Chapter 3

"What did you just say?" Caden's face went even whiter than mine.

He stared at me as if I'd just suggested flying to the moon.

Even Felix, still sniffling in the corner, stopped and stared at us with wide eyes.

"I said, let's get a divorce," I said again, quietly but clearly.

"Since your son wants a new mom so badly, I'll make it happen. I'm done being the maid around here."

I turned to head back to the bedroom, but Caden grabbed my wrist.

"Beatrice!" Caden's voice carried a hint of panic. "Don't say things you don't mean. Felix doesn't understand what he's saying. I'll deal with him later. Don't take it personally!"

"I'm not saying things I don't mean."

I turned back to look at him. My gaze was calm, though my throat felt tight. "Caden, I'm tired. I'm really tired."

The past seven years hadn't exactly been easy.

At gatherings with friends, I watched the women who used to be my equals become leaders in their fields. They wore tailored suits and talked about their latest projects and stock portfolios, while I could only chime in with parenting tips.

I never told Caden how that felt.

When I woke up in the middle of the night to crying, fumbling in the dark to warm bottles and change diapers while he slept soundly beside me, I never told him about that exhaustion either.

When I deleted the coat I'd been eyeing in my shopping cart for weeks so I could afford to sign Felix up for more expensive enrichment classes, I never told him how that stung.

I thought this was just marriage, a life that I had chosen. But when everything I'd sacrificed got thrown back in my face by my own son, when he treated it like something shameful, that was when I realized all my effort had become a joke.

"Honey…"

Caden swallowed hard, and his eyes filled with anguish. "I'm sorry. This is my fault. I haven't paid enough attention to how you feel. We won't get divorced, okay? Give me a chance. Let me make this up to you."

"Daddy, is Mommy leaving us?"

Felix finally grasped how serious this was. He ran over crying and wrapped his arms around Caden's leg. "Then who's going to make me food…"

He hesitated, then said, "Ms. Sulvan?"

Caden's expression darkened instantly. Felix quickly ducked his head, realizing that was a stupid thing to say. His father clearly didn't like Ms. Sulvan.

Felix looked at me carefully. The disgust was gone from his eyes, replaced by fear.

I smiled bitterly. They should have been everything I was proud of. But right now, all I felt was how ridiculous it all was.

I didn't answer. I yanked my wrist free from Caden's grip, walked into the bedroom, and locked the door behind me.

Outside, Caden was yelling, and Felix was wailing.

"Felix! You just drove your mother away! I'm telling you right now, if this family loses her, you and I are done too!"

"Daddy, I was wrong. I'm sorry! I want Mommy back! I don't want Ms. Sulvan anymore."

"Now you know you were wrong? Too late!"

I leaned against the door, listening to the chaos outside. Finally, the tears came.

I didn't really want a divorce. I loved Caden, and I loved Felix too.

I just couldn't stand being looked down on anymore.

I needed a way out, a way to breathe. I needed to take a hard look at what these seven years had done to my life.