“I love you, Mum.”
“I love you, too, honey. See you in a bit.”
I wait for her to leave the room before sitting on the edge of my freshly made bed. I reach for my phone and check the screen—eight missed calls and six unread messages from Adrian, and one from my brother, Finn.
I ignore Adrian’s messages and open the one from my brother, determined not to let my ex-husband ruin my mood any more than he already has.
Big Bro:Heard you’re back in town and have moved in with Mum and Dad. Not sure what’s going on, but I hope you’re okay. We’re coming over for dinner tonight, if Mum hasn’t already told you.
Me:She has indeed, and I’m okay for now, but I’ll explain everything when you guys get here.
Big Bro:Call me or Claire if there’s anything you need.
Me:Thanks, Finny. I’ll be fine. I just look forward to seeing you and the girls again.
Big Bro:See you then, sis!
Me:See you. X
Perhaps Mum is right. Having everyone over tonight might not actually be such a bad thing. It’ll be the perfect opportunity to lay everything out in the open, get it over with, and finally start moving forward.
But first, I need a long nap.
Violet, my adorable six-month-old niece, squeals with almost ear-splitting laughter in my lap as her cousin Zac and big sister, Holly, pull faces at her from across the table. I’ve always loved it when the kids are all together. It was something I missed dearly after we moved to Sandy Vale, no thanks to my stupid ex-husband.
I loved seeing the world through their eyes, where everything is simpler, lighter, and sheltered from adult problems. Gone are the days when the only real problem was having to eat all your vegetables before you can move on to dessert.
As I sit at the dinner table, surrounded by my family’s laughter and easy banter, I feel my world quietly caving in. Even if he felt nothing for the other woman, even if it was just sex, nothing more—the moment he gave a part of himself to her, he didn’t simply form a connection with someone else; he shattered the one he had with me.
When he chose to cheat, he revealed his true priorities—that his selfish needs were more important than the pain he knew he would cause, mattered more than the life we built,meant more than our nine-year marriage. It was never a mistake. It was a choice he made time and time again. And that is something I canneverforgive him for.
Violet shifts restlessly in my arms, rubbing at her eyes with tight, clenched fists as she lets out a big yawn.
“Aww… baby girl’s getting tired,” my sister-in-law, Claire, says softly. “I’ll quickly feed her, and take the kids to watch a movie in the other room—give you guys some time to talk.” She pats a hand on her husband’s lap as she stands.
She carefully takes Violet from me, and before letting her go, I steal a kiss on her soft, chubby cheek.
“Alright, kids, who wants to pick the first movie?” she calls to Zac and Holly.
They leap from their seats, bickering over first choice as they race towards the living room, no doubt preparing to wrestle for control of the remote.
Once they’re all out of the dining room, the air instantly falls silent. My parents and brother are watching me intently, as if I might breakdown and cry at any moment.
“So, I guess I should just rip out the band aid then,” I start, my fingers fidgeting anxiously in my lap. “Adrian and I are separating. I discovered he was having an affair with his teaching assistant last year.”
My brother releases a heavy exhale, shaking his head slowly. “Oh, boy. Claire guessed it. I was hoping she was wrong. How long?”
“Five months,” I reply quietly. “At least, based on what I’ve seen.”
“God, I’m so sorry, sis.”
My brother and Adrian were like brothers. Neither of them grew up with one, so they formed their own little brotherhood. They went golfing together nearly every Sunday morning and stood beside each other as best men at their weddings.
Learning that Adrian had betrayed his only sister, probably hurts him as much as it hurts me.
“I trusted that bastard.” His teeth clench as he shakes his head in disgust. “Never once did I think he’d do something as vile as what he did to you… to Zac. He’s lost every ounce of my respect. That gutless piece of shit better never show his face around here again.”
“I don’t think he’d dare to,” I reply quietly.
