All That She Needs: The Betrayal of a Marriage

Part 37 Aiden

I arrived at the house right at 3 p.m. The living room was buzzing with activity: Sandy was barking instructions at Roy and Brody, while Asha hurried down the stairs, calling for Kayden to take a shower before they left. Meanwhile, Chloe lounged on the couch, eating what looked like a burger and watching TV. I couldn't help but grin. They had two hours before they needed to leave, yet everyone seemed far too relaxed. That must have driven Sandy crazy.

When Asha spotted me, she let out a loud gasp. "Oh, shit. I forgot to tell you."

I offered a faint smile. "Yeah. Kayden told me yesterday."

Her eyes widened in genuine surprise. "Kayden? He talked to you?"

I wasn't shocked by her reaction—Kayden wanting to talk to me was nothing short of a miracle. "He came to the office."

She looked even more surprised. "Why? What for?"

"You'll have to ask him yourself. Is he in his room?" Asha nodded, still looking puzzled. "Mind if I go up?"

It took her a moment to gather herself, but I could see a glimmer of relief in her eyes. She was glad that Kayden was finally willing to talk to me. "Yeah," she said. "Go ahead."

I made my way over to Chloe first, leaning down to kiss the top of her head. She mumbled, "Hi, Dad... sorry," looking just as guilty as her mom for forgetting to tell me she was leaving. I hugged her tightly and whispered, "It's okay."

As I trudged across the room toward the stairs, I went over the words I'd been rehearsing to say to Kayden. I hoped he would listen—and that he might actually believe me.

I paused in front of his door, taking a steadying breath before knocking. Almost instantly, he shouted, "Come in." I reached for the handle, pressed it down, and opened the door to find Kayden packing his laptop into his backpack.

"Hey," I greeted him with a small smile.

Kayden straightened up, meeting my gaze. "Dad,"

"Everything packed already?" I asked as I walked further into the room.

"Yeah. Almost done," he replied, then sat down on the edge of the bed. I glanced around for a place to sit and settled on the chair in front of his desk.

"Are you ready to hear my answer now, son?"

He gave me a look that made it clear he'd been dreading this moment. The tension in his expression betrayed him, despite his attempts to hide it.

"First of all," I started, watching him closely. He nodded, his posture a bit more rigid. "The reason I'm giving you my answer today is because you asked me to wait. I could've given it to you yesterday, Kayden, because I've known my answer all along."

Kayden stayed quiet, but I could see the tension in his jaw as he listened. He was focused, taking in every word, even if he didn't respond.

I continued, "I know it's hard to believe anything I say, especially after disappointing you so many times in the past. But when you told me that day in the kitchen that you knew... it woke me up, son. I finally saw the truth about how awful I've been as a father to you and Chloe, and how terrible I've been as a husband." I paused for a moment to take a breath. "I'm not going to make excuses now, Kayden, nor will I justify what I did. I was tremendously wrong, and for you to still give me a chance to talk to you, I'm beyond grateful."

I searched his face for a reaction, hoping he could sense my sincerity. "But you were never a choice, Kayden. You're my child. I made a lot of mistakes, but I've always loved you. That will never change." I paused a moment to let that sink in. "You asked me why I didn't pursue her again. The reason is that I would never again hurt you, Chloe, and Asha, by forcing you to accept the very reason I broke this family in the first place. I don't want you all to be reminded of that, Kayden. It also reminds me too much of what I've lost."

Kayden's expression softened a bit, but I could still sense his uncertainty. "I know I've hurt you deeply, and I can't change the past. But I want to work toward a future where you won't carry that pain anymore. I understand if you find it hard to trust me right now, but I promise to prove it to you."

My son didn't say anything, and I started to worry that he didn't believe me, that he had decided he didn't want me in his life anymore. I waited in tense silence, watching his downcast face as he focused on the floor.

"Kayden—"

"You can call me or Chloe every morning, Dad," he said softly, lifting his gaze up to meet mine. "We can have a video call or something."

I was stunned for a moment before slowly, a broad grin spread across my face. It felt like I had just won the lottery. "Really?" I whispered, knowing that if I spoke any louder, my voice would tremble.

"Yeah," he said, offering a tiny smile that felt like a warm embrace. I would have given anything to hug him at that moment, but I knew he wasn't ready for that yet. "We're going to Zermatt, Switzerland. You can check the time difference when you make the call."

"Okay," I grinned so wide my cheeks hurt. "I will call."

Kayden nodded, the smile still on his face. "I need to go take a shower now. Mom would kill me if she checked, and I still haven't."

