“Thalia, don’t be angry. I already taught this rebellious son a lesson for you. He’ll be obedient from now on!”
I stared at the video, numb.
With a bang, every sweet memory I’d clung to shattered into dust.
The pain tore through my chest, crushing my insides.
Evander—who claimed to have mysophobia.
The man who never once held my hand, who recoiled when I leaned in for a hug.
The man who only got me pregnant because he was drunk that night with Althea.
When we returned home, the guests had gone, leaving bottles and trash scattered everywhere.
Evander lounged on the sofa, cigarette between his lips, legs lifted off the ground, unmoving.
“Clean it up. These bastards really know how to piss me off.”
Before, I would have done it without a word—his obedient babysitter.
But this time, I stayed still.
“Evander…” I forced the words out. “Let’s break up.”
He barely looked up from his phone.
“What? Say that again. I didn’t hear—Althea just threw ten kills in a row and ruined my game. Damn idiot. Nearly made my pants fall off.”
He cursed into the mic.
“Hey, give me another kill! You want your dad to spank you?”
I drew a deep breath. “I said, let’s break up.”
This time, he heard. His phone clattered against the floor.
“Are you insane?” His eyes narrowed. “What nonsense are you spouting?”
I sank onto the chair, pressing my aching stomach.
“I’m serious. I think… Althea might be better for you.”
From the broken phone came Althea’s shrill voice.
“Hey, don’t hang up! Mama’s about to win—it’s the qualifying round!”
His jaw tightened, anger flashing in his eyes.
“So this is my crime? Being close to Althea?”
“How many times must I tell you? There’s nothing between us—just pure friendship!”
I let out a bitter laugh.
“Pure friendship? The kind where you lick feet, hug, and fuck without condoms?”
His fury snapped. He grabbed me, shoving me onto the sofa. His breath burned against the tip of my nose.
“Jealous?”
“It’s just a kiss. I’ll compensate you.”
But in my mind, the image of him kissing Althea’s toes blazed like fire.
I shoved him away. “Don’t touch me!”
He crushed me tighter.
“Don’t pretend. Isn’t this what you’ve wanted?”
“You’re mad, but we already have a child. Why fight with that idiot over me?”
The ringtone cut through our struggle. Althea again.
“Where are you, you useless son of a bitch? The enemy’s already taken the high ground! If you don’t log in now, I’ll disown you!”
Evander shot me a look, then sneered.
“You’re breaking up? I’m the one who’s been robbed.”
He picked up the phone.
“Alright, alright. Women are trouble. Give me a minute.”
The moment the call ended, he grabbed his phone and dove back into the game.
“Stop being difficult. Tomorrow I’ll take you shopping—buy whatever you want.”
I didn’t answer. My body ached too much, my stomach cramping sharply.
I whispered his name, barely a breath.
No reply.
From the bathroom came bursts of laughter—his and Althea’s voices, tangled together, mixed with the shrill chaos of the game.
Each sound pierced through me, until I could no longer tell whether it was my stomach or my heart that hurt more.
