Chapter 3

Early the next morning, after dropping Joey off at preschool, I went to a law firm to meet Isabelle Laurent, a lawyer and an old college friend of both Amelia and me.

After hearing why I'd come, Isabelle gave me a complicated look.

"How did things between you two end up like this?" she asked. "I still remember sophomore year, when you had a fever. Amelia skipped class and waited outside your dorm, asking people to bring you medicine and stew.

"Then, after graduation, when you got a job in another city, she turned down a great opportunity here without a second thought and went with you.

"Everyone in our department used to say that if you wanted a wife, you should find someone like Amelia. She was so caring and devoted.

"That's why, when she started her own business, you were willing to put your own career aside and become the man supporting her behind the scenes."

I offered a faint smile but said nothing.

The truth was, it didn't take some earth-shattering event for two people who'd once been deeply in love to become strangers who could barely stand each other.

Sometimes, all it took was the slow grind of everyday life, with one disappointment after another gradually wearing away what remained of their affection.

I didn't have much to resent her for. After all, our journey together had simply come to an end.

Isabelle sighed. "Are you sure about leaving tomorrow?"

I nodded. "I've already booked the tickets. Joey and I are going to Aurelia, and I've found a job there, too.

"They need me to start soon, so I'll take Joey over and get us settled first. I'll leave the rest of the divorce proceedings to you."

She studied me for a long moment, but in the end, she decided not to try to talk me out of it.

Once I'd received the divorce papers, I got up to leave.

After leaving the law firm, I went straight to Joey's preschool to pick him up and complete the paperwork to withdraw him.

…

Since it was Joey's birthday, I decided to take him to the restaurant he'd been wanting to try for ages.

We'd barely settled into our seats when I spotted Amelia and Sebastian.

Sebastian's eyes lit up the moment he saw me.

"Hey, William! What a coincidence. I didn't know you were coming here.

"This place is so hard to get a reservation at. Would you mind giving us your table? I've been dying to try their signature dish."

He looked at me with absolute confidence, as though he already knew what my answer would be.

After all, whenever he'd asked me for something in the past, I'd always smile and step aside for him, all for Joey's sake. I'd wanted to avoid arguments and preserve the illusion of our happy, complete family.

But this time, I wasn't going to budge.

Instead, I looked up at Amelia. "So this is where you've been working late."

She froze. This was probably the first time I'd ever confronted her so bluntly, and she seemed momentarily at a loss for words before looking away.

"It's Sebastian's birthday today, so I brought him here for a meal. There aren't any other tables available right now. Why don't you give us yours? I'll bring you and Joey here another time."

But there wouldn't be another time.

Before I could respond, Joey cut in. "Mommy, you're wrong! Mr. Hayes' birthday isn't today. It was on the 15th of last month.

"Don't you remember? You promised to take Daddy and me to the movies that day, but the movie was already over, and you still hadn't shown up. Later, Daddy told me it was Mr. Hayes' birthday, so you went to celebrate with him instead."

Amelia stiffened, her expression darkening as she shot me an accusing glare.

"You put these ideas in our son's head, didn't you?"

With a scoff, she said, "William, fine, you want to play hard to get. But now you're using our own child as a weapon against me?"

Sebastian immediately grew flustered, his voice trembling as he tried to intervene.

"Amelia, please don't. This is all my fault. I shouldn't have come here and caused a fight between you two. Maybe I should leave so you can enjoy your meal as a family."

Amelia reached out to grab him, but she nearly lost her balance and stumbled. Sebastian caught her immediately, keeping her from falling.

Joey, however, was even quicker. He rushed forward, wrapped one arm around Amelia's waist to steady her, and planted a loud kiss on her cheek.

"Don't be sad, Mommy! I'll kiss you to make you feel better."

He then added, "I remember the last time you fell into Mr. Hayes' arms. He held you just like this to make you feel better, too."

Amelia's face turned bright red. She hurriedly straightened Joey up and pulled him away from her.

"Joey, don't make things up!"

By then, the commotion had drawn nearly everyone's attention, and the other diners were staring at us.

Suddenly, a parent I recognized from Joey's preschool hurried over and grabbed my arm.

"Aren't you Mr. Parker?

"Your son has been going around preschool telling everyone he wants to grow up to be a homewrecker! Now my son has come home asking me what a homewrecker is!

"Is it because you're a homewrecker yourself that you're teaching your child this kind of thing?"

Whispers immediately rippled through the crowd.

"Men can be homewreckers, too? Well, that's a first."

"Look at him. He seems like the type who knows how to take care of a woman. No wonder he managed to land a wealthy businesswoman."

"Bringing his kid here to make a scene? Is he trying to take the other man's place? Men have learned all the same tricks these days."

"He looks so innocent, but who knows what kind of schemes he's been pulling behind everyone's backs."

I covered Joey's ears and pulled him behind me, shielding him from their stares.

"I'm not a homewrecker, and my son is not some bastard!"

The parent refused to back down. "Just because you say so doesn't make it true! She's standing right here, isn't she? Let her explain!"

She turned to Amelia and pointed an accusing finger at me. "Is this man your husband or not?"

Amelia lifted her head and looked at me, her brows drawing together tightly.

For two agonizing seconds, she said nothing.

Then she answered coldly, "He's not."