Page 80 of Keeping Skylar
He gives a hopeful smile and nods. “I mean, I would be demoted from my position and will have to accept a hefty pay cut, but I’ll do anything it takes to prove to you that I’m serious about earning your trust again. I’ve also started going to counselling. And if you’re up for it one day, maybe we can go to counselling together. It could help us heal and move forward in our marriage.”
Stunned, I open my mouth, then close it again, struggling to find the right words. Kaden had always despised living in this city, and never once showed the slightest interest in couple’stherapy. He would scoff at the idea, dismissing it as nothing more than a waste of time and money. Even if he’s trying now, it’s far too late.
I shake my head and simply reply, “No.”
He frowns, seemingly confused by my response. “What do you mean, no?”
“It means, you’re too late, Kaden. It means that there is no point in you doing any of those things because I’m not going back to you.”
“What! Are you serious? You’re not even going to give this a try?” he snaps.
“No, I’m not. And the truth is, I can never forgive you or trust you again. I can never erase what you and Lucia did from my memory, no matter how hard I try. You managed to destroy everything we’ve built, and every good thing we had. So, no, Kaden. I will not try. Not now, not ever!”
Kaden clenches his jaw. “I can’t believe this,” he spits, his voice tight with irritation. “I thought you wanted to meet tonight to work on our marriage. If that’s not the reason, then why are we even here?”
“I invited you here tonight to tell you, in person, that it’s over. I’m filing for divorce. And there’s no changing my mind on this matter.”
He shakes his head in anger and disapproval. “No, Skylar. You don’t get to do this to us,” he snaps. “You can’t just walk away without even trying. I’ve already set everything in motion—you didn’t even give me a chance to prove myself to you!”
Now the mask has fallen, and Kaden’s no longer hiding behind a facade. This is the real him, the one who reacts with fury and manipulation when things don’t go his way. It’s not going to work this time. Because tonight, it all ends.
Exhausted by the constant back and forth, I decide to shift the conversation to something I’ve been meaning to address. “So, how’s Lucia, Kaden? Been hearing from her recently?”
He tenses, his voice tight when he says, “I don’t want to talk about her.”
“I think we should. Because she’s hell-bent on finding out where you are and why you’re avoiding her.”
He narrows his eyes suspiciously. “How would you know that?”
“Because she reached out to me recently.”
“Why the fuck is she trying to contact you?!” he barks.
“She wanted me to pass along a message, seeing you weren’t returning any of her calls.”
He waves his hand dismissively, as if even uttering Lucia’s name is beneath him. “I don’t care what she has to say. It’s over between us.”
“Are you sure about that, Kaden? Because after what I’ve discovered today, it looks like Lucia will be part of your life for a very, very long time.”
“What the hell are you talking about?” he hisses.
“If you weren’t so busy being a coward and ignoring her calls, you would know by now that your girlfriend...is pregnant.”
His eyes widen and his mouth falls open, stunned into silence. For the first time, he looks truly shocked and lost for words. When he doesn’t respond, I press on. “Yes, that’s right. Looks like you’re finally going to have that baby you desperately wanted. I guess, congratulations are in order.” I say with a satisfied smirk.
Kaden’s expression is anything but the usual joy someone might have upon learning they’re expecting a child. Instead, he sits back in his chair, fingers laced behind his head, his eyes drifting aimlessly. He looks distant, lost in thought, clearly grappling with the weight of the bombshell I just dropped.
After a long pause, he lowers his arms and finally speaks, his voice laced with disbelief. “I had no idea.”
“Of course you didn’t. You were too busy avoiding her.” Kaden having a baby with Lucia changes everything. Whether he’s ready to admit it or not, she’s now a permanent part of his life, forever intertwined through the child they share.
I sit in silence, watching as he withdraws further into himself, lost in thought. He remains still, his features tightening in anguish as the weight of what this means for us finally sinks in—the end.
“Go back to Sydney, Kaden. As much as I hate that homewrecking bitch, you need to be there for her during this time. Stop wasting your time on trying to fix something that is beyond repair. If you still want to end things with Lucia, then that’s your problem to deal with, but at least act like a responsible adult and be there for the baby.”
With all the fight drained from him, he still manages a slow nod. “For what it’s worth, I am truly sorry. For everything. You deserve the world, Skylar. You always have, and I regret that I couldn’t give that to you.” His voice is gentle and sincere.
I nod, and without a word more, I begin to rise. But Kaden’s hand wraps around mine, stopping me. “I know I have no right to an opinion when it comes to you anymore, but I genuinely hope he treats you well. I hope he brings you the love and happiness you truly deserve, more than I ever could. I will always love you, Skylar. That will never change.”
