All That She Needs: The Betrayal of a Marriage

Epilogue Aiden

I sat in one of the booths at Jake's bar, nursing my drink, and my mind wandered away, thinking about my life. Over the last five years, I focused on making things right. I tried to be there for my kids, showing them that I was doing better. I knew I couldn't erase the past or expect things to go back to how they were, but I aimed to prove I could be reliable, even if it took time. However, there were moments when I felt like I was making no progress, especially with Kayden. His walls remained high, and I couldn't help but feel like I was always fighting to earn his trust.

With Chloe, it was different. She was more open, but there was still some hesitation, some distrust. I knew she wasn't fully convinced yet, and I understood why. I didn't expect everything to be fixed right away, but I kept showing up, determined to try to rebuild our relationship, no matter how long it took. It wasn't about fixing the past—it was about proving I could be someone they could rely on for the rest of my life.

After years of persuasion, Kayden and Chloe finally agreed to go on a vacation with me. We had taken a few short trips over weekends, but this would be our first long holiday together. I was thrilled. It felt like a long-awaited opportunity to make memories with them, instead of only looking at their holiday pictures and wishing for a moment like this.

We would be heading to Bali, Indonesia, for three weeks. I'd already rented a villa for the three of us and put together an itinerary full of sightseeing, restaurant visits, diving and surfing lessons, and, of course, plenty of shopping and spa trips for Chloe.

Sean had been a godsend, helping with the arrangements. He was still working for me, though I later found out he'd been working with Kayden. Apparently, Kayden had manipulated the company's system to make Sean the lead candidate for the PA position. To Sean's credit, he had no idea and genuinely thought he earned the job on his own. He only found out when Kayden called to confess, telling him he wouldn't report the glitch in the system that would alert HR they were making a mistake—only if Sean agreed to spy on me. Kayden chose Sean because he knew, somehow, that Sean was desperately in need of a job.

My son was an exceptionally sharp, scheming genius, a true mastermind who thought through every move.

I had handed over my CEO position to Bryan Hoofer, my former CFO—a good, honest man who didn't deserve to be saddled with tasks far beyond his role, especially when I wasn't in the right state of mind to lead anymore. Rumors about Vanessa running me over with her car and the messy backstory behind it had begun to surface. Despite the Corporate Communication team's best efforts to keep it contained, the details were leaking. Resigning was the only way to protect the company's reputation. It also marked a first in our company's history—someone outside the family taking over as CEO. Needless to say, my father was absolutely livid about the decision.

Stepping down turned out to be the best decision I'd ever made. My mind was clearer, healthier, without the constant pressure of the corporate world. I feel more at peace now than I did when I was running the company. And, suddenly, I had all the time in the world. I could be there for my kids whenever and wherever they needed me.

Someday, when Kayden or Chloe was ready—and only if they wanted it—they could take over the reins, leading the company.

Annoying laughter suddenly filled my ears, snapping me back to the present, and my brows furrowed in exasperation.

"And I thought, that's hilarious," she continued, "They said I looked too young to be retired from modeling so soon."

The woman sitting across from me wore heavy makeup and a dress that seemed uncomfortably tight. She looked to be in her mid-thirties, a former model with a slender figure, long legs, light blonde hair, and green eyes. She was undeniably beautiful, but nothing about her seemed real—every bit of her perfection seemed meticulously crafted under surgical knives and cosmetic treatments. And I had a strong suspicion that her boobs weren't entirely natural.

As the minutes dragged on, her constant chatter grated on my nerves. She clearly loved the sound of her own voice, rambling on about luxury brands, her recent vacations, and people I neither knew nor cared about.

I nodded absently, offering the occasional polite smile, but my patience was wearing thin. The conversation wasn't just shallow—it was exhausting.

I shot an irritated glare at Jake, who was watching the scene unfold from behind the bar with obvious amusement. He responded with a casual shrug before turning away. Asshole.

