Page 81 of Keeping Skylar
A deep resignation washes over his features as he finally accepts the inevitable—the end of our marriage. The end of us.
I reach for my purse from the chair beside me, and before turning to leave, I cast one final glance in his direction. “One more thing. From now on, any further communication will be handled by my lawyer. He’ll be in touch with you to discuss the logistics. Goodbye, Kaden. I wish you the best.”
With those final words, I pivot on my heels and walk away—from my husband, my marriage, my past—leaving it all behind as I step into a new chapter, where the promise of a brighter, more hopeful future awaits.
CHAPTER 35
Kaden
A crushing sorrow engulfs me as I watch the only woman I have ever truly loved vanish from my life. Each step she takes cleaves through my already fractured heart, leaving behind a trail of raw, unrelenting anguish, a silent testament to the life she has now chosen, a life that no longer has a place for me.
My soul feels as though it’s being torn from my body, the weight of reality crashing down on me—my wife is gone for good. This time, there’s no coming back. She’s done with me, with us, and I have no one to blame but myself.
The heartache of losing Skylar is unlike anything I’ve ever known. The very thought of facing a life without her is unbearable. She was the best part of my existence, everything I ever wanted in a wife, in a partner—and now, I’ll never have her again. I can’t even fathom how to live without her by my side.
For years, I wove the illusion that I was her unwavering pillar, the one person she could rely on, the only one she truly needed. I devoted myself to being attentive, present, and affectionate, carefully crafting an image of the perfect, loving husband. I wanted to be the sole answer to all her desires, ensuring she’d never seek anyone else to satisfy her.
My deepest fear was always that she might slip through my grasp, drawn to someone more worthy than me. And now, that fear has become my bitter reality. Now, she has Heath.
Being with Sky felt like a rare privilege, as though I were one of the few in a billion who could ever meet someone like her.She was perfect in every way, the epitome of every man’s dream—and she was mine. Yet, it was that very belief that burdened me, a constant pressure to prove I was worthy of someone so phenomenal.
When Lucia barged into my life, into my marriage, everything felt effortless with her. Her affection became an addiction, feeding my fragile ego. She made me feel admired, desired and worshipped, always looking at me like I hung the moon. I became intoxicated by my lust, by the validation she offered, by the forbidden. And in my obsession, I lost sight of what I stood to lose—my beautiful, perfect wife.
Looking back now, I see there was never any real love between Lucia and me. The passion that once ignited our affair has long since curdled into resentment, bitterness, and envy. Now, we are little more than strangers, tethered only by regret, barely able to stand each other’s presence. Since the moment we became exclusive, I have known nothing but emptiness and despair.
Sitting in this crowded restaurant, I find myself trapped in the endless replay of every mistake I’ve made. A suffocating flood of guilt and regret surges through me, dragging me into the dark depths of shame and sorrow. I regret my selfishness, my weakness with Lucia. I regret destroying my marriage for something so fleeting. Most of all, I regret ever taking my wife for granted.
I. Regret. Everything.
I was a fool to believe I could ever earn Skylar’s forgiveness or repair what I had so carelessly shattered. My wife, always empathetic and compassionate, was never one to cling to anger or resentment. So, it seemed reasonable to hope she might find it in her heart to forgive me, to take me back. But I couldn’t have been more wrong.
When Sky texted me out of the blue to meet, a spark of hope ignited within me. I truly believed she was going to giveme another chance. What I never expected, however, was that tonight would be the final turning point in our story. She had already moved on.
I swallow through the lump in my throat at the thought of Sky moving on with another—someone who will love her the way she’s always deserved. Though it rends me to the core, I know, with undeniable certainty, that Heath will never betray her trust as I have. He is, in every sense, the better man, the one worthy of her heart and soul, where I have so grievously fallen short.
I’ll admit, the first time I saw them together, I knew, without a shadow of a doubt, that he would become my greatest threat. I had never witnessed my wife so happy and at ease with another man. It was as if he ignited a confidence in her—a vibrant energy—that I had never been able to kindle, and one I’ll never have the privilege of knowing.
It’s as if all traces of the Skylar I once knew have vanished; she’s no longer the self-sacrificing wife who always put others’ needs before her own. In her place stands someone stronger, more resilient, fully aware of her own worth. This new Skylar stands firm in her beliefs and refuses to settle for anything less than what she deserves. She is no longer mine, but his. He gets to keep her now, and that thought cuts deeper than anything I could have ever imagined.
One day, I hope to find peace and acceptance in this new life. Perhaps, in time, I’ll even come to terms with the thought of another man loving her. But today isn’t that day, and it might not be for a very long time. Right now, the pain is just too raw—too overwhelming. Yet, deep down, I believe this suffering is the least I deserve for what I put my wife through.
I linger for a few more minutes before paying the bill and leaving the restaurant, alone. As I walk aimlessly through the streets, watching people carry on with their evening routines, a profound sadness and sense of loss overwhelms me. It’s asif everything I once cherished is slipping away, and my world, forever changed, will never feel the same again.
The sound of a baby crying snaps me from my haze, and I’m instantly reminded of Lucia.Oh my God,she’s pregnant.I can’t believe we’re having a baby.
The last thing I ever expected was to learn I’m about to have a child with a woman I can barely stand to be around. This isn’t how I imagined my night would end, nor the future I envisioned for myself. Yet, it’s my reality now, and all I can do is face it head-on, like an adult, and confront the consequences of my actions.
I may not love Lucia the way I love my wife, but she’s going to be the mother of my child. No matter what happens between us, I’ll still be there for her and the baby. It’s the one thing Sky would expect of me. Perhaps this life-altering experience is exactly what I need to change, to improve, to become a better version of myself.
Taking my phone out of my pocket, I open Lucia’s messages. After weeks of ignoring her, I finally break the silence and type her a message.
Me:Hey, I’m coming home. We need to talk.
CHAPTER 36
Heath
Forty minutes earlier.
