es. I spent the first day in the guest room, my body wracked with fever and chill

? You should come ou

of her voice making my stomach turn. She wasn't worr

rom the room feeling like a ghost in my own home. Chloe was in the kitchen, sipping c

better?"

red myself a cup. My silence seemed to unnerve her. She wa

er..." she started, "I

I said, my

on't take that tone with me, Ethan. You broke a fif

er not as my wife, but as a s

e said, changing the subject, her voice returning to its usual business-li

letting our son abuse me, she still saw me as h

I said

her phone, shocked.

. Handle i

mall, bitter part of me enjoyed her surprise. It was the

ld design portfolios. I thought back to a time, three years ago, when I had almost left. I had discovered an email ch

than," she had begged, clinging to my arm. "It's not what you think. He'

her tears weren't for losing me, but for losing her sa

d noon, I heard the front door open, followed by laughter. Chloe's bright, h

top of the stair

loe was looking up at them, her face glowing with a love and adoration I had never seen her

can touch the ceiling!" Liam s

h delight. "High

ke a physical blow. I fe

e. The laughter died. Chloe's smile vanished, replaced by a cold glare. Liam

over again. His expression wasn't just angry

s perch on Liam's shoulders. "Mom said you we

Chloe said, but there

, pointing a small, accusing finger at me. "He brok

his face. "Take it easy, kiddo. Your... Ethan is just having a bad da

e. "Our house?" I asked, my voice dangerously calm. "Is

t, Ethan,"

ce of furniture in it. I paid for the car you drive and the clothes on your bac

the stairs was someone new. Someone who had nothing left to lose. The pain inside me was hardening, cr