1

KAIA

Hailey’s nursing quietly, her tiny fingers clutching the hem of my shirt like it’s her lifeline. I’m halfway through humming something off-key and dozing off when the front door opens.

I don’t look up right away. He usually mumbles a half-hearted hello and disappears up the stairs since he's always in a foul mood after work.

But then I hear it.

A thud followed by the unmistakable scrape of luggage wheels.

I pause, blinking before looking up. 

And indeed, Robert draws a brown Versace luggage into the living room.

“Hey Rob.” I call in a whisper. “Are we expecting anyone?”

He scoffs as he leaves the box by the sofa and proceeds outside again.

Robert is weird.

I turn back to Hailey who's still sucking me eagerly, eyes closed, sweat framing her chubby cheeks.

The door opens again and I turn back to see Rob. My breath catches in my throat because this time… he's not alone.

He holds a pink bag, his other hand intertwined with another lady I've never seen before.

She's stunning.

Luscious bright golden hair, olive skin, curves and… a protruding belly.

“Rob…” I call hesitantly. “Is she… a friend?”

“No.” He says, leading her into our… his home. He always tells me it's not our house since I didn't make any contribution financially.

“Who's she then?” I ask.

“Kaia, this is Bethany. Bethany, this is Kaia. Kaia, Bethany is already tired from the seven hours journey, coupled with the fact that she's pregnant. I'll be back shortly.” 

He didn’t wait for my response as he drags the luggage and takes Bethany's hand before tugging her upstairs.

I don’t cry.

Not when I tuck Hailey into her bassinet, pressing a soft kiss to her forehead while her little lips still make sucking motions in her sleep. Not when I straighten, heart pounding, the echo of heels on the stairs creeping down like a countdown to my unraveling.

I don’t cry.

I straighten.

Because if there’s one thing Robert taught me—accidentally—it’s how to bleed quietly.

Some minutes later, he comes down the stairs with his jacket already off, sleeves rolled, like this is just another Tuesday. Like he didn’t just bring a stranger—a pregnant stranger—into the living room while my milk is still warm from feeding our daughter.

“Rob,” I say, keeping my voice even, fingers curled slightly at my sides. “What is going on?”

He doesn’t meet my gaze as he heads for the open kitchen, muttering something about being tired.

I follow him. “Please don't tell me it's what I'm thinking Rob. Is this why you told me to move out of the Masters bedroom two months ago?”

He stops and exhales like I’m the one being unreasonable. “It is.” 

The world stops. My breath catches in my throat.

I've been expecting this day. I just didn't expect it to come so soon.

First, he stopped listening.

Then, he almost stopped caring. 

Eventually, he stopped looking at me like I was someone worth losing. In the house, I feel like we were roommates instead of partners.

Worst of all, I'm happier without him because every interaction leads to a full blown argument. We haven't had sex in a year, unless you count passive-aggressive laundry folding as foreplay. 

So yeah, I saw it coming.

I just had thought we had a little more time before the whole damn thing went up in smoke. 

Turns out some fires don't need matches. Just silence and a side chick named Bethany. 

But still, I latch on.

I spare a glance at sleeping Hailey and turn back to Rob, shaking my head wildly. “You can't do this to me, Rob.”

He turns to me, a tired look on his face.

“I can Kaia. See, the baby in her belly is a boy. And we both know mom doesn't like you. Mom likes her and I'm going to marry her soon. She didn't get pregnant at seventeen.”

I gulp.

She didn't get pregnant at seventeen.

Fuck, that hurts.

Tears prickle at my eyes.

I take a step closer, shaking my head. I latch onto his arm, gripping it tightly. “No Rob. Please don't do this.” I shake my head. “You can't do this to me. Hailey is only seven months. Why do you always do this to us? How will you act if I was the one that keeps cheating everytime—”

A resounding slap lands on my left cheek, jerking me away.

“I… I...” I stammer, speechless, the tears finally falling while I hold my cheek.

This is the second time. This is… the second time.

“What did you fucking say?” He asks, deceptively calm, jaw clenched tight. “You are going to cheat on me?”

“You keep doing that all the time!” I scream, sad angry tears bursting free. “I do everything you want Rob. I don't even know how to keep you anymore! See, I'm done! I'm fucking done! I'm going back to the orphanage!”

With that, I turn to the couch where Hailey is tucked in and pick her up, still crying.

Her tiny body nestles instinctively against mine, like she knows I’m falling apart and she’s the glue keeping me from shattering. My arms shake around her.

Behind me, Robert sighs… like I’m the one being difficult.

I didn't turn at first. I just focus on Hailey, brushing my fingers along her back, trying to steady my breath, trying to keep her from waking.

But then his footsteps approach, slow, and heavy.

“Are you really going to do this to Hailey?” he asks behind me, voice low—almost gentle.

I whip around. “Do what to Hailey? Huh? Save her from growing up in a house where her dad parades other women every time while her mom is nursing?”

He exhales and runs a hand through his hair. “Kaia, you don’t understand. It’s not like that.”

“Oh, isn’t it?” I snap. “Because to me, it sure as hell looked like you were welcoming your pregnant mistress into your home.”

“She’s not my mistress,” he says, like that makes it better. “Bethany is who my parents want.”

I sniff because I know. No one wants an orphan that was impregnated at seventeen and is still courageously stupid enough to decide to keep the pregnancy.

I shift Hailey to my other arm. “Congratulations. You’ve officially won their approval. Want a damn trophy?”

He steps closer. I step back.

His eyes soften, and that’s the worst part. Because he knows what that look does to me. He knows how to tilt his voice just right.

“But I chose you, Kaia,” he murmurs. “I defied them. Remember? I stood there, in front of your social worker, and told them I didn’t care that you didn’t come from money. I didn’t care that you were seventeen. I married you. I fought for you.”

My throat tightens.

He keeps going. “Bethany might be what they want. But you’re what I want.”

He closes the distance, fingers brushing my elbow.

“And I slapped you,” he says, voice breaking, “because the thought of you with someone else—Kaia, it kills me. I can’t even breathe thinking about it. I love you.”

I blink hard, tears blurring my vision again. Damn him.

Damn him for knowing exactly what to say. For wrapping his cruelty in just enough love to confuse the hell out of me.

For making me feel like the one doing the damage by always attempting to walk away.

“I love you,” he whispers again. “Can we just… talk about this? Don’t leave. Not like this. Not with Hailey. Are you really going to take her away from her father? What type of mother will you be?“

Hailey stirs, her tiny hand reaching for me in her sleep. I look down at her. I… I can't do this to her.

Then I look at him.

And I stay.