Severing Our Ties

"Luna’s health is in terrible shape. I’ve decided to bring her home so I can take care of her."

I lowered my gaze. Sitting next to the steaming dishes I’d just set on the table was a medical report.

A cancer diagnosis.

This was William’s idea of an eighth wedding anniversary gift.

Sensing the tension, Luna leaned into his arms, her voice soft and pitiful. “William, forget it. I don’t think Susie wants me here.”

She let out a delicate sigh. “Besides, I’m dying anyway. You don’t need to worry about me.”

“Don’t talk like that, Luna. You’re going to get better.”

Then William turned to me, his expression dark with anger. “Susie Winters, do you even have a soul?”

“You can’t even make room for someone who’s sick? How are you supposed to be a good example for Caleb?”

Right on cue, Caleb picked up on his father’s anger, his tiny fists smacking against my leg.

“You’re mean! If you don’t let the pretty lady stay, I don’t want you as my mom anymore!”

The soup on the table had gone cold.

Just like my heart.

Two matching faces—one grown, one small—stared me down with righteous fury.

One was the man I’d loved for eight years. The other was the son I’d raised for seven.

Through all the lonely nights when William didn’t come home, the only thing keeping me going was Caleb.

Once upon a time, he used to hold my hand, look up at me with wide, innocent eyes, and call me Mommy.

Now, for another woman, he was ready to throw me away.

For a moment, the disappointment swallowed my anger whole.

I let out a hollow laugh and turned to leave.

But William wasn’t finished. “Susie, Luna is sick. Let her have your room.

“Pack up your things. You can move into the attic.”

I took a deep, steadying breath and walked into my bedroom. My hands trembled as I reached for my phone and dialed a familiar number.

"Lily, I’m ready to come back to work."

The voice on the other end practically shrieked with joy. “Are you serious? Susie, you finally snapped out of it!”

“You walking away from your career for a man was the biggest tragedy the fashion design world has ever seen! I’ll set everything up for you right now.”

I forced out a laugh. “Thanks.”

That night, I booked a flight for next month.

Lily was so excited that she posted about it online.

And right below her post, I saw William’s.

His username had always been WillWaits4Moonlight.

He once told me that “moonlight” refers to me and the whole username meant that meeting me was his greatest reward after enduring the hardships of life.

But with Luna standing in front of me now, I finally understood.

I was never his moon.

She was.

His latest post was a photo of him, Caleb, and Luna at a dessert shop that afternoon.

"Sweet treats taste better with sweet people."

But William and Caleb hated sweets.

Luna’s beaming smile burned into my eyes.

So it wasn’t that they didn’t like desserts.

They just didn’t like eating them with me.

Someone commented under his post:

"Aren’t you worried your wife will leave you?"

William replied with just three words:

"She wouldn’t dare."

And he was right.

I hadn’t dared.

I was stupid enough to believe him when he said he’d love me forever.

I walked away from my career without a second thought to be his perfect wife.

And for eight years, I gave him everything—my support, my love, my loyalty.

Now, standing in this house, I had nothing left.

Just then, William strolled in and tossed a small cake onto the table.

"Here. I remember you used to love strawberry."

The cake had been sitting out too long. The strawberry on top had already sunk into the melting cream.

Was this some kind of joke?

Luna’s leftovers?

I didn’t even hesitate—I picked it up and threw it straight into the trash.

William’s face twisted with rage. “What is wrong with you, Susie?!”

“Just taking out the trash.”

His anger flared. “Unbelievable! I actually got you something for our anniversary, and this is how you act? You’re unbelievable!”

I let out a slow, mocking laugh. “You’re right. I am unbelievable. So from now on, every time you buy me something, I’ll throw it away.”

His hand twitched—like he was about to hit me—but at the last second, he turned and punched the framed wedding photo on the wall instead.

With a loud crack, the frame shattered, glass shards scattering across the floor.

He left. I knelt down and quietly began picking them up.

As I stared at my broken reflection, realization settled in.

When I cried… I looked exactly like Luna.

I stopped.

Then, without hesitation, I ripped the photo to shreds.