“If there’s one lesson to take from all of this, it’s to be kinder to yourself. Learn to forgive yourself and let go of the past. Don’t carry the self-hate, the regret, the disappointmentor even the guilt from your failed marriage into your next relationship, because, son, you’ll never be free in your heart if you do.
“Don’t make the same mistakes I made. I know it’s too late with Skylar, but you’re young and still have a chance at a brighter future. You just have to commit to becoming a better, wiser version of yourself.
Because whether you believe it or not, Kaden, you deserve to be happy too.”
Chapter 41
Hope
The front door swings open and Zac strides through, his backpack strapped tight across his shoulders. A faint, lingering smile plays at his lips as he passes me in the hallway—the only sign that his day with his dad wasn’t entirely dreadful.Right behind him is Adrian, dressed casually in jeans, a T-shirt, and white shoes, his sunglasses pushed up onto his head as he nods a silent hello.
“I made apple crumble muffins,” I call out to Zac, who’s already heading for the kitchen—no doubt planning to dive straight into them.
When I turn to face Adrian, he’s stopped in the middle of the hallway, his gaze sweeping slowly over the rooms around us.
“Would you like some for the road?” I ask him.
His gaze snaps back to me, and he gives a small shake of his head. “No, it’s okay. I’ve been trying to cut back on sugar lately,” he explains, his eyes drifting around the space once more. “Have you finally finished the renovations?”
“Yeah, I have. There are only a few things left to decorate inside, and then I can start upgrading the gardens.”
“The place looks… different,” he murmurs, his eyes resting on the newly installed light fixture Kaden put up only yesterday.A distant expression settles over his features, as though he’s not seeing what stands before him, but remembering how the house once looked—back when he still lived here.
He shakes his head lightly, as if to clear the thought, and shifts his gaze towards the front door. “I saw the lawns are freshly cut. Did you hire someone?”
“No, I didn’t,” I reply, clearing my throat. “Kaden did them.”
He whips his head back towards me, his jaw clenching—anger and irritation simmering beneath the surface. I steel myself for the lecture I know is coming.
“Are you serious right now?” he snaps.
“Why would I lie about something like that?”
“So you’ve just forgiven him and are now acting like he didn’t just betray your trust?”
“He’s still working to earn my forgiveness, and I haven’t forgotten about what he did either. But the only thing he’s done wrong to me is hiding the truth about his past. He didn’t cheat on me, Adrian. Those vows weren’t made to me, so I can’t punish him for what happened in his previous marriage. It had nothing to do with me.”
“Unbelievable,” he mutters, shaking his head. “You do realise men like him never change, right? Do I have to remind you—once a cheater, always a cheater.”
“Then what does that say about you, Adrian?” I quip, folding my arms across my chest.
“I’m not talking about me, Hope. I’m talking about the man you seem to be putting a lot of trust in lately.”
“I never said I trusted him—not yet, anyway. And we’re just friends. We’re not dating or sleeping with each other, if that’s what you’re trying to get at. But if I’m being honest, he’s proven far more to me in the short time I’ve known him than you have since I found out about your infidelity.”
“Of course, you’d believe everything that comes out of his lying mouth,” he retorts, and the bastard actually has the nerve to scoff at me.
“He’s proven himself with more than just words. You might not want to believe it, but he’s always shown up for me, for Zac, even though we never expected him to.” I take a slow step towards him. “And just so you know, when you were too busy fooling around with one of your conquests to helpyourson with his school project, it was Kaden who stepped in. Not only did he help Zac build a spectacular model house, but my boy actually won first place—something you failed to help him achieve.”
His gaze drops to his feet, shame and guilt flickering across his face. Good. I hope it gnaws at him every time he remembers each moment he failed and let our son down.He can stand there and berate Kaden all he wants, but that man has already shown that’s he’s more reliable than the person standing in front of me when it comes to Zac.
His moment of guilt and remorse is over in seconds as he steels his shoulders, and lifts his chin, his expression hardening once more.
“I see what you’re doing here.”
“And what is it that you think I’m doing?”
“You’re trying to turn my own son against me, and you’re using Kaden to do it,” he accuses, then jabs a finger at his chest. “I’m his father—not him!” he shouts, fury ringing in his voice.
