By The Time He Came Back Begging, I Had Already Moved On

AUDREY POV

Theo didn't even glance up from where he was massaging Lara's shoulders. "What now, Audrey? Switching tactics? You think now that you can't use Liam to guilt-trip me anymore, you'll try threatening to leave instead?"

For the past year, I had watched Liam's heart slowly give up on life. Every single night, I'd sat by his bedside counting his labored breaths, praying each one wouldn't be his last.

The doctors had been brutally clear - his heart was beyond saving, but his father's love might give him strength to fight a little longer.

I had begged Theo to read Liam just one bedtime story. To hold his tiny hand during the terrifying medical procedures. To tell our dying son that his daddy loved him enough to try.

"Stop using that sick kid to manipulate me, Audrey," Theo had said every time with disgust. "I see right through your pathetic emotional games. You think I'm stupid enough to fall for your crocodile tears?"

In his twisted mind, every plea for Liam had been a scheme. Every tear I'd shed watching our son fade away had been an act. Even Liam's final birthday wish had been nothing more than my manipulation tactic.

After ten years of marriage, that's all I was to him - a desperate woman using her dying child to get attention.

I blinked back the tears burning behind my eyes. "Think whatever you want, Theo. I'm done."

I turned toward the door, dragging my suitcase behind me, but Lara's sweet voice stopped me cold.

"Oh no, Theo! Didn't you pinky-promise Liam you'd take him to see the pandas at the zoo? You didn't break a promise to a little boy just for my silly graduation trip, did you?"

Theo's voice transformed, becoming gentle and patient. "Sweet girl, don't worry about broken promises to children. They forget everything anyway. Your graduation was a once-in-a-lifetime moment. Zoo animals will still be there whenever."

Children forget everything.

My throat closed completely. Liam had remembered every single broken promise. He'd kept a notebook under his pillow listing all the places Daddy had promised they'd go "next weekend" or "next month." The zoo was number one on his list, written in his shaky handwriting with little heart doodles around the edges.

Theo grabbed my wrist again. "Audrey, stop. It's almost midnight. This tantrum over one missed zoo day is getting ridiculous. Liam will survive waiting a little longer."

How could he be so blind? How could he stand there planning Liam's next activities when there would be no next day?

His eyes finally focused on my face, taking in my red, swollen eyes and tear-stained cheeks. For the first time all evening, something like concern appeared across his face.

"Look, fine. I'll clear my schedule next month, alright? We'll do the whole zoo thing, maybe even that aquarium he keeps whining about. Hell, we'll make it a whole weekend. Will that stop this insane jealousy fit?"

Next month.

If he had cared just a little bit more, maybe he'd know there was no next month to plan for.

I yanked my hand free, my voice shaking with barely controlled rage. "There is no next month, Theo!"

He stared at his empty hand, genuinely surprised. The woman who had spent ten years begging for his attention was finally walking away, and he couldn't comprehend it.

I grabbed my suitcase but he tried to follow me, "Audrey, wait—"

Then Lara dropped to her knees on the floor, her hands clasped together like she was praying. "Please, Audrey! I'm so sorry!I never meant for any of this to happen! I just... I just needed Theo so badly after graduation!"

Theo immediately rushed to her side. "Lara, get up. You don't need to beg anyone for forgiveness. You're the victim here. You shouldn't have to kneel on the floor like some kind of servant just because my wife can't handle seeing me care about someone other than her."

Lara whispered through her fake tears. "But it's all my fault, Theo. I shouldn't have asked you to choose between us. Even though I always suspected Liam was just being overly dramatic about his heart thing for attention, I still shouldn't have made you pick sides..."

The room went silent except for the sound of my blood rushing in my ears.

Before I could think, before I could stop myself, my hand connected with Lara's cheek with a crack that echoed through the room.