"Mommy, what happened?"
Neville Simmons poked his head out of the bedroom, eyes wide.
"It's nothing, sweetie. Daddy accidentally broke a bowl."
"Be careful, Daddy."
"Got it."
Once my son closed the door again, Claude pressed down the fury boiling inside him and said in a low voice, "You can accuse me all you want, but don't you dare disrespect Patsy."
"She and I are just friends. There's nothing going on between us."
"If you really don't believe me, there's nothing more I can say."
"Then don't."
"I don't think you're in the mood to eat anyway."
With that, I pulled out the divorce agreement I'd prepared in advance and handed it to him.
"I'll walk away with nothing. I don't want a single thing."
"I only want my son."
Claude let out a cold laugh, tore the agreement to shreds, and tossed the pieces into the trash.
"You think you're taking my son?"
"Not a chance in hell."
"Always walking around with that miserable look on your face, like the whole world owes you something. Just looking at you kills my appetite. I'm done eating."
"I'm going to Patsy's for a drink."
After Claude slammed the door behind him, I clenched my fists, my nails slowly digging into my palms.
Just as the tears were about to spill, I tilted my head back.
Crying over a man who cheated, a man who didn't love me anymore.
That was the most foolish thing I could do.
For the next two days, Claude didn't come home.
I didn't ask.
On the third day, I had just picked Neville up from preschool and brought him inside when I heard the front door open behind me.
I assumed Claude had come back.
But when the door swung open, it wasn't him.
It was Patsy.
"Hey there, sis. Long time no see."
"Where did you get a key?"
"Claude gave it to me. He said he doesn't want to come home, so I'm here to grab a few changes of clothes for him. Oh, and to take Neville out to dinner."
Patsy strolled in like she owned the place, talking as she headed straight for the master bedroom. She opened the closet without hesitation, found Claude's clothes, packed two sets, then turned to my son with her hand outstretched. "Come on, Neville. Daddy's waiting for you at the restaurant."
"We're having steak tonight!"
Neville shook his head and ran to my side.
"I'm not going."
Patsy fished two chocolates out of her pocket. "Be a good boy and listen to Auntie, and I'll give you some chocolate."
"You're a bad woman."
"Bad people give you bad candy. It'll make my tummy hurt."
My son's words made me laugh.
Patsy's face, however, fell completely.
She glared at me. "He's just a little kid and you're already teaching him to talk like that? What kind of mother are you?"
"My son is growing up. He knows right from wrong. If he thinks you're a bad woman, maybe you should take a good look in the mirror."
"Have you done something you shouldn't have?"
"What could I possibly have done?"
"Why don't you tell me?"
I ignored her challenge.
Instead, I gestured toward the door.
"You're not welcome in my home."
"Your home?" Patsy's lips curled into a cold smirk.
"You poor thing. Forget this house."
"Your husband is practically mine already."
Then her eyes darted sideways, and she folded her arms with a grin. "Claude's been spending the night at my place these past two days."
"And?"
I raised an eyebrow.
"His heart isn't here anymore."
"Mm."
"Your marriage is over."
With that, she walked right up to me. "And I'm not going to pretend anymore. That's right. I slept with Claude."
