Chapter 2

Even though Beatrice's face was out of view, I couldn't miss the glint of her wedding ring in the top right corner. It was the same ring she and I had carefully chosen when we got married.

Nonetheless, she had always worn it on the pinky of her left hand. That placement, of course, suggested she was still single.

The irony hit me like a punch to the gut. A ring that was meant to symbolize our marriage had become a mark of Beatrice's so-called single status. On Parker's sixth birthday, she was enjoying a candlelit dinner with her lover at an upscale restaurant.

In that moment, all the bitterness I'd carried evaporated, and a sense of calm took over.

I gave the post a quick like and set my phone aside.

With that, I turned around and helped Parker put on his birthday hat. "Happy birthday, Parker," I said.

Under the glow of the candlelight, Parker closed his eyes and clasped his hands together. "My birthday wish is to be with Dad forever," he whispered.

I picked up my phone, capturing the moment. In that instant, the thought of leaving only grew stronger in my mind. "I promise I'll always be there for you," I reassured him.

That night, neither of us spoke of Beatrice again. It felt as though this home had always belonged to just the two of us.

After Parker fell asleep, I pulled out the divorce papers I had prepared in advance. All the hesitation that had lingered in my heart vanished completely.

At 2:00 am, Beatrice finally came home. When she saw the cake on the table, a flicker of regret crossed her eyes. "Sorry, I completely forgot about Parker's birthday."

Her words were almost laughable. Wasn't every notification on her phone a reminder?

Could she really not see them? Or was her affair so consuming that everything else slipped her mind?

I took out the divorce papers and flipped to the final page. Struggling to keep my composure, I handed them to her. "If you could sign here–"

Before I could finish, Beatrice's phone rang. Maxwell's panicked voice crackled through. "Ms. Thorne, the power's out at my place. Can you come over? I'm scared."

Beatrice shot up from her seat, worry flashing in her eyes. "Hold on, I'm coming right away."

After the call ended, she signed the papers without sparing them a second glance.

I stepped aside, quietly watching her walk out.

"Beatrice, remember this for the rest of your life. This is the home you chose to leave behind."

…

The following day, I returned to the office to complete the handover process.

Beatrice approached me, holding out a neatly wrapped gift box. "This is Parker's birthday present. I forgot to give it to him yesterday."

Caught off guard, I took the gift and opened it. Inside was a toy puppy.

Parker had always been terrified of dogs.

When he was five, Beatrice had taken him to an amusement park. Along the way, she ran into a friend and let go of his hand. Before she knew it, Parker had gotten lost in the crowd.

By the time they found him, he was crouched on the side of the road, shaking with fear at the sight of a stray dog.

Since then, dogs had become Parker's greatest fear.

I couldn't believe that the very person who had caused his fear would have the audacity to give him a toy dog as a gift. I wasn't sure if I felt more anger or disappointment.

Setting the box aside, I said calmly, "Thanks."

Beatrice looked at me with a puzzled expression. A moment later, she seemed to remember something and said, "The power's out at Maxwell's place, so I'm having him stay at our house.

"You don't have to come to work today. Go pack your things and take Parker out for a couple of days."

Her words landed like a punch to the gut. I stared at her in disbelief. "Are you seriously kicking Parker and me out for Maxwell?"

Beatrice frowned. "Don't put it like that. It's just a temporary stay. Since we agreed to keep our marriage a secret, we need to avoid any misunderstandings in front of our colleagues."

I forced a smile, the irony of it all sinking in.

Was it really just to prevent gossip with the people at work?

Or did Beatrice believe that Parker and I were in the way of her secret affair?

Not wanting to engage with her any longer, I turned and walked back to my desk. "Got it. I'll pack up my things and take Parker away. We won't bother you," I said.

Since we were going to leave eventually, the timing made no difference.

Beatrice was momentarily taken aback by how easily I agreed. "I'll make it up to you both," she said, her tone unexpectedly gentle.

I kept my head down, not saying a word. The damage was already done and no words or actions could ever fix it.

Back home, I packed my things and prepared to leave with Parker. As I opened the door, I ran into Beatrice. A figure lingered behind her.

As our eyes met, I caught a flash of panic in her gaze.