Unfortunately, the adult world was never that simple.
After dinner, I spotted a social media post from one of Cole's so-called buddies and couldn't help raising an eyebrow.
The wedding attire photos didn't show a face, but the small red mole on the neck was unmistakable.
Cole had the same one.
In another photo, a man and a woman held hands, fingers intertwined. The ring finger bore a clear indentation where a band had been.
The watch on the man's wrist was one I recognized.
It belonged to Amelia.
The caption read: "The moon I once lost has come back to light my world again."
The words looked familiar.
I rushed into the study and moved Cole's laptop aside. Beneath it sat a notebook.
The moment I flipped it open, that exact line stared back at me.
Every piece of evidence pointed to the same conclusion: this account didn't belong to some buddy. It was Cole's own.
"A trip to Scandinavia."
"A made-up friend's wedding and a fake account."
"Cole, to deceive me, to be with Amelia, you actually came up with schemes this absurd."
I muttered to myself, then picked up my phone and sent a message.
Save me a spot on the partnership.
Also, have your lawyer draft a divorce agreement for me.
Months ago, Jordan Ellis had invited me to start a business in Scandinavia, offering me a thirty percent stake without requiring a single dollar of investment. The other two partners had agreed because they valued my abilities.
But I had a husband and a child. All I'd wanted was stability, so I kept turning her down.
Now it was time to stop holding myself back.
Close to midnight, Cole stumbled in, reeking of alcohol. He carried no gifts. His shirt collar hung open, and a smear of lipstick marked the fabric.
He looked like a mess.
"Honey, you're still up? Waiting for me again?" He flashed me a grin. "You bad girl, always keeping me on my toes."
He turned and headed straight for the bathroom.
Before, he would have hugged me first.
The thought made my heart sink.
Suddenly, I heard muffled sobbing and hurried to Finn's room.
"What's wrong? Did you have a nightmare?"
Finn shook his head. His small finger pointed at the phone screen.
I looked down. Olive Fox had posted on social media.
She sat in front of a pink piano, hugging a tablet, beaming with joy.
The caption read: Thank you to the best dad in the whole world for my limited-edition custom piano.
"Mom."
"I saw that piano on Dad's computer. And the tablet too."
That one hurt sentence nearly shattered every wall I'd built.
I finally understood why Finn was crying.
Cole always said, "Boys need to be raised tough, or he'll grow up reckless with money."
So he was strict with Finn. Whatever toy the boy wanted, the answer was almost always no. Even this phone was one I'd passed down to Finn myself. I would sneak Finn out for fun whenever I could.
Every time Cole found out, he'd get angry with me.
That was why he'd tried to buy Finn's silence with a toy car.
And today, before leaving, he'd promised to bring gifts for both me and Finn. He'd come home empty-handed.
Lying to me and deceiving me was one thing.
But how could he lavish another woman's daughter with everything she wanted while being so cruel and dishonest to his own son?
"It's okay, sweetheart."
"From now on, Mommy will buy you everything."
I comforted Finn and stayed until he fell asleep, then went back to the living room and sat on the couch.
The moment Cole came out, I pressed down my anger and asked, "Didn't you say you were bringing Finn a gift?"
"Oh, I forgot." Cole gave an awkward laugh, rushed over, and wrapped his arms around me. "I'll get him something next time. Boys need to be raised tough anyway."
