Page 79 of Keeping Skylar
“Before we get straight into things, let’s just enjoy our meal first. I’m a little famished and would rather start the conversation on a full stomach.” He winks.
Throughout the meal, we sit in a near-comfortable silence, savouring each bite and sipping our wine, exchanging the occasional glance and quiet, tentative smile.
As I stare at the man I once believed was my soulmate, I realise the deep love I once held for him has slowly withered, leaving behind only a faint shadow of what it used to be.
The time I’ve spent alone and with Heath over the past few months has shown me that I can survive even the deepestwounds. With the right person, I know I can discover a love built on trust, loyalty, and respect—qualities I no longer see in my husband.
Once we finish our meal, Kaden proposes dessert, but I graciously decline, opting for a mojito instead. With a soft chuckle, he mirrors my choice and orders one for himself as well.
A few minutes later, our drinks arrive, and I clear my throat, lifting my cocktail with a gentle smile. “To new beginnings,” I toast.
With a wide grin, Kaden lifts and taps his glass to mine. “To new beginnings, my love.”
We take a slow, generous sip of our drinks, our eyes locked, and I feign a polite smile.It’s showtime!
“So, let’s cut to the chase, shall we? Let’s begin with the obvious questions. How long ago did it start? And why Lucia?” I ask point blank.
Kaden shifts uncomfortably in his seat, yet his eyes remain rooted on mine, as if he anticipated these questions were coming. “It started a few weeks after you stopped training at the gym with us. Usually, we’d just work out together, then go our separate ways afterward. Lucy rarely crossed my mind when we weren’t at the gym. Then one night, after we grabbed something to eat and drink post-workout, I dropped her home and...that’s when she came on to me. I tried to stop it, but she was relentless, a little drunk, and eventually, I gave in.” His expression is filled with guilt and remorse, and while it might seem sincere, it changes nothing. I still hate him for what he did to us.
“What happened when you dropped her home?” I ask calmly.
“When we got to her place, she invited me in. I tried talking myself out of it a million times over. I knew it was wrong, but she just got to me. I was fucking weak, and I’m so sorry, Sky. I neverintended to sleep with Lucy. I never wanted to betray you. You have to believe me—it just happened.”
I nod wordlessly, my silence probing him to continue.
“When I came home that night and watched you sleep, I felt sick in the gut over what I had done and threw up in the bathroom. The guilt was so overwhelming. I hated myself for a long time. In a way, I still do for how much I’ve hurt you.”
“Why did you go behind my back and continue seeing her, if you felt so guilty?”
“As I said before, I was too weak. Lucy knew exactly how to seduce me, how to wear me down with her persistence. She was skilled at temptation, and I was the fool who gave in every single time.”
“When did it start becoming serious?”
He lets out a heavy sigh. “A couple of months after we first slept together,” he admits, his voice low and soft. “At first, it was purely physical. But over time, we started opening up about things we’d never shared with anyone else, and it brought us closer. There were so many moments I thought about ending it because the deeper our connection grew, the more it scared me. But I was too much of a coward...too selfish to walk away. Before we knew it, we started catching feelings.” He lowers his head, as if hoping to hide the shame and guilt etched across his face.
As painful as it is to sit here and listen to the full account of their betrayal, it’s exactly what I need to hear to finally find closure. The deceit and utter disrespect that tore our relationship apart are unforgivable, and it’s about time Kaden understands that.
“Why didn’t you just file for divorce once you and Lucia started developing deeper feelings for each other? I would’ve gladly walked away.”
His expression tightens at the mention of me walking away, but quickly softens again. “I loved you too much, Sky,” he confesses. “You’re my wife, my soulmate, the one woman I’ve always loved and admired through all the years. I couldn’t bring myself to leave you. Even the thought of it made me sick to my stomach. I know it sounds selfish, admitting I fell for two women at once, but please understand...it wasn’t something I ever intended, or something I could control.”
I let out a bitter scoff. “Then, I guess I made the right decision to leaveyouinstead, seeing you were incapable of doing so.”
Kaden frowns and shakes his head. “No, I was able to finally come to my senses. Since you left, I’ve been absolutely fucking miserable. Not having you around made me see how badly I fucked up and ruined the only good thing in my life. Those months you were gone I was barely living. I was drinking myself into a stupor almost every night, and my relationship with Lucy and Jase quickly strained. I felt lost and empty without you. I no longer found joy or peace in my life.”
He closes his eyes and releases a long, sharp breath. When he opens them again, they’re glazed over, raw with emotion. “I’m ending things with Lucy, Sky. It’s you I truly love—the one I can’t imagine my life without. You have my heart, and I’ll do whatever it takes to make things right. I’m determined to earn back your trust, no matter what it takes.”
Kaden reaches for my hand, his palm warm against mine. I don’t pull away, letting him believe his words are having an effect. But deep down, the truth is clear: no matter how hard he tries to convince me, I will never take him back. Trusting him again would be the greatest mistake of my life.
After a brief pause, I pull my hand back and meet his sad, remorseful gaze. “I appreciate your honesty, Kaden,” I say, my voice steady but cold. “I’m relieved to see you finally taking responsibility for your mistakes and acknowledging how badlyyou fucked up. I’m glad you’ve finally come to your senses and realised that the grass isn’t always greener on the other side. That in the end, all those lies and deceit you indulged in only led you to emptiness and misery.”
Kaden nods, his lips parting as though to speak, but I quickly cut him off, determined to hold my ground. “One thing we can certainly agree on is that I was the only good thing in your life. Want to know why, Kaden?” I don’t allow him the chance to respond. “Because I was a damn good wife. Loyal, devoted to you, never once tempted to step out of our marriage. You were the only one I loved, the only one I needed. And I foolishly believed you felt the same way. So, you can imagine the devastation that tore through me when I found out you were sleeping with my fucking best friend!” I finally snap.
Kaden quickly catches the curious glances from nearby diners and fidgets nervously with his fork, while I remain still and composed, untouched by the attention.
“Baby, I promise I’ll make this right,” he says, his voice heavy with resolve. “In fact, I was going to tell you earlier this week that I’ve spoken to Rick about transferring permanently to Melbourne so we can focus on our marriage. He fully supports my decision.”
My body stiffens. “What?”
