I adjusted my hoodie, hoping to mask the evidence of my recent struggles. Instead of looking like I'd just wrestled with death itself, I aimed for something resembling normalcy. “Why are you wearing a beanie, Mommy?” Noah asked, his eyes narrowing suspiciously. We were Skyping after I had postponed our chats far too many times. My fatigue had felt overwhelming, leaving me unable to stay awake for more than a few minutes. But today was different; I felt somewhat restored. I leaned back against the headboard, letting the warmth of the beanie cover the bandage hidden beneath it. Noah remained blissfully ignorant of the truth surrounding my condition, and I intended to keep it that way. “It’s a little chilly today,” I fibbed, my heart flickering with guilt. Lying felt like a betrayal, but I couldn’t risk worrying him. “We have a heater, Mom. You could've just turned it on,” he challenged, his tone steeped in skepticism. “It’s not working,” I replied, mentally kicking myself for my subpar excuses. How was I supposed to explain, after all? Especially after Rowan had ventured to usurp my peace with his persistent meddling? The last thing I wanted was to drag Noah into this mess. “Okay then,” he mumbled, but I could sense the doubt flickering in his eyes. “So, what did you do today?” I asked, desperately redirecting the conversation. His life was a beacon of joy for me, even from a distance. Protecting that light was my highest priority. A moment later, his frown transformed into an energetic grin. “I saw dolphins today! I even swam with them... it was so fun!!” His exuberance was contagious, igniting the corners of my heart with warmth. “Oh, how I wish I could have seen that!” I sighed, the longing palpable in my voice. “Don’t worry, Mommy! Grandma took a video. She said she’ll send it to you!” I nodded, grateful for Letty's efforts to keep me informed. I had begrudgingly accepted the phone that Rowan had gotten for me, only to discover he’d not only purchased the device but also replaced my sim card. I had attempted to keep my distance from him, taking every measure to avoid conversations that would unveil the intimate chaos of my life. Rowan called occasionally to check on me, but I kept those calls short and impersonal. I just wanted to exist quietly, free from any disturbance caused by him or Emma—a chilling specter of my past. “Mommy, why was Emma at Dad’s house?” Noah’s innocent question jolted me back to reality. “What do you mean?” I asked, trying to maintain my composure. “I skyped Dad yesterday, and she was there, sitting so close to him, holding his hand… I didn’t like it,” he declared. The frown that creased his forehead mirrored his father’s. The truth behind his words was a knife to my heart. I wanted to dismiss the ache coursing through me, but it lurked just beneath the surface. The sight of Rowan already entwined with Emma reopened old wounds I had fought so hard to keep sealed. Why do we hold on to the illusion of moving on, only for the truth to crash down and mercilessly amplify the pain? “I don’t know, my love. You’ll have to ask your dad,” I murmured, struggling to steady my trembling voice. I wasn’t going to shed light on the situation to him; if Rowan was bold enough to flaunt his new relationship in front of our son, then he could be the one to clarify those entanglements. “I want you and Dad back together. So we can be a family again.” His words came with a weight that threatened to crush me, tearing apart my already fragile heart. “Noah, you have to understand that your father and I are just too different to stay together,” I replied gently. We had put on a façade, pretending for Noah’s sake that love still flourished between us. In reality, our marriage had devolved into a miserable act, yet Noah, blessedly naive, remained unaware of the truth. Reflecting on the past, I often wished I had refused Rowan when he suggested marriage after our whirlwind of pregnancy-induced chaos. My heart had been young and idealistic, convinced that love could bridge any divide. But the truth was harsh—Rowan had locked away his heart, handing the keys to Emma. Even in our most intimate moments, there was a hollowness to our connection. While my heart soared and craved intimacy, for him, it had been merely the fulfillment of biological necessity. We had never made love—not truly. What we had experienced was a shallow act of lust, underscored by his carefulness to avoid repeating his mistakes. “Don’t you love him?” Noah’s question felt like a punch, recalling the same query he had directed at his father just weeks ago. I hesitated, wanting to shield him from the truth but knowing I couldn’t continue lying. “I do, but sometimes, loving someone isn’t enough. You might not understand it now, but one day, when you’re older, you will.” It was the only answer I could muster, and I silently wished he would never have to endure the heartache I was feeling now. A sudden knock at my open door pulled my focus back to reality. “There’s someone here to see you, Ava,” Lydia announced. After much persuasion, I had finally gotten her to call me by my name instead of the formal titles which felt distant. I was grateful to Letty for encouraging me to welcome Lydia into my home; she had become a crucial pillar of support, even tackling some of the chores that weighed me down. I could barely imagine how I would have managed without her presence. “Who is it, Mommy?” Noah asked, a hint of curiosity coloring his voice. “Just a nice lady named Lydia. She’s here to help with chores,” I explained, my mind racing as I wondered who had stopped by today. If my instincts were right, it could either be Letty or Ethan—both had made it a point to check in on me regularly. “Why do you need help? You’ve never needed it before. You’re super Mom!” His tone flirted with suspicion. His words rang with truth, a sentiment that stung. I had always done everything on my own, even within the vast walls of Rowan’s mansion. I believed that proving my independence would earn me a place in his heart—not just as a wife, but as a partner. But I had been naïve, thinking that my efforts would overshadow Emma, who seemed to bumble through life without a care. “Mommy?” Noah’s voice filtered through my thoughts, breaking the daze I had gotten lost in. I sensed his desire for answers, but before I had to respond, the last visitor I wanted to see stepped into the room. Travis stood awkwardly, and the weight of my discontent returned. “Noah, I’ll call you back… your uncle just arrived, and I need to talk to him,” I said, glancing back to him as I anticipated his dissatisfied sigh. “Okay then, Mommy,” he replied reluctantly before signing off. The moment the screen went dark, my forced smile slipped away. “I thought I made it clear, I never want to see you again,” I stated, hardening my heart against the flood of emotions that threatened to overcome me. Travis shifted uncomfortably, his feet shuffling as he gathered the courage to speak. “You’re my sister. I came to see