Chapter 2 The End Of What Was Ours

The moment those words left my mouth, neither mother nor daughter on the couch so much as blinked. In fact, they looked at me like I was the one being unreasonable.

"Colin, do you really have to blow this out of proportion?" Selena's voice was calm, even condescending. "You were the one in the wrong. We just had you spend a night outside to cool off. What's the big deal?"

I opened my mouth but couldn't bring myself to speak.

She said it so lightly, as if it were nothing. As if she had forgotten how cold it got up north this time of year.

I had stood outside in a thunderstorm for hours, waiting for the two of them. Then I spent the rest of the night on the streets, soaked and shivering. The fever hit, and it turned into pneumonia. It wasn’t them who helped me—it was a stranger who took pity and called the ambulance. If they hadn't… I might not have made it through the night.

I smiled bitterly and shook my head. "There's nothing left to say. Just sign the papers."

Selena looked genuinely surprised. All these years, she was the only one who ever brought up divorce during her tantrums. She never expected me to be the one to say it first.

"Colin, do you even know what you're doing?"

My body still felt wrecked from the fever, but I forced myself to stand upright and kept my tone steady. "I know exactly what I'm doing. This marriage isn't worth holding onto anymore."

Selena had always been the type who expected to be adored, to be the center of everyone's world. So, when I stood my ground, her face twisted with anger. "Fine! Let's get divorced!"

She snatched the divorce papers and hurled them at me, hitting me square in the face. "Colin, a man like you doesn't deserve someone like me! You've got no money, no status—I can't wait to see how you survive without me! And don't even think about taking our daughter. Evie stays with me. I'm not letting her grow up in some rundown shack with a loser like you!"

Right then, Evie ran over and clung to her mother's leg, shouting at the top of her lungs. "Only someone handsome and gentle like Uncle Skyler is good enough for Mommy! He plays the piano, and he teaches me how to dive—unlike you, who can't do anything. You're not my daddy anymore! Get out of our house!"

The child looked so much like me—same features, same expressions—but every word that came out of her mouth stabbed straight through my chest. If this had happened in the past, I probably would have cried my heart out.

But now, I felt nothing. Just one clear thought: whatever bond we once had as father and daughter, it was gone.

"Don't worry," I said quietly. "I'm not fighting you for custody."

Then I turned to Evie, meeting her eyes. "And you're not my daughter anymore either. Go ahead—find someone else to call Daddy."

With that, I didn't spare them another glance. I turned and walked straight into the bedroom to pack.

There wasn't much to take. Just a few changes of clothes. That was all I had.

For years, my entire world had revolved around Selena and Evie. When they were happy, I was happy. Somewhere along the way, I lost myself. I gave up everything to protect this family, but to them, this home was always optional.

I used to believe that love would be enough. That if I gave my heart, I would earn theirs in return.

I was a fool.

Before leaving, I slipped the ring off my finger and set it on the nightstand. I had worn that ring for ten years. It had trapped me for just as long.

Now, I was finally free.

As I rolled my suitcase into the living room, Selena and Evie were on a video call. The screen lit up with a man's voice. "Evie, were you a good girl today? I'm bringing you a present tomorrow—it's the teddy bear you wanted."

It was Skyler.

Evie's face lit up. Her voice was all sugar and sunshine. "You're the best, Uncle Skyler! See you tomorrow!"

Selena smiled, and her whole demeanor softened. She looked like the perfect wife and mother—nothing like the woman who had just screamed at me. "Skyler, don't spoil her too much. She's already a handful."

Laughter and joy filled the house, the three of them basking in their perfect little world. And once again, I was just the extra—forgotten and unwelcome.

But none of it mattered anymore. After everything they had put me through, any love I had left for them was long gone.

My head was pounding again, the fever flaring back up. But I knew what I had to do.

This time, I left for good. No looking back. No goodbyes.