Page 67 of Keeping Skylar
I’m inches away from outside when Heath’s voice slices through the air, stopping me in my tracks. “If you even think about hurting her again, I promise it’ll be the last time you ever do,” he says, his voice cold and threatening.
I don’t bother looking at him or responding. My goal isn’t to hurt Sky or make her feel uncomfortable; I just want her to talk to me. With an exasperated sigh, I step outside and make my way towards my wife. Finally. At last.
Skylar is leaning against the building, arms crossed, her gaze fixed on the street ahead. Her expression is icy and hard, offering no hint of warmth. But even in her anger, she radiates a beauty that’s somehow even more striking than I remember. As soon as she notices me approaching, she pushes herself off the wall to stand in front of me. I keep my distance, careful not to make her feel cornered.
For the first time in nearly six months, we stand face to face, each of us silently assessing the other. My mind is still trying to grasp the reality that my wife is right here, in front of me. Ialmost feel the urge to pinch myself, questioning if this moment—and she—are actually real.
I draw in a deep breath, realising it’s on me to break the silence. “Happy birthday, Skylar,” I say, my voice low and steady. “Looks like you’ve already celebrated without me. While I’m trying not to take offence to that, I’d be lying if I said it didn’t sting being left out.”
She scoffs, rolling her eyes as she folds her arms tightly across her chest. “Cut the crap, Kaden. What do you really want?”
“I want what I’m owed—a proper fucking conversation with my wife!”
“I owe you shit!” she hisses. “There is nothing more I need to say to you that I haven’t already covered in the letter.”
“Oh, that’s right! How kind of you to leave me a goddamn letter without even giving me a chance to explain things.”
She lets out a cynical laugh, and that only fuels my anger. “And what could you possibly have said to convince me otherwise? I’ve seen enough proof of your betrayal to last me three lifetimes!”
I quickly avert my gaze, unable to meet her eyes—because she’s right. My wife had gathered more than enough proof of my infidelity; there was no room left for denial. But that’s not what haunts me. It’s the fact that I never got the chance to make things right, to fight for her...for us. She just walked away without a word, like I never meant anything to her at all.
“If you had stayed, I would’ve fought tooth and nail to earn back your forgiveness...your trust. I wanted to fight for our marriage, Skylar. I still do.”
“Oh my God, Kaden! Do you hear yourself right now? Are you really that much of a lying, selfish prick?!” She shakes her head in disgust. “You say you want to fight for our marriage, but only weeks after I left, you were already shacking up with your mistress. And yes, Kaden. I know that you and Lucia are stilltogether. So, don’t you dare stand there and lie to my face!” she spits.
I run my hand anxiously through my hair. “I’m sorry, okay? I didn’t plan for any of this to happen—it just did.” My voice is soft, sincere, as I take a small step closer to her.
She immediately steps back, shaking her head as her arms wrap tightly around her stomach, like she’s shielding herself from me.“It’s too late, Kaden. There’s nothing left to fight for. The damage is done—it’s beyond repair. I’ll never forget what you did to me, and I could never trust you again. The sooner you accept that, the easier it’ll be for both of us to move on.”
For a split second, her eyes flick towards the window, where Heath stands like a sentinel—watchful, ready to protect what’s his.
What the hell am I even saying?Skylar isn’t his. She’s mine.“Who is he to you?” I ask, not bothering with the details. She knows exactly who I’m talking about.
“We’re not talking about him.”
“Don’t you think I have the right to know, seeing as I’m still your husband? You both seem a little too comfortable with each other in there.”
“Kaden,” she warns.
“I just want to know if you’re seeing him—and for how long?” I press; my tone sharp.
Her eyes narrow, then she shakes her head. “I’m not discussing anything with you.”
“Why can’t you answer? Were you with him when you were still with me?”
“You can’t be fucking serious!” she snaps.
“How would I know?” I casually shrug. “You left in quite a hurry, and then all of a sudden, I find you here, all hot and cosy with your new boy-toy. Seems like you moved on pretty quickly yourself,” I say, the words dripping with accusation.
“Unlike you, Kaden, I’ve always been loyal and honest. I never once deceived you or broke your trust. What’s going on between Heath and me happened monthsafterI left you.”
My wife talking about her moving on with another man is the last thing I wanted to hear. This entire time, I’ve been clinging to the hope that one day she’d give me a chance to fix our marriage. But what she says next makes me believe I may already be too late.
“If you must know the truth, that man in there”—she gestures towards Heath, her voice breaking with emotion, “has been a blessing. For the past several weeks, he’s been helping me heal—helping me mend the heart you ripped out and crushed. So, before you start throwing accusations and shifting blame, maybe take a long, hard look in the mirror. Maybe then you’ll finally see who’s truly at fault ... whose careless, selfish choices have caused nothing but pain and destruction in our lives. Can you do that, Kaden? Or is that still asking too much?”
Before I can even form a response, she turns on her heel and walks away—straight back into the arms of her saviour, Heath, who’s now waiting patiently for her at the door.
I force myself to look away, unable to bear the sight of how natural they are together—the ease and familiarity between them hitting me like a punch to the gut. And the worst part? I have no one to blame but myself. I set all of this in motion.
