Chapter 17

Clifford's heart clenched, and he felt his throat close up. For a moment, he couldn't speak. Lilibeth gazed at him with eyes so calm that they almost seemed cruel. "If my love for you was worth 100 points, Clifford, then you've reduced those 100 points to zero in the six years we were together. "You deceived me into marrying you even though you liked Tiffany. That cost you 10 points. "You accompanied her on a shopping trip on my birthday and lost another 10 points. "You left me and went to pick out a birthday present for her while I was suffering from a 104-degree fever. That day, you lost 10 points. "For only grounding her for just a day after she smashed my head, you lost 20 points. "For defending her after she cut my hair and slapped me, you lost 30 points..." As Lilibeth continued to list things off, each word that came out of her mouth felt like a dagger stabbing into Clifford's heart. She continued, "Now, all 100 points have been deducted. There is no longer any trace of