Chapter 35
Kyle
Now
Iglance at the security screen, but there’s no one on the front porch so I open the door to get a better look.
As I step outside, my foot connects with something, almost sending it into the garden.
Picking up the white envelope, I turn it over to find my name printed on the front.
I step back inside and close the door behind me, opening the envelope and pulling out the contents.
There’s a folded piece of white paper with something thicker inside. Unfolding it, my eyes widen at the image staring back at me. It’s a photo of James kissing another man. A very young man by the looks of it.
There are other photos too, and, as I flick through them, a smile spreads across my face. I have evidence and a bargaining chip. Or blackmail even, if it comes down to it. There’s a message on the back:
I hope this is what you need to divorce that motherfucker and clean him out.
Bren. I can almost hear his deep gravelly voice saying the words. It brings tears to my eyes knowing he’s still thinking of me and wanting to protect me. Even if it’s only from afar.
It shifts something inside me, giving me a sense of peace. Bren may never return to my side, but I know in my heart he’ll always love me. And maybe that will have to be enough.
On Saturday morning, Lu and I arrive at the new house shortly before 9:30.
All the new furniture is scheduled for delivery between ten and two and I don’t want to risk missing one.
It’s Lu’s first time seeing the new place, and I’m nervous about how she’s going to react moving from a mansion by the beach to a modest suburban house.
I could’ve spent more, but without knowing how expensive my legal fees might be and what I’ll be awarded in the divorce settlement, it’s best to be frugal.
“Is it this one?” Lu asks, pointing to the house in front of us as she closes the car door.
“Yep, this is it. What do you think? I know it’s small.”
“It looks nice, Dad. The garden is pretty, and it has a cool vintage vibe.”
She’s not wrong. It’s a charming weatherboard cottage that has been beautifully restored.
Painted in crisp white with forest green window frames and trim, complete with a wraparound front porch perfect for summer nights.
It’s rather romantic, the sort of place I can imagine an author writing a bestseller.
We wander up the front path and I fumble around with the keys, not yet familiar with the locks. With the door finally open, I stand aside for Lu to enter first.
She steps into the small entrance foyer, and I follow behind as she continues into the living space, her eyes scanning the room.
“Dad, it’s really nice. The floorboards look super old, but somehow it makes it look really cute.
And it’s got a fireplace, too.” Lu strolls through to the kitchen, which has been renovated in the farmhouse style.
“Come and look at the bedrooms,” I suggest. “It has three—so you have two to choose from.”
Lu chooses the larger of the two—no surprise there—and is extremely happy with the jack and jill bathroom, which she immediately refers to as her ensuite.
She turns to me, smiling. “Dad, you can let out that breath you’ve been holding. I like it. I really do. It’s close to school, and it’s plenty big enough for the two of us. And we won’t be here forever, anyway, will we?”
“I took a twelve-month lease. Maybe we’ll end up staying a little longer, but it will all depend on how long Papa draws out the divorce settlement. But once it’s over, we’ll see what we can afford to buy.”
Lu steps closer and wraps her arms around my waist, pressing her cheek to my chest. It reminds me of when she was a little girl in pigtails, and I cradle her gently, so grateful to have this connection back.
Uprooting her life with little warning is far from ideal, and I can only pray I’m not causing her long-term harm.
The last thing I want is for her to be a pawn in my divorce with James.
“We’ll be okay, Dad,” she says, looking up at me. “I’ll be okay. You worry too much.” I drop a kiss to the top of her head, wanting very much to believe her.
As the deliveries start to arrive, I give her creative control, letting her decide where all the furniture should go because I want this to feel like her home.
She smiles and chatters away, genuinely seeming to enjoy herself.
Tomorrow we’ll return and continue to set up, and I’ll put together my new bed.
All of Lu’s furniture will go on the moving truck along with our clothes and other personal effects next weekend.
As the removalists load the last of our things onto the truck, I can barely stand from exhaustion.
Yesterday was one of the most harrowing days of my entire life; I told James that Lu and I were moving out.
It would’ve been nice to tell him when we were ready to walk out the door, but I needed to pack all our things and there was no way to do that in secret.