My attention returned to the woman—Amelia, her name was. A name too beautiful for someone so fake. She was now going on about a Fendi purse she'd seen the day before, mentioning how determined she was to save up for it. Yet her eyes betrayed her, gleaming with hopeful expectation, as if hinting that I should buy it for her. At least she wasn't subtle about her intentions. She knew my last name and was just like the rest of them—a gold digger.

If I had to listen to her talk for another minute, I was going to lose it. Letting out an audible sigh, I finally interrupted her.

"Amelia, I don't think this is going to work," I said. Her face shifted into disbelief, like she couldn't process what I'd just said. "Yeah... but thanks for your time." Rising from my seat, I added, "If you'll excuse me..." before walking away.

No more dates, I decided. I was done. Not a single one of them sparked anything in me anymore. I should've stopped trying long ago—because no one could ever replace her. No one. That truth had only become clearer with time.

I was forty-eight years old, and blind dates were probably no longer my thing. Of course, Jake would be quick to object—he was my age, never married, and believed he never would. A serial dater, he was perfectly content with that.

I walked over to the bar, where Jake was clearly avoiding my gaze, pretending to be engrossed in rearranging the bottles.

"You can say it," I sighed. "I know you're dying to."

He spun around so quickly that I knew he was seconds away from blurting out whatever was on his mind—or bursting from the effort of holding it in.

"Maybe you should change your type," he said. "Redheads or brunettes, perhaps. No more light blondes."

I just grunted under my breath, unwilling to respond to that.

"It's been almost five years, man..." Jake said, looking at me with pity as he placed a bottle of beer in front of me. Two bottles of beer maximum per night for me, and no other types of alcohol allowed—that was Jake's unshakable rule. No negotiation. "You know you could never replace her..." When I didn't respond, he added, "Or maybe you should just go back to fucking your way around town like you used to. You're probably happier that way."

"Fuck you," I grumbled, and he just chuckled.

"But seriously, do you really want to go into another relationship? Do you think you're ready?"

Yeah, his question was valid, unfortunately. I spent the last few years on meaningless hookups, shutting myself off from anything more meaningful. Then, about six months ago, I decided to give relationships another shot. So far, no luck.

"Have you seen her lately?" I asked Jake.

"Yeah..." Jake knew exactly who I was talking about. "We had a barbecue at my mom's place last Saturday. Kayden and Chloe were there too."

I nodded solemnly.

"And Rosalie too, of course," I added.

He nodded, his eyes searching my face. "Rosie, we called her." he said softly.

I nodded again. "She'd be six months old by now, wouldn't she?"

Jake replied with a quiet, hesitant voice. "Yes,"

"She looked like Asha so much," I said with a small smile. "I remembered seeing a photo of her when she was a baby. Rosalie looked just like her. Beautiful."

The look on Jake's face was as if he were silently asking, "Why the hell do you keep torturing yourself like this, man?"

Yeah... I knew that.

"She's still sitting there, staring at you," Jake said, tilting his head to look over my shoulder. I had a feeling he wanted me to change the subject, knowing I'd only end up plunging myself into endless misery again. Then I saw him stifle a laugh. "I think she was shocked you left just like that."

I tipped the beer bottle to my lips, refusing to look in the direction he was indicating. "She's the last one. I give up."

Jake suddenly looked serious for a while, before he asked, "Can I ask you one thing?"

"Shoot," I said, taking another swig of my beer.

"Why is it," Jake asked, his tone curious, "that you've never dated women with black hair? Not even a casual fling?"

It took me a moment to process the question, but I knew exactly what he was getting at—why I avoided anyone who looked like Vanessa. When I finally spoke, I told him the truth. "Because it just reminds me of all the bad decisions I've made in my life."

Jake didn't respond, though his expression grew thoughtful. We fell into a comfortable silence, me staring at my beer while he busied himself, scanning the room and checking on his employees.

"He makes her happy, doesn't he?" I asked the question I'd never dared to ask in all the years I'd been separated from Asha. I was afraid the answer would break me, especially knowing what I did to Asha was the complete opposite, and to this day, I still believe it would shatter me. But today, I needed to know.

"Yes... They're so in love." He answered quietly.

