Chapter 6
I left without looking back.
I drove aimlessly for hours, the city lights blurring into streaks of color. My mind was a jumbled mess of emotions. Betrayal, anger, humiliation, but mostly, a bone–deep sadness.
I ended up at my sister’s house, hoping for a sympathetic ear, a shoulder to cry on. But instead of the comfort I was craving, I was met with judgment and accusations.
“You’re really leaving him? Over this?” my sister, Amelia, asked, her voice laced with disbelief. “Evelyn, you can’t be serious. David might be a bit of a handful, but he’s a good man at heart. He loves you, and he loves Ethan. Don’t throw away your marriage over a stupid mistake.”
“A stupid mistake?” I repeated incredulously. “Amelia, he’s been having an affair with the nanny! In our home! With our son! How can you possibly defend him?”
“Oh, Evelyn, don’t be so dramatic,” Amelia scoffed. “Men stray. It’s in their nature. It doesn’t mean he doesn’t love you. It probably meant nothing to him. A bit of fun, that’s all.”
“Fun? Is that what you call it?” I felt my anger rising again. “And what about Ethan? He hates me, Amelia! He wants her to be his mother! He called me a monster! Do you know
how that feels?”
“He’s just a child, Evelyn,” Amelia said, her voice softening. “He doesn’t know any better. Don’t take it personally. He’ll come around. You’ll see.”
“No, Amelia,” I said, my voice shaking. “I don’t think he will. And I’m done trying. I’m done being the bad guy, the one who sets boundaries, the one who disciplines. I’m done being the only responsible adult in this family.”
I grabbed my purse and stood up. “I’m going,” I said, my voice firm.
“Where are you going?” Amelia asked.
“I don’t know,” I replied honestly. “But I’ll figure it out.”
As I walked towards the door, I could hear Amelia’s voice behind me. “Don’t be stupid, Evelyn,” she called out. “Think about what you’re doing. You’ll regret this. You’ll be all alone.
3
C
No husband, no son…”
Her words echoed in my ears as I drove away, the weight of my decision pressing down on me. She was right, wasn’t she? I was all alone.
As I drove, I thought about everything that had happened. The betrayal, the lies, the heartbreak. And then, I thought about Ethan. My sweet, innocent little boy, who had somehow been transformed into a stranger right before my eyes.
And that’s when I realized something.
I couldn’t fix this.
No matter how much I wanted to, no matter how hard I tried, I couldn’t force David to love me, and I couldn’t force Ethan to choose me.
I needed to walk away.
For my own sanity. For my own future.
I called my lawyer the next day and started the divorce proceedings.