There was yelling and doors slamming and direct threats. Lu had been so strong, standing her ground, and looking her father straight in the eye as she told him she wanted to leave. I was so proud of her but utterly devastated that she’d had to witness—yet again—the shit show that was our marriage.
I haven’t mentioned to James that I know he’s been cheating on me, but it has been on the tip of my tongue many times. My plan is to hold onto the information for as long as I can. It’s the best bargaining chip I have, and the longer James is in the dark, the better.
Nathan, his wife Kylie, and their eldest, Jayden, are meeting us at the new house to help unpack. It’s a good feeling to have family back in my life once again and for Lu to have a cousin around who is her age. It gives me hope that I’m moving in the right direction.
Lu exits the house carrying her last box so I hand her my keys and tell her to wait in the car. Heading back inside for the last time, I find James seated at his office desk, head down, eyes on his laptop screen.
“We’re leaving now, but I’ll be in touch to work out visitation arrangements.
” I pause, but James continues typing, not even bothering to turn around and face me.
“Could you also remember to pass on your lawyer's details so I can give them to mine. From now on, I think it’s best if we let them handle all communication.”
James slowly swivels in his chair, a sneer settling over his face as ice cold eyes meet mine.
“Whatever you say, Kyle,” he drawls sarcastically.
“We both know you’ll come crawling back with your tail between your legs.
You can’t survive without me.” He stands before continuing.
“You’ve sat around on your ass like a little princess all these years.
You’ve got no job, no talent, and no class.
I guess you were nothing but a gold digger after all. ”
I take a deep breath, trying to keep my true feelings off my face. There’s no way I’m letting him get under my skin now, not when I’m minutes away from freedom. “Think whatever you like James, I don’t give a fuck.” I turn to leave, but he just can’t keep his damn mouth shut.
“You’re not getting Lucinda, you crazy fuck. I should’ve had you locked up in a psych ward years ago. And don’t think for a minute you’re getting any of my money.”
I halt in the doorway, heat whipping up my spine.
Then something snaps. Without giving James any time to react, I charge across the room and shove him down into his chair. My arms bracket him, caging him in, our faces mere centimetres apart.
“You think you’re so fucking smart, don’t you?
” I say, my voice trembling. “But you’re missing one little detail.
And that’s the video I have of you and your little blonde slut.
” James’s eyes widen, almost comically so, and I have the urge to laugh.
“Yeah, you know what I’m talking about. You, on your knees, sucking his cock.
You, getting fucked facedown over your desk.
You, begging to have your sloppy old hole filled. Yeah, I got it all.”
All the blood drains from his face, and there’s a flicker of fear in his eyes.
“So, my dearest husband, let me tell you how this is going to play out. Because unless you’d like the partners at your law firm to see you moan like a little bitch and get your hairy hole pounded, I’ll be getting primary custody of Lu, a fifty-fifty asset split, and the divorce papers signed the exact day we’ve been separated for twelve months. How’s that for fucking crazy?”
I straighten up and step back, a smug smile curling at my lips. James’s face has turned tomato red, but he knows it’s all over.
I walk out of that house with my head held high and drive towards my future.
A few days later, I’m wrapping up my gym workout when my phone rings with the call I’ve been waiting for. “Kyle Davies speaking,” I answer.
“Kyle, I’m glad I caught you. It’s Madeline Winters.”
My heart pounds. I want this so damn much. “Hi, Madeline.”
“I’m just calling to give you the great news. You’ve got the job and, as per your request, we can put you exclusively on day shifts. We want to support our single parent workers, so I was able to shuffle the roster and make it happen.”
I’m tempted to fist pump the air in the middle of the gym, but I manage to contain myself. “Thank you, Madeline. Really, thank you for giving me this opportunity.”
“You’re most welcome, Kyle. I’ll email you through all the information and the paperwork, and you can start next week once we get your uniform sorted. I’ll talk to you soon.”
“Sounds perfect. I can’t wait to start. Have a great day.”
“You too, Kyle. Bye.”
Ending the call, I plop down onto the nearest weight bench, my legs like jelly. I fucking did it! Once I feel stable again, I grab my gym bag and head outside, shooting off a text to Lu as I go. Which is why I almost walk straight into…Chris.
“Kyle, can I speak to you for a minute?”