The end of us

Chapter 6

Those words were supposed to hurt, but they didn’t.

A part of me wanted to hear them.

His rejection.

I needed to feel it to react the way I wanted to.

“You heard him… GET OUT!” Kirah yelled at me.

I grabbed the envelope and moved closer to Drew.

“I have waited for this day,” I said. “To finally tell you how I feel. You are such a miserable husband, Drew.”

“He is no longer your husband,” Kirah shot back.

“Oh, shut up,” I snapped, turning to her. “Let me finish.”

She looked too stunned to speak.

“After everything you put me through, this is how you pay me back?”

“Stop being a drama queen, Alia,” Drew shot back as he stood up, coming face to face with me.

“Oh, Drew, I can be many things, but one thing I am not is a drama queen. I stayed quiet all these years while you and your family treated me like a pushover. Your mother never stopped reminding me that I wasn’t good enough for her perfect son. And you never stood by me. Not once did you defend me. And now you stand there and call me a drama queen?”

“You were not forced into this marriage,” Drew said angrily. “You did it willingly. And what did you even do for me, huh?”

“I was your wife even when you weren’t my husband,” I shot back. “I did all my duties. I respected you. I remained loyal. I showed you love. What did you give me in return?”

His eyes were red. I could see the veins popping.

“I brushed you up, Alia. I bought you trending designer outfits. Go to your wardrobe, diamonds everywhere. I bought them all with my money. And you call me a miserable husband? What an ingrate!”

“Marriage is more than expensive gifts, Drew,” I said, my voice shaking. “Time, care, and loyalty can’t be bought with money. You treated me like I didn’t even exist. Gifts don’t make up for late nights or this.”

I pointed at Kirah.

“And even if you couldn’t love me, couldn’t you at least pretend to care about my feelings? You brought your mistress into the house. Liam and Luna had to see you kissing another woman.”

“Whose fault is that?” he barked. “You brought your children here without telling me. The children you said were your adopted siblings. Don’t stand there and manipulate me, Alia. I’m done. Done with your lies and betrayal. You caused this divorce. The sooner you accept that, the better.”

I stood there, speechless.

Foolish me thinking this man would one day accept my children. Heaven knows I never wanted to hide them. My parents forced it. But Drew would never understand.

“Oh, Alia,” Kirah finally spoke again. “The single mother.”

She rubbed her hands over Drew’s chest.

“What made you think the almighty Drew Jacobs would want anything to do with a single mother? Go find the father of your kids instead of forcing them down Drew’s throat.”

She placed a hand on her stomach.

“Besides, I’m carrying his child.”

My heart sank.

Kirah was pregnant with Drew’s child.

That could have been me. But I never wanted a child born into a home where the parents couldn’t even look at each other.

Drew’s face lit up. He carried her into his arms, spinning her around.

“Oh, honey, you didn’t tell me,” he said, smiling a smile he had never given me.

“I wanted to surprise you,” she replied.

“This is the happiest day of my life!” he shouted.

That was all I needed to see.

I signed the divorce papers and walked away.

This was no place for me.

And certainly no place for my children.

The moment I got into the driver’s seat and shut the door, everything I had been holding in finally broke loose.

I bent over the steering wheel and cried.

My body shook as sobs tore out of me. I had been strong in that house. I had held my head up because I didn’t want to look weak. But now… I couldn’t anymore.

Small hands touched my arm.

“Mummy…” Luna’s tiny voice trembled.

Liam leaned forward. “He didn’t like us, right?”

My heart clenched.

“No, baby,” I said quickly, wiping my tears. “That’s not it.”

“But why was there a lady with him?” Luna asked softly. “Why was he kissing her?”

They were too young to understand. Too young to know what betrayal meant.

“Sometimes grown-ups have problems,” I said gently. “Adult problems. It has nothing to do with you. Nothing at all.”

They watched me closely.

I straightened up.

This wasn’t how I wanted my children to see me.

Today was their birthday.

I wiped my tears and forced a smile.

“Hey,” I said. “It’s still your birthday, remember?”

Their eyes lit up.

“That amusement park you’ve always wanted to go to? The one I never had time for?”

“We’re going there,” I said. “Then we’ll get cake. A very big cake.”

They jumped in their seats.

“You’re the best mum!” Luna squealed.

“But mummy,” Liam said seriously, “promise you won’t cry again. When you’re sad, it makes us sad too.”

My heart broke all over again.

“I promise,” I said, lifting my pinky. “Mum won’t be sad again.”

“Pinky promise!” Luna said.

“Pinky promise.”

At the amusement park, their laughter filled the air.

I watched them run around, screaming with excitement. I smiled too. I had missed moments like this being so busy playing the perfect wife that I almost forgot how it felt to be a mother.

I have to be strong for my kids, I thought. I can’t let them see me like that again.

My phone buzzed.

It was an alert from Drew.

My breath caught when I saw the amount.

This is a settlement for the two years we were married. Let’s end it here.

My pride screamed at me to reject it.

But then I looked at Liam and Luna they looked happy and carefree.

I needed this. For them.

So I accepted it.

Still… It felt strange.

By evening, we headed to my parents’ house.

When we arrived, I froze.

My mother and father stood on the penthouse balcony, staring down at me.

Beside them was my sister, Alice.

Their expressions told me everything.

Then I saw my belongings.

Suitcases. Bags. Boxes.

All neatly placed at the entrance.

Did Drew already send my things?

He couldn’t even wait till the next day.

Of course. Kirah was probably already moving in.

Before I could reach the door, Alice

rushed toward me.

“What’s going on, Alia?” she asked urgently. “Drew just called. He said the marriage is over and you both are now divorced. Is that true?”

I looked up at my parents again.

Their cold stares finally made sense.

“Yes,” I said quietly. “Drew and I are no longer married.”