All That She Needs: The Betrayal of a Marriage

Part 38 Asha

This morning started slowly, just like the ones before. I stretched lazily across the bed and let out a loud yawn before finally getting up and walking out of the room. The rich scent of coffee guided me to the kitchen, where my sock-covered feet moved quietly over the hardwood floor. It was the last week of our holiday, and the days that had passed felt both full and fleeting, each one slipping by quickly.

My brothers had truly outdone themselves for this trip by renting a luxury chalet with six bedrooms, each featuring a fireplace and its own en-suite bathroom. There was also a small gym, a hot tub, and a sauna, but the standout feature was the floor-to-ceiling glass walls wrapped around the living space, with the breathtaking view of the Matterhorn that never failed to mesmerize me.

In the kitchen, I found Sandy humming softly as she prepared breakfast. The familiar sounds of sizzling and bubbling batter comforted me and made me smile. Sunlight streamed through the windows, illuminating the space, creating a perfect morning ambiance. When she spotted me, she walked over to the coffee maker to pour me a cup.

As I leaned against the counter sipping my coffee, I noticed she was already making breakfast quesadillas—Kayden's favorite—and in the middle of making fluffy pancakes for Chloe. The smell of melting cheese and sweet batter mingled in the air, making my stomach growl. As always, the adults would eat whatever the kids preferred, which sometimes made Max and Mason frown, because if you let Chloe choose, then you would guarantee to have pancakes or toast for breakfast every morning and nothing else.

Going on holiday was a great decision for me and the kids. We spent our days enjoying fun activities, relaxing, and indulging in delicious food. I could already see Kayden and Chloe's cheeks looking a little fuller from eating their weight in food and treats each day. They seemed to have a good time, and that made me very happy.

I helped Sandy set the plates on the table, knowing the kids and my brothers would wake up soon and immediately demand breakfast. They had a full slate of activities planned for the day, eager to make the most of our last days skiing. Meanwhile, I looked forward to strolling through the village with Sandy, indulging in shopping and sampling as many delightful desserts as possible. And of course, we would have lots of chocolate—oh my God, the chocolate. It was chocolate heaven here.

And every time I bit one of those sweets, my mind would inevitably drift to Liam. And then I would check my phone again only to find no messages from him. I knew I was being unreasonable, especially because I was the one who had told him not to contact me.

So, instead, I would read his old messages, scrolling through the pictures he sent while on his business trip last time, looking at them over and over. I often wondered why it never bored me.

I kept wondering, would he still be waiting for me? Or had my indecisiveness finally worn him out?

Would he still see me the same way he did before? Twelve weeks was a long time—long enough for feelings to change, or even fade.

But I missed him. So much so that lately, I would sleep early, hoping tomorrow would come quickly so we could be back home, and I could go to work and see him again.

Kayden was the first to pop into the kitchen, and he immediately sat at the long dining table, looking expectantly at Sandy. She planted her hands on her hips and gave him a pointed look—a silent reminder of her rule that the kids had to help out in some way. Whether it was cooking, setting the table, or rinsing dishes, everyone had to pitch in. The boy begrudgingly got up, grabbed the big platter of quesadillas in one hand and the plate of pancakes in the other from the counter, and brought them to the table before finally settling down to eat. I took a seat across from him, and Sandy sat beside me, and we all began our breakfast together.

When he almost finished eating his breakfast, Kayden asked me the most surprising question. "Mom, did Dad call you these past few days?"

I looked at him and shook my head. "No. But he called you or Chloe every morning, right?" As far as I knew, Aiden never missed calling the kids. But Kayden had once said his dad didn't look too well when they last had the video call. He probably missed his kids. I wondered how he felt that he was all alone now.

"No," Kayden replied, and my heart broke at the disappointment on his face. "He hasn't called yesterday and the day before."

"Why don't you call him instead?" I suggested.

"Chloe already tried," Kayden said. "But his phone was off."

His worried expression made me ask, "What is it, Kay? What are you thinking?"

Kayden seemed to weigh his words carefully before speaking. "I kept thinking that something happened to him, Mom. Because every time we had our video calls, I could see that he was really happy, like this was what he looked forward to everyday. And now he missed calling us and didn't give us notice."

"I'm sure it's nothing, Kay." I said gently, hoping to reassure him. "He's probably busy at work."

He didn't seem convinced, but he nodded anyway.

Not long after, Max appeared, followed by Chloe, and as usual, Mason came last. The kitchen quickly filled with the sounds of their chatter and laughter, momentarily distracting Kayden from his worries, but he still couldn't shake the concern lingering in his eyes.

A few hours later, the kids and my brothers set off for their activities. Before they left, Chloe issued one last warning to her uncles with a hard glare that she knew how to ski now and that they shouldn't try to stop her again like the last time they were here when we first arrived. Max and Mason didn't look too pleased about it. If it were up to them, they would be carrying Chloe on their backs to ski down the slope, convinced it was the only way to keep her safe.

