Skyler's POV
Lila and Ethan laughed like they had not seen each other in ages. Like I was the stranger who walked into the wrong home.
She poured him more mashed potatoes. And Ethan leaned into her, smiling, actually smiling, like I had not seen in months.
Maybe longer.
Every little moment pained me deep. I sat at the far end of the table, cold plate in front of me, untouched.
They didn’t notice.
Or they didn’t care.
I used to be a big part here, maybe not in everyone's life, but a boy part of Ethan's.
Now, I was just... here. Background noise.
I cleared my throat, “Ethan, did you finish that art project for school? The one with the…”
He did not even look at me. “Why do you care?!” he snapped.
The words hit like a slap.
I blinked, stunned, with my mouth hung open.
Lila looked at him, then at me, but said nothing. Of course she wouldn't.
“I care,” I said, quieter. “Because I’m your…”
“You’re just mad that I like Lila more.”
I felt it before I realized what I was doing.
My hands slammed down on the table, loud enough to gather attention.
Ethan jumped. Lila froze, her fork mid-air.
“I want a divorce,” I said, my voice loud. “Do you hear me this time, Robert? I want out. I want my life back.”
Silence.
“Can we not do this right now?” he said.
I stood up, my chair screeching behind me. “We are doing this now. You brought this woman into our house, you let our son talk to me like I’m some disposable thing, and you act like I’m the problem?”
He didn’t answer. Just looked at me like he was already bored.
But I wasn’t done.
“I’m not your prisoner, Robert. You don’t get to trap me here with your silence and your smug little power games. I want out. I don’t care if you ‘allow’ it or not…I’m done.”
***
Seconds later, I heard him speak.
“Lila, take Ethan upstairs.”
I froze.
Robert leaned back in his chair. “Someone needs to keep the house from burning down,” he said, dry. “And you seem determined to light the match.”
“You think I’m the problem?” I asked, barely able to keep my voice down. “You bring your mistress into our home, let our son disrespect me to my face, and I’m the one lighting the fire?”
Robert shrugged, like I was being dramatic. Like this was beneath him.
“You're upset,” he said, carefully. “But let us not pretend this is about feelings.”
I narrowed my eyes. “Then what is it about, Robert?”
He smiled.
It wasn’t kind.
“You were happy enough when the money was flowing. When the dinners were catered, the vacations were first class, and the cards never got declined.”
My stomach dropped.
“You think this is about money?” I said, disbelief notable through my tone.
He stood now, finally. Slowly. Deliberately. “It always is with women like you.”
“Women like me?”
He held my gaze still. “Pretty enough to catch attention, smart enough to know what pockets to land in. You had a good run, Skyler. But now the shine has worn off, and suddenly you're unhappy?”
I stared at him, stunned into silence. It was not the insult that broke me…it was the certainty in his voice. He believed it. Every word he has uttered so far.
“You think I stayed for the money?” My voice was shaking now, with rage, not grief. “You think I put up with your neglect, your condescension, your cheating, for some credit card limit?”
Robert didn’t answer. He didn’t have to.
“You really want to know why I’m leaving?” I stepped closer, heart pounding. “Because I’m tired of being invisible. I’m tired of being used. And I’m done explaining my worth to a man who never saw it to begin with.”
His jaw clenched, but he didn’t speak.
Then I turned, and this time prepared to walk away for real. I was done. But, something clashed into me, it was Ethan.
My face lit up with hope, thinking he was back to console me, ask for forgiveness or something. Then I saw Lila smirking from behind him, almost like she was pushing him to do the right thing.
"Go on," I heard her whisper and I looked back at Robert who had a look on confusion on his face as well. "You said you wanted to tell her something."
Ethan nodeded and took cautious steps towards me with his hands behind his back and head bowed. A remorseful gesture.
"What is it baby?" I asked and knelt for him to have easy access to me.
Little did I know, it would be the greatest mistake of my day.
"Mommy..." He began then shook his head. "No, Skyler." it was not the way he said my name that made me shiver, no, I was used to him calling me that. But, the look on his face, God. It was hostile.
Then I saw it, my eyes widened, "No, Ethan. No!"
