Acrimony

Melinda bumps into Robert during college and immediately erupts in a rage, verbally and physically assaulting him. The outburst reveals her abnormal tendencies and sets up a volatile pattern that will haunt their relationship.

Later the same day, Robert visits Melinda's dorm to return papers that were mixed up in the previous altercation. They share a tense exchange, and a wary spark begins to form as they consider something more than anger.

On the day of her mother's funeral, Melinda and Robert have sex in his RV, marking the start of their relationship. The impulsive act binds them together despite the sorrow surrounding the day.

Melinda later discovers Robert is cheating on her with Diana Wells. In a fit of rage she rams Robert's RV with her car, injuring herself and escalating their toxic dynamic.

Melinda passes out from her injuries and is rushed to the hospital for an emergency full hysterectomy, leaving her infertile. The event marks a drastic shift in her marriage and personal life.

Melinda and Robert reconcile and marry, despite the objections of Melinda's sisters. Their union offers a fragile stability that hides deeper undercurrents.

Eighteen years pass as Robert focuses on developing his invention but struggles to find steady work. He convinces Melinda to mortgage their house to fund a prototype of his self-charging battery.

June and Brenda inform Melinda that Robert is cheating with Diana Wells after discovering Diana's wallet in Robert's truck. The revelation shatters any remaining trust and fuels Melinda's anger.

Robert receives a call from Diana that Prescott wants to reconsider the deal, causing him to abandon his delivery mid-route. Prescott offers $800,000 for the design, but Robert refuses to license the technology and instead pursues ownership of the IP.

Melinda files for divorce and moves out, while Robert's personal and financial instability grows. He eventually finds himself contemplating a new path away from their broken marriage.

Robert moves into a homeless shelter after the divorce, and Diana asserts control by insisting that he live with her, pulling him further into her orbit.

Prescott later offers a multi-million-dollar deal while letting Robert keep the intellectual property. Robert visits Melinda at work, apologizes, and eventually buys back her home with a $10 million payment.

Melinda visits Robert in his penthouse and learns that Diana has become his fiancée, reigniting her resolve to end the relationship on her terms.

Melinda sues the couple, claiming that the Prescott deal happened before their divorce, but the case is dismissed. The couple countersue and obtain restraining orders, and even Melinda's own family recommends security measures.

On Robert and Diana's wedding day, Melinda's family and friends block her from leaving to ruin the ceremony. The newlyweds depart for their honeymoon, but Melinda secretly boards the cruise, shoots Robert, and a violent struggle ends with her drowning after an accidental entanglement with an anchor.