“Hey, I never claimed to be a gentleman. In fact, I never promised you anything. I told you from the start—you were never going to be more than a temporary fling. There’s only one woman on this earth I’d bend over backwards for, and that woman is the mother of my son.”
“And how’s that ex-wife of yours doing, by the way?” she asks, a mocking grin playing on her lips. “Still wants nothing to do with you?”
I chuckle. “I don’t know. I haven’t spoken to her in a while. But if I had to guess, she’s probably at home, playing happy families with Kaden—who, by the way, just so happens to be in love with her.”
The cocky smirk on her face vanishes instantly, replaced by pure shock—and something that looks a lot like hurt.
“What did you say?” she whispers, her voice snagging.
“Oh, that’s right—you didn’t know. Well, I’m happy to fill you in. About a year and a half ago, your ex-lover reached out to my ex-wife, completely throwing me under the bus and spilling all the details about our torrid affair. She left me because of him.”
“She left because you cheated on her, arsehole!” she retorts.
I wave a hand dismissively at her. “That’s beside the point. If he hadn’t ratted me out, Hope and I would still be together. End of story,” I snap, still simmering with anger and resentment over what Kaden did.
“Anyway, where was I? Oh, right—more than a year later, they coincidentally ran into each other again. Since then, Kaden’s been slowly worming his way into my ex-wife and son’s life, playing some surrogate father and husband when I’m not around. I have to give it to the guy, he’s certainly putting in the effort—helping with the house renovation, my son’s school projects… hell, I wouldn’t be surprised if he’s already moved in with them. And the worst part? My ex-wife actually believes he’s the better choice, when you and I both know he’s no better than I am.”
“Well, if she’s looking for someone who can actually step up and be a responsible father, then she definitely made the right choice there,” she quips.
“Oh, fuck off, Lucia. You don’t know shit. It’s funny how you’re so focused on me as a parent, when we should really talk about you as a mother. Does the child even know what kind of woman you are? Does she know how much of a homewrecking whore her mother is? How you’ve made it your life’s mission to destroy as many marriages as possible, like it’s some twisted game? Does she know that her mother will always be the mistress, the side piece, the dirty little secret… never the wife?”
I barely get the last words out when she suddenly lunges at me, swinging and clawing while screaming how much she hates me. She lands a few punches on my chest and jaw before I catch her wrists and spin her around, pressing her back against my chest, my arms locking around her like a cage.
“Calm the fuck down, Lucia.”
She wriggles violently against me, trying to drive her heel into my shin. “Let go of me, you fucking bastard!” she screams.
“Gladly,” I spit, shoving her forward and away from me. She stumbles, nearly falling, but catches herself just in time.
“You come at me like that again, I swear, I will ruin you,” I warn her.
“You’re a disgusting pig. I don’t know what I ever saw in you. I fucking hate you!” she yells, fists clenched tight, her face radiating pure fury.
“Feeling’s mutual, baby,” I quip, slipping my keys from my pocket. I’ve had enough for one day. This girl clearly has some issues, and I’m not sticking around for her to do something reckless and dangerous.
“Now, if that’s all, Lucia, I’m gonna be on my way. I’ve got better things to do than standing around and wasting time here with you.”
I turn and unlock my car, and just before I reach for the door handle, I glance over my shoulder at her one last time. “Do me a favour and never contact me again. I’ve given you my final answer, I want nothing to do with you or that child. Do what you want with her, and have a good life.”
With that, I pull open the driver’s side door without a second glance, relief flooding through me at the thought that after this, I’ll never have to see her again.
I barely get one foot inside the car when I’m suddenly yanked backwards by the collar of my shirt, the force nearly choking me as it bites into my throat.The next thing I know, the keys slip from my hand, clattering to the ground, as I hit the pavement hard with a heavy thud.
“What the fuck, Lucia?” I yell, staring up at her with shocked, wide eyes.
She hesitates for a moment, as if it’s only just dawned on her what she’s done. But she quickly regains her composure, leans down to grab my keys, and hops into the driver’s seat, instantly locking me out of my car.
I spring to my feet and rush to her side, pounding on the window with my fist.
“Unlock the door, Lucia! Unlock the fucking door!” I shout.
She sits frozen, her gaze fixed on the windshield, hands gripping the steering wheel tightly. I keep banging on the window, but it’s as if she can’t see or hear me.
“Open the door, or I swear I’ll shatter this fucking glass!”
That’s all it takes for her to finally look at me. Her eyes are wide, but distant, and I’m not even sure she’s in control of her own body. When she shifts the car into reverse, I quickly grab the door handle—but she slams on the accelerator, and the car lurches backwards, nearly knocking me off my feet.
She takes off, the wheels skidding against the gravel pavement as rocks and pebbles fly towards me. Just before she reaches the carpark exit, she slams on the brakes, the tires screeching so loudly it makes my ears ring.
