All That She Needs: The Betrayal of a Marriage

Part 15 Asha

I found Aiden standing in our living room early in the morning, looking lost and miserable. Irritation surged through me as I narrowed my eyes at him. Without thinking, I marched over, jabbing a finger in his direction. "Why are you here?" I snapped as I came to a stop in front of him. "You don't live here anymore, Aiden. You need to tell me if you want to come, and I'll decide if you're allowed or not."

"This is my home too, Asha," he said gently, his calm tone only pissed me off even more.

"Not anymore," I shot back. "This hasn't been your home for months. It's just a stopover for you on your way to where you really want to be."

He didn't have a response to that. Instead, he just dropped his head and sighed. "I want to see the kids before I go to the office. I miss them." He looked up at me, his eyes searching mine. "I miss you."

I rolled my eyes at his bullshit, not believing a word of it. I was done being a doormat, letting him think he could just charm his way out of everything. What he did was cruel, and he fucking ruined my life. "You have to get used to being a guest in this house, Aiden. You've lost your privilege. And I swear to you, if you keep this up, I will fight for full custody. You'll only be allowed here on a scheduled visit. Is that what you want?"

"No," he said weakly. "But you wouldn't do that, Asha. You're not vindictive. It's not you."

"Yeah?" I scoffed, crossing my arms over my chest. "Watch me."

He stared at me with bewilderment, as if my outburst shocked him. The Asha standing in front of him was not the one he used to know. He probably never expected that I would finally grow a backbone. "Asha," he breathed my name with such tenderness that once would have disarmed me. In the past, it would have softened me. Made me do literally anything for him. He would just extend his hand, beckoning me to him, and I would go like I was compelled. Then I would bury far deep in the back of my head any disappointment, any suspicion, any anger, and let myself drown in denial that whatever wrong he did was excusable, somehow forgivable.

Not anymore.

I was surprised by how quickly I had changed, how rapidly the scales had fallen from my eyes once I opened my mind to the truth. What he did to me was not okay. It never was.

"I need to prove myself to you. To our kids," he continued, his voice lined a quiet desperation as he took a careful step forward. Instinctively, I took a few steps back, needing the physical distance to ground myself. He froze, hands buried in his pockets, fidgeting as he stood there, looking unsure of what to do next. "How can I do that if I'm not here?" he asked, his voice faltering slightly.

"You'll think of something, Aiden. Just like any other divorced couple do."

"We're not divorced yet." He countered.

"Oh, we will, Aiden." I seethed. "I'll make sure of it. I might take it when you hurt me, but when you hurt my kids, that is unforgivable. There's no going back for us."

"What can I do, Asha?" He pleaded, and I was getting tired of hearing it. "I'll do anything. Whatever it takes."

"Tell me, Aiden, if Kayden hadn't confronted you that night, would you have realized your mistake? Would you have ever felt guilty? Or is it only now, when your family has turned their backs on you, that you suddenly feel remorse? Would you still be pursuing her if things hadn't fallen apart?"

He sighed. He knew he couldn't answer those questions. "Just tell me what to do, Asha. Please."

Instead of answering, knowing it was pointless to make him see the truth, I said, "I've packed your stuff. They're in the garage. I'll have Roy send them to you."

He stared at me with his mouth agape, and I knew my words stabbed him so intensely he was lost for words.

"I haven't touched your office, though," I continued, my tone flat and devoid of emotion, mirroring the emptiness I felt inside. "I know there are a few suspicious drawers you always kept locked, so I'll let you sort that out on your own."

"I'm coming back, Asha." His voice hardened, the tension creeping into his words as he fought to keep control. "This is just temporary. I will be back."

I looked at him. My gaze was hard and full of hatred, and I believed he felt it, judging by how he flinched. "You said you'll do whatever it takes," I repeated his promise, and he nodded quickly.

"Yeah. Anything."

"Really, Aiden? Truly?"

"Truly, Asha."

"Okay." I nodded, pressing my hand to my chest, bracing myself for the answer I feared. "Can you stop loving her?"

He froze. His entire body went still, and for a long moment, he didn't move, didn't breathe. I could almost see the gears turning in his mind as he struggled to find the words. I counted the seconds, silently praying he would say the words I desperately wanted to hear— Yes, I don't love her anymore; I only love you . But those words never came. He just stood there, paralyzed by the truth he couldn't bring himself to speak. His silence was answer enough. And in that silence, I felt the last thread of hope snap inside me.

"That's my answer," I said, my words faint. "That's why I can never let you come back. Because it's just a matter of time before you crawl back to her again." I turned away from him, my back now facing him. "You can only see the kids on weekday mornings, and when they leave, you leave. Other times, you call first before you come into my fucking house."