One thing about Jake—he never sugarcoated anything. He always told it like it was.

I rubbed my hands over my face with a sigh and stood up. "I'm gonna go," I said to him. "I won't be here for the next three weeks. Going away with my kids." I usually came to Jake's bar every Tuesday and Thursday night, and I always let him know if I planned to show up on any other night, just to avoid running into any of them .

"Okay, have fun."

I breezed past Amelia on my way to the front door, giving her a slight nod and ignoring her as she called my name.

Jake was right. I could never replace Asha. She was one of a kind, a gem that stood out in a sea of ordinary, unmatched and irreplaceable. No matter how many years passed, no matter how many women came and went, nothing could measure up to what I had with her. She was the exception, the one that made everything else feel insignificant.

The cold air hit me as soon as I stepped outside. I uncurled the collar of my coat, pulled my scarf tighter around my neck, and started walking. Unlike most nights, the streets were quiet, almost deserted. I made my way around the bar to the back parking lot, got into my car, and started the engine. But I didn't drive right away. Instead, I sat there in silence, my head resting on the headrest, and pulled my phone from my coat.

And opened my Instagram.

There were only two people I followed on my account: Chloe and Kayden. It was my way of staying connected to their lives. Chloe was always active, posting almost every day, while Kayden only updated twice or three times a month.

I chose Chloe's profile and scrolled back, going through posts from previous years.

I didn't know how many times I had seen this picture, but every time, the pain was just as sharp. Still, I couldn't stop looking at it. There was one where Asha was standing alone, looking so beautiful in her white wedding gown. The fabric flowed effortlessly around her, as if it had been poured onto her, molding perfectly to her form. Her hair was styled just right, soft curls cascading around her face, framing her exquisite features. She looked ethereal, and she was stunningly glowing.

And she looked so happy.

Sighing, my heart softened as I looked at her face, a deep longing settling in. I couldn't help but remember our own wedding, all those years ago. She was just as beautiful now as she was then. Time had only been kind to her, leaving no trace of wear. If anything, she seemed to have grown even more radiant with age.

Then, I chose the video of her with Kayden, Chloe, and Dennis, who had been Asha's Man of Honor. They were all laughing together, caught in a moment of pure joy. Asha's head was tipped back, her laughter so genuine and carefree. Every time I saw this, my eyes would start to sting. I missed that laugh—the sound of it, the warmth it brought. It had always been one of my favorite things about her, and now, it felt like something I would never hear again.

I scrolled up to the more recent years, stopping at the photos of Asha at her Bloom I didn't know what else to say.

"Aiden..." she started, her voice soft, then fell silent as she took a deep breath. "I'm sorry. For hurting you. I... I wasn't thinking clearly." She hesitated again, her eyes welling up. "I've wanted to call, wanted to see you, but I was afraid you wouldn't want anything to do with me anymore."

I stood there, still unsure of how to respond.

"Will you forgive me?" she asked, her golden eyes searching mine, filled with hope and shimmering with tears.

It took me a moment before my hand reached out, gently cupping her cheek. She leaned into it, closing her eyes as a single tear escaped from each corner. "From now on, we'll forget the past." My voice was steady, but inside, my mind was racing, replaying all we had been through—the good, the bad, everything in between. As the words left my mouth, a quiet realization settled over me. There was nothing left between us anymore. Even with her presence before me, it still wasn't enough to change my mind.

Vanessa was my past, and that's where she would stay. The reality was clear: what we had was over. It belonged to a time that no longer fit with whom I had become.

"We're going to look forward," I continued, "And carve our own separate paths. We'll learn from our past, and we'll both be better for it."

She looked up at me, tears flowing freely down her face. I gave her a small, reassuring smile. "Goodbye, Vanessa. I hope life is kind to you."

I slowly pulled my hand away from her and turned, pushing my cart towards the checkout. After paying, I walked out of the store and headed to my car, not once glancing back.

As I drove home, I left my past behind, focused only on the road ahead—the future, where my priority was being a better man for my kids and for myself.