Chapter 3

Her expression softened with sadness, watching him go without a second glance. Carter excused himself to prepare for school and returned a few minutes later.

“See you tonight, Mom. Do you think we’d have some time to work on my science project?” he asked, his cheerful attitude instantly lifting her spirits.

“Of course, sweetie. Have a good day,” she replied.

After he left, she searched every nook and cranny where she knew he hid his treasured items, such as his porn, and finally discovered the odd object. Running late herself, she dashed to her room and stowed it in her security safe, confident it was secure with her the only one with the combination.

By evening time, when she helped her son with his studies, she had all but forgotten about the device, enjoying the time working with Carter.

A week later, at breakfast, Carter hesitantly asked, “Mom, have you seen that thing Mrs. Ferguson gave me? Did you maybe pick it up when you were cleaning my room?” His anxious expression betrayed his fear that his mother might discover his hidden porn.

“No, I haven’t,” she replied, maintaining a calm and neutral expression. Carter wanted to press further but hesitated, fearing that his mother might become suspicious of what he was hiding in his room. As the weeks passed, they gradually forgot about the device, continuing their lives as usual.

Serena devoted all her spare time to Carter, pouring her love and attention into their bonding. Her husband only appeared sporadically, usually just long enough to have his laundry done before disappearing again. They hadn’t shared a kind word or a bed for over a year. He made no effort to mask the lingering scent of another woman on his clothes, a silent confession she chose to ignore. For now, her priority remained unchanged: keeping Carter safe and secure until he was ready to go out on his own.

Carter recognized the strain in his parents’ relationship and instinctively sought refuge in his room whenever his father was around. He knew there was no risk of being disturbed since his father had never shown the slightest interest in his school activities or made any effort to spend time with him on weekends. To his father, he was little more than an afterthought, a reality Carter had long since accepted.

A year passed with little change until tragedy struck. Serena’s father was killed in a car crash, sending shockwaves through the family. The grief proved too much for her mother, whose already fragile health deteriorated rapidly under the weight of loss. The stress culminated in a severe heart attack, leaving her even weaker and more vulnerable.

When Serena contacted her husband, who was on a two-week solo vacation supposedly to refresh from working so hard, he declined to return for the funeral, dismissing it as an inconvenience. After the services, Serena worked with her sister, Jackie, to handle their father’s estate and care for their grieving mother.

Exhausted from juggling work and family responsibilities, she returned home one evening to find her husband, Dave, waiting for her. Without a word of concern for her parents or even a passing acknowledgment of her well-being, he simply stated, “Serena, things have changed, and it’s time for us to file for divorce. I’m sure this isn’t a shock to you. I’ve been seeing someone else, and we’ve decided to get married.”

Serena wasn’t surprised that she didn’t shed a tear as he finally admitted the truth, but a deep sense of regret settled in: an acknowledgment that their marriage was truly over. She had met his secretary before and recognized her perfume on his clothes when she did his laundry, leaving no doubt about who the other woman was. Fixing him with a sharp gaze, she asked accusingly, “So, you’ve been shacked up with Sharon these past two weeks? How long has this been going on? Two years?”

He sat dumbfounded, caught off guard that she already knew exactly who he was seeing. As he silently traced back to the moment he first hooked up with his young receptionist, he let out a small sigh and nodded. “Something like that,” he admitted. “I’m sorry, Serena, but we’re just more compatible. This feels like the right direction for me.”

“You couldn’t even cut your little getaway short, when cheating on your wife, to pay respects to my father?” she asked, her voice laced with bitterness. “And to think, he actually liked you. It broke my mother’s heart not seeing you there, but then again, your priorities have always been yourself. So really, I shouldn’t be surprised.”

“I’m sorry, Serena. I liked him too, but something important came up during our vacation, and I couldn’t leave,” he said, his voice trailing off as if he’d revealed too much.

Serena’s eyes narrowed. “And what exactly was more important?” she demanded, her tone rising.

Dave hesitated before admitting, “Sharon told me she’s pregnant, and we wanted to spend the two weeks alone, celebrating.” The moment the words left his mouth, he knew it was a mistake.

Serena’s eyes narrowed, her breath catching in her throat. “Celebrating?” she echoed, her voice trembling with anger. “While I was burying my father and taking care of my grieving mother, you were off playing house with your mistress?”

Dave exhaled, rubbing the back of his neck. “Serena, I...”

“Just stop, for Christ’s sake,” she interrupted, her voice sharp and unwavering, barely restraining the anger surging within her. “I don’t want to hear another excuse. You’ve made your choices, Dave. Now you can live with them.”

He stood and turned to leave. “I’ve already packed my things and loaded them into my car. My attorney will be in touch. I don’t want this to turn into a messy divorce, Serena. I’ll make sure you receive your fair share.”

Serena stayed silent, stunned by his audacity at acting as if he were taking the high road after betraying her.

She remained at the table, the crushing weight of her mother’s condition and the collapse of her marriage pressing down on her. Her chest tightened, and a deep ache spread through her as the stress became unbearable. Unable to hold it in any longer, she buried her face in her hands, her shoulders shaking as silent, uncontrollable sobs escaped her.