Chapter 2

Janet said it like she meant it.

I couldn't tell if it was the word "divorce" that hit her—or if, for once, she actually felt even the slightest bit guilty.

Thirty-five years married, and this was the first time she ever offered me extra cash without me asking.

I just stood there, staring at the crumpled bill in my hand.

By the time I looked up, she was already gone—back inside like nothing happened.

I stood outside the door and heard Asher's voice, sharp and bitter. "Mom, you didn't have to give Dad anything. He only pulls this crap 'cause you keep letting him. If it were me, I wouldn't give him a cent. Let him burn through his own pension."

Janet paused. Then, quiet and slow, she said, "Your dad's pension goes to Connor every month. Connor's a good man. If he ever found out the factory cut him off with nothing... it'd crush him."

Her voice was soft. Full of guilt. Full of care. Just not for me.

I gripped the old shopping bag tighter, and that's when it hit me.

The year Janet gave birth to our daughter—still healing from maternity leave—I got the notice: fired from the factory.

I couldn't believe it. With a whole family to support, I went straight to the manager, desperate to know why.

Janet grabbed my hands, crying, begging me not to go.

She told me to think about our newborn. About my health.

Said she'd finished grad school, and once she recovered, she'd start working—she'd take care of all of us.

Told me to stay home, raise the kids, and not worry.

But the truth?

It was Connor who got fired back then.

Not me.

Janet was the one who secretly got Connor my job.

The factory let him work but wouldn't give him benefits. No pension.

So she felt bad for him—and sent him mine. Month after month.

I'd been a househusband with no income for thirty-five years.

Spent all that time blaming myself. Regretting. Never knowing why I got fired.

And all along, it was because of the person I loved most.

The bag slipped from my hand and hit the floor. I pulled out my phone and called the neighbor.

"Liam, quick question—how do I file for divorce?"

***

After I got back from Liam's, Janet was in the living room, face tight, eyes glued to the TV.

Under the lights, I saw it—yeah, she was older now. Graying hair, a few wrinkles. But she still looked calm. Soft. Beautiful, even.

I thought back to that post from Connor's socials a month ago.

He was in Francia, traveling. Tall, smooth, not at all like someone pushing sixty.

I'd felt a bit envious and even joked to Janet, "How come other people get to travel when they're old, and we're still stuck in this tiny place?"

She smiled. "Asher's not married yet. Let's save more. Once he is, we'll go too."

That day, I'd actually let myself picture it—me and Janet, traveling side by side in our old age.

I started hustling more side gigs, stacking cash for whatever Asher might need down the line.

What I didn't know was that the part cropped out of Connor's photo... was Janet. Flowing dress, same color scheme. They looked like a couple who'd aged together, not me and her.

Meanwhile, I was sweating over the stove in our dingy apartment, choking on grease and smoke, asking a bored Asher what life was like overseas.

When I came back today, Janet shut off the TV and crossed her arms.

One look and I knew—she was ready to snap.

She was pissed I didn't bring dinner on time.

Before? I would've jumped to say sorry, then rushed to make a full spread just to smooth things over.