Three Years in the Shadows

When I was born, Beth poured her heart and soul into her sketches for months and used the finest gold from the family’s vault to create the same locket.

However, I pawned it away to scrape money together for Tanya’s mother’s surgery.

The locket was gone for good.

I transferred the money straight to Tanya, sending her to foot her mother’s hospital bill.

Meanwhile, I was back in the streets, fulfilling delivery orders and passing out flyers.

One afternoon, I huddled on the curb, eating stale bread, when a Rolls-Royce pulled up right in front of me.

The car window rolled down, and tears streamed down Beth’s cheeks as she took notice of my sore hands.

Come home with me, Callum. Please.

“Are you going to ruin yourself for that girl? Is it worth throwing your life away?”

Hiding my hands behind my back, I said to Beth with a smile, “I’m not throwing my life away, Mom. I’m building something with my hands. Tanya is very talented. All she needs is a chance.”

Burning with rage, Darren jumped out of the car and slapped me in the face.

“You’re a lost cause. Why are you destroying yourself over a woman? I didn’t raise a son with no spine.”

My ears rang from the blow.

Caught in the moment, Darren pulled Beth back into the car.

Since then, I had never seen them in my life again.

I thought they had disowned me for good.

However, the locket today was clearly from Beth.

It was the same woman who begged and pleaded for my return home despite her broken heart.

She was reaching out to me, even when I hurt her. Even now, my child and I remained in her thoughts.

Only my mother would be there to pick up the pieces, time and again.

Yet now, Tanya mistook Beth’s sacrificial love for her lover boy’s romance.

It was the most absurd thing ever.

What on earth had I been holding onto these past three years?

“Don’t just stand there, Callum,” Tayna snapped with furrowed brows.

“Gavin just presented Sarah with an expensive gift. You’re the VP. Get the hint and toast him.”

She sounded bossy and entitled.

Her tone was no different from when she bossed me around in the office.

Gavin, glass in hand, smiled pretentiously.

“Don’t be a stranger, Callum. We’re all family here.”

Yeah, right.

Drawing a deep breath, I strode toward Tanya.

“Save me that look. Are we having a funeral here? Give that speech and stop making me look bad in front of the guests.”

As the scowl on Tanya’s face deepened, I rubbed the plain band on my ring finger.

We bought the ring from the flea market on the day we got our marriage license.

The band was nothing more than a few bucks.

The ring had stayed on my finger for the last three years.

I had never taken it off, not while washing cars, hauling freight, or cooking in grease.

The band was battered and tarnished, a reflection of our pathetic marriage.

The matching ring on her finger was missing.

I broke out laughing.

Pinching the ring, I gave it a violent tug.

Tanya was taken aback.

“What are you doing?”

The ring, worn for years, was stuck on my calloused finger, scraping my raw skin.

Not stopping for a breather, I yanked the ring out.

“Clang!”

I tossed the band aside.

The ring, a witness to my quiet nights of waiting, fell into the champagne tower.

Droplets of the alcohol splashed across Gavin’s expensive suit.

Silence filled the air.

The smile on Gavin’s face froze.

Tanya jolted to her feet and looked at me in disbelief.

“What on earth are you doing, Callum? Have you lost your mind?”

After a deep breath, I could feel the heavy weight on my chest lifted.

Meeting her frantic gaze, I responded calmly, “You’re right, Ms. Cox. I won’t mind at all.

“I want out of this marriage.”