“Yes. If it shields him from more pain and confusion, then yes.”
“Wow.” I let out a bitter scoff. “You’re really racking up Father of the Year points here.”
“Hey, I never said I wanted a baby with her, and she knew it. So if it turns out to be mine, I’m not taking responsibility for it. I made my intentions clear from the start—it’s not my fault she chose to go back on her word.”
“So it’s like that, huh? You’d just easily turn your back on your own child and keep lying to the one you already have.”
“I’ll say this one last time” he says condescendingly. “I do not want anything to do with Lucia’s baby—whether it’s mine or not.”
“When did you get so cold-hearted?”
“I thought you’d be happy to hear that I want nothing to do with them.”
“How I feel about this isn’t what matters. I just want to know if the baby is yours. I don’t want any more secrets from you.”
“I’m so sorry, Hope. I’m sorry for ever hurting you. I never wanted you to find out about the affair the way you did.”
“Tell me this. Were you ever going to tell me, or were you hoping to get away with it?”
His gaze drifts to the window, as if trying to hide his guilt. But his silence tells me everything I need to know—he was never going to tell me. He was willing to die with his secret. I never once thought my husband could be this cruel, this heartless. Now I find myself questioning whether I ever truly knew him at all.
“You’ve hurt me one too many times, and I won’t sit back and let you do it again. The fact that you tried to bury the truth, and planned to keep living a lie while betraying us day in and day out, shows just how little respect or care you have for us. Your selfishness, your need for an ego boost, became so much more important to you than anything else. I just hope it was all worth it in the end.”
I rise to my feet, grab my coat and handbag from the back of my chair, and glance down at my husband—the same man who promised me forever, while secretly stabbing me in the back.
“You don’t need to worry about us. We will rebuild our lives, piece by piece, surrounded by people who genuinely love and care about us. You and I will learn to co-parent, and that is where our relationship, and our communication will end. I will work hard to heal from all of this, and I know, without a doubt, that I’ll come out stronger, wiser because of it.
“You may have shattered the life and home we built, but understand this: you did not break me—and you certainly didnot destroy my dreams for a happy, secure future. The only difference now is that you won’t be part of it.”
I sling the strap of my bag over my shoulder and, without exchanging another word, walk past him towards the exit door. I’m done listening. Done absorbing his lies and excuses. Done with our marriage for good.
Stopping just at the threshold, I glance back at him one last time. He looks utterly defeated, like a broken-down engine with no fuel left, no fight remaining.
He’s become a hollowed-out version of the man he once was, and I quickly turn away before guilt and pity can take root inside my chest.
I finally step outside with my head held high, even if on the inside, I’m slowly falling apart, barely holding myself together.
But I know I’ll survive this. I have to. Because moving forward isn’t a choice.
It’s the only way.
Chapter 18
Kaden
Thirteen months later – September, 2025.
Isla grips her father’s hair in her tiny fist, the strength of it almost impressive for a three-month-old baby. She nearly yanks out a few strands between her small, chubby fingers, and I laugh as Jason does his best not to wince from the pain.
“Ow, my sweet girl. Can you please let go of daddy’s hair? That hurts.”
She coo’s and ahh’s at his request, but doesn’t ease up, instead, she grips and pulls it harder.
“Help a brother out, will ya?” he groans at me, and I can’t help but chuckle.
“Alright, little rebel,” I murmur, gently prying her fingers from his short strands. “Wouldn’t want to add another bold spot to your dad’s already thinning hair,” I tease, a mocking smile curling my lips.
He goes to swing a half-hearted jab at my ribs, but I quickly dodge it, laughing again as he misses.