Sandy and I set off for our trip too. The sun was shining brightly today, and it wasn't cold, so I wore a white long dress and a light blue cardigan, paired with a pair of white sneakers.

As we strolled through the charming village, the streets buzzed with life. Tourists mingled with locals, and the aroma of fresh pastries wafted from nearby cafes. We admired the inviting window displays showcasing handmade crafts and souvenirs that we intended to check out later, but then Sandy caught sight of a shop that made her gasp loudly.

"Let's check out that chocolate shop first," Sandy suggested, her eyes sparkling with excitement. She was practically sprinting towards the shop, and I chuckled, looking at her so energized. As I followed her, I heard someone calling my name, and I turned around, finding a familiar face.

"David," I smiled at the man walking over to me.

I ran into David Sandberg by chance during my third week here. He had been a client of my company a few years back, before he sold his business for a gargantuan sum—enough that he could retire comfortably and live wherever he wanted. An avid skier, he decided to split his time between here and back home. David was about Aiden's age—three years older than me—and had married and divorced when he was younger. No kids.

Sandy was all too eager to play matchmaker between us.

Hearing me call David's name, Sandy practically screeched to a halt mid-run to the shop and turned around with a grin. I frowned at her. She wiggled her eyebrows in response. David was an attractive man—not particularly tall, just a bit taller than me—but lean and athletic, with a face that could, without a doubt, charm his way into many women's panties.

At Sandy's insistence, I had dinner with him once. I managed to get through about an hour of it. It wasn't that he wasn't a nice guy—he was actually quite charming. But there was a nagging feeling in me that something about this was wrong, and every time I looked at him, a dimpled smile from someone else kept lingering in my mind.

"Morning," I replied, and then I paused, suddenly at a loss. I honestly didn't know how to start a conversation with him.

David didn't seem to notice my hesitation. "This is your last week, isn't it? How do you feel? Zermatt has its way of growing on you, doesn't it?"

I nodded, glancing around as if the scenery might offer something else to talk about. "It's beautiful here. I can see why you'd want to spend half the year."

He chuckled. "Yeah, like I said to you before, I got hooked on the views, and the skiing... honestly, it's hard to leave once you get used to it."

I gave him another nod.

Oh, dear. This conversation felt awkward.

There was a brief silence before he spoke again, his tone a bit lighter. "Are you planning to have lunch in the village?"

Oh, no. I hoped this wasn't going in the direction I thought. "I actually promised Sandy we'd go shopping and have lunch today. Just the two of us." I tried to make it clear.

"Okay," he said with a nod. But then, almost casually, he added, "How about dinner?"

"Umm..." I stammered, scrambling for an excuse. "David..."

Sensing my hesitation, he sighed, though his gaze softened. "Still too soon after your divorce?" he asked gently. I had mentioned the divorce when he'd asked about Aiden—yes, he knew him too.

"It's not about that..." I trailed off, struggling to find the right words. Honestly, my hesitation had little to do with the divorce. It was not because of his lack of attractiveness either. It was the dimpled, turquoise-eyed man who kept invading my thoughts, and I couldn't shake him off. "I just... can't."

"Okay, okay, I get it." His dark eyes showed understanding. "I always liked you, Asha. I remember thinking several times when he had our meetings, how great it would be if you weren't married. And then I found out you're not anymore. But I guess it's just not my luck. You're an incredible woman, Asha. Any man would be lucky to be with you." His smile was faint, but he accepted the rejection gracefully, and I appreciated that. He held my gaze for a moment, before he said, "Take care, Asha. Safe flight home."

I watched him walk away, realizing that any woman would be lucky to be with him, too.

It just wasn't going to be me.

When Sandy approached me, her expression was one of disappointment. She must have sensed what had just happened, even without hearing our conversation. "Asha, why?" she whined, as if she was the one who had lost out. "That man is so fine!"

I chuckled and linked my arm through hers. "Come on, let's shop and eat until we can't walk anymore."

That day was perfect. Sandy and I wandered from shop to shop, buying a lot of silly things that I was certain we were going to regret buying when we got home. We laughed and moved from one quaint cafe to another, indulging ourselves in chocolate, pastries and rich coffee instead of a proper lunch, savoring each bite.

By the time we finished our shopping spree, our bags were full, and our spirits were high. We arrived back at the cabin just a few minutes before the kids.

Kayden burst through the door, with Chloe trailing behind him, both looking distressed as if something terrible had just happened.

"Mom!" Kayden practically screamed. "We have to go back home now, Mom. Please!"

"What happened?" I screeched, a million dreadful thoughts racing through my mind. "Are you both okay? Where are your uncles? Are they alright?"

Kayden shook his head vigorously, his eyes wide with panic. "It's about Dad, Mom!"

I was just about to ask what had happened to him when Kayden blurted out, "Dad is in the hospital. He's been hit by a car! That Vanessa motherfucking whore ran him over with her car!"