannot find peace until she receives an honest answer from King Henry about his feelings towards her.

“Henry, I have wanted to ask you this for a long time, but I never had the courage to. Do you love me? Have you ever loved me?” Jane asks.

“I believe you are aware of the answer to that!” King Henry responded impolitely.

“I want to hear you say whether you love me or not!” Jane demands.

“I do not love you and I never did. I only married you to give our son a surname. I desired a male successor. Anne did not give me a son so when you told me you were pregnant I married you,” Henry explained.

Jane could not believe what she is hearing.

“I am leaving and I want a divorce! I am not staying with a man who does not love me and mistreat me!” Jane exclaimed with rage.

To her dismay, King Henry responded with rudeness, saying, “Do not let me stop you,” and abruptly showed her the door.

Devastated and heartbroken, Jane ran out of the room, tears streaming down her face. She tried to calm herself down outside before going to find Prince Edward.

Jane finally calmed down and started packing her and Prince Edward’s bags. She was hopeful that her parents would let them stay with them. When they arrived at her parents’ house, Jane knocked on the door. Bonnie, Jane’s mother, answered, and Jane could tell she had been drinking.

“What do you want?” Bonnie asked rudely.

“I’m leaving Henry,” Jane replied.

“Why?!” Bonnie asked.

“I can’t take him mistreating me and messing around with other women!” Jane explained.

“What do you want now?!” Bonnie asked impatiently.

“I was wondering if Edward and I could stay here until I find a place of my own?” Jane asked politely.

Bonnie responded in a rude manner, saying, “You should go back to your husband and try to reconcile with him.”

Jane expressed her disagreement, saying, “Mom, I don’t want to be with a man who doesn’t love and respect me!”

Bonnie continued to be rude, saying, “Well, you can’t stay here. I am done taking care of kids!”

Jane pleaded, “I’m not asking you to support me. I’ll get a job and pay you rent.”

Bonnie rudely refused, saying, “No, I don’t want you to stay here. Just leave!”

Jane cried out, “Where are Edward and I supposed to go? We have nowhere to stay!”

Bonnie replied harshly, “Go back to your husband!” and slammed the door in Jane’s face.