"I'll wait downstairs." I rose from my seat. "Have fun skiing, son."

"Yeah." He stood up and headed straight to the bathroom attached to his room. "See you, Dad."

"See you,"

I watched him until he disappeared behind the door before I went downstairs. I spent the rest of my time at the house as everyone rushed around, with Chloe in my arms. She didn't care much about packing, as long as her iPad and iPhone weren't forgotten.

When they left, a deep sense of anguish filled my chest. The reality that I should have been there with them, enjoying the holiday, pressing heavily on me. I watched as they drove away, feeling the emptiness settle in. The laughter and excitement that had filled the house only moments ago were now replaced by a deafening silence.

My mind drifted back to when I arrived at the house two hours ago, just before I walked inside, and was standing in the same spot I was now. I wanted to have this moment here, not anywhere else. It was significant to me, a place filled with memories, both good and bad. It was a reminder that even amidst the chaos, I could take steps toward rebuilding what had been broken.

I reached for my phone in my pocket, opened it, and the screen came to life. I scrolled through my messages until I found her name—Vanessa. With a determination that reinforced my promise to myself, I deleted all our chats without hesitation—every single one.

Next, I located her name in my contacts.

And I blocked her. Then, I deleted her from my life.

*** *** ***

It had already been a week since my kids and Asha went on holiday. I video-called them every morning, enjoying my conversations with Kayden as he shared his subdued excitement—still seemingly hesitant to be too friendly—with me about his new hobby, skiing. Meanwhile, Chloe filled our calls with her endless complaints about her uncles, who were too terrified to let her ski on her own.

I also spoke to Asha once; unfortunately, she had come down with a bit of the flu due to the cold weather there, and our conversation was frequently interrupted by her sneezes every minute or so.

To my surprise, Max joined the video call with Asha, sitting in silence and staring at me through the screen. While it might seem small, to me, it was a significant improvement.

It was Sunday, and with nothing on my agenda, I decided to go for a night jog around the apartment complex. I hadn't been exercising regularly for a while, and my muscles felt stiff and unused. As I started off, the fresh air filled my lungs, refreshing me with each step.

I jogged for about an hour, moving along the quiet pathways lit by soft lights. The sound of my footsteps echoed in the stillness, and I focused on the rhythm of my breathing, trying not to think of anything. As I passed the little cafe where I often stopped for coffee and treats, the familiar scent of baked goods tempted me. I picked up a turkey sandwich for dinner before taking a leisurely walk back to the apartment.

Just before I reached the front door of the lobby, I heard someone call my name. I stiffened instantly, recognizing the voice.

"Aiden," the voice called again, more insistent this time. I turned slowly, my heart racing.

Then she stepped out of the shadows, coming into view. "Vee," I whispered, almost breathless.

Vanessa took a step closer, her gaze holding mine. "I'm sorry to show up like this," she said softly. Her face looked pale and troubled, and her clothes were disheveled. She shifted nervously, her hands clasped tightly in front of her, fidgeting slightly as she stood there. "I wanted to call you, but you blocked my number."

"Yeah..." I replied, my voice trailing off. I took a few seconds to steady myself, before finally meeting her gaze. "You shouldn't be here, Vee."

"I need to talk to you," she said, stepping closer. Instinctively, I took a step back, needing distance from her. "I need to explain." I stared at her, wondering if this had anything to do with her canceled wedding. She hesitated, her gaze pleading. "Can we talk upstairs? In your apartment?"

I blinked at her, frozen for a moment. No. No!

"No," I said firmly, shaking my head. "I can't let myself get into this again, Vee." I took a deep breath. "I have already let you go."

Her face fell, and she nodded, glancing away as if searching for the right words. "I know... and I don't blame you," she said, her voice trembling. "But I just couldn't leave it like this. Not without explaining myself to you."

"What is there to explain, Vee? I don't understand." I asked, genuinely confused.

"Is there someplace around here that we can talk?" She glanced around the area, and I followed her line of sight. She spotted the lights coming from the little cafe I had just visited. "Perhaps over there?"

I weighed my options and settled on the cafe as a safe place to talk. I nodded to her, and we walked together in silence. The outdoor tables were empty, perfect for a quiet conversation. We picked a table, and I headed to the counter to order a hot coffee for myself and a hot tea for her. After receiving my order, I returned to the table with our drinks.

I sipped my coffee while waiting for her to speak. She seemed anxious, her hands trembling as she clutched the paper cup, causing some of the tea to spill over the rim. At that moment, I realized something. I wasn't as obsessed with her as I used to be. Perhaps the time apart had helped me strengthen myself.

Watching her fidget, I couldn't ignore the lingering feelings that were still there for her, but they felt different now—more manageable. I thought about how far I'd come since our last encounter, how I had started to build a life without her. Yet here she was, asking for my attention again, and part of me was torn between curiosity and caution.

"I'm sorry, Aiden," she began, her gaze dropping to the table. "I know you must be angry and disappointed in me. But you must understand, it was so hard to see you go back to her night after night. I felt powerless, watching you always choosing her over me."

My brows furrowed further in confusion, but I decided to let her speak and see where this was heading.

"I thought," she continued, her voice trembling slightly, "that it wasn't fair for you to be with her while you were with me, but I had to be faithful to you. I was angry. I felt small and insignificant, and sometimes it seemed like you were just using me. I couldn't shake the feeling that you never truly loved me."

"Vee—" I started, but I hesitated, unsure of what I wanted to say or where this conversation was heading.

"That's why I was with Ryan," she said, her eyes locking onto mine, glistening with tears. "I just wanted to feel some sense of fairness. But it was always you I wanted, Aiden. It was you I loved."

"Vee," I said, straightening as tension seized my body. "I can't be with you. I won't ever go back to that. Do you understand? That chapter of my life—the one with you—is closed, and I need to move on. I want to focus on getting my family back."

She leaned in, her voice urgent. "But you're divorced now, Aiden. You're not with her anymore. You said you love me and begged me to take you back, you—"

"Wait," I interrupted, suddenly realizing something in her words. "What do you mean by some sense of fairness?"

I watched her swallow hard, and it took a moment before she spoke. "When I received your text, I knew you must be angry with me. I know I lied to you about Ryan, and I was already in a relationship when I was with you, but you were with your wife too, Aiden. We were both in the wrong. Can we just let that go and start a new chapter? We can be together now, freely. We don't need to hide anymore. We can do all the things we always talked about, wished for, and be happy together."

I stared at her, slowly processing her words as an invisible knife plunged into my heart and twisted viciously, tearing it apart and scorching it with flames. "At first, I was angry at you for sending the pictures and the screenshots of our texts to Ryan. He canceled our wedding because of that. But then I realized it must have been one of your desperate attempts to be with me again. That confirmed how much you love me."

Text? From me? I never sent her any text. Not since I decided to stop pursuing her. The last message I sent was before my one hundred days of withdrawing myself from chasing her like a fucking madman, that I celebrated at Jake's bar. And I sure as hell never sent any text to Ryan. I didn't even have that poor guy's number. I opened my mouth to protest, but the words caught in my throat.

"Aiden," she said, her voice pleading. "I love you. I know you still love me. Come back to me."

"Vee..." I finally managed to respond, and my voice was embarrassingly shaky. "What did I say in my text to you?"

I was genuinely asking because I had no idea what she was talking about. But it seemed she mistook my question for an invitation to repeat the sentiment. She glanced downward, her expression pained as she spoke in a small voice, "You said I was a lying whore who gave you a hard time for always choosing Asha while I was cheating on you with Ryan when we were together."

Stunned and speechless, I stared at her. And I stared even more.

And then I laughed. I laughed so loud, a hysterical, maniacal sound, like I was losing my mind. I laughed at my weakness, at my stupidity, at the precious time I had fucking wasted, and most of all, at my worthless devotion to the woman who didn't fucking deserve it.

I laughed until tears streamed down my cheeks, until I doubled over, clutching my stomach, twisting with pain. I laughed until my voice cracked, the sound finally fading into a breathless silence as the weight of my emotions crashed over me.

I had lost everything for absolutely nothing at all. The absurdity of it hit me like a fucking slap in the face.

When I opened my eyes, I found Vanessa staring at me, her expression a mix of disconcertion and confusion, struggling to understand my reaction. She opened her mouth, as if to say something, but thought better of it and closed it again. Silence hanging heavily between us.

I let out a long, drawn-out sigh. "Vanessa," I rasped, my throat feeling painfully dry. "Please."

"Aiden," she breathed, and I noticed a flicker of hope in her eyes, momentarily brightening as she seemed to cling to the possibility of what I might say next.

"Go home. And don't ever, ever, come back."

I stood up, not allowing myself a final glance at her, and walked away. Each step away from her was me shedding the remnants of our past with every movement. The night air was cooler now, but it did little to soothe the chaos inside me. I still didn't look back when I entered the apartment lobby and closed the door behind me. I was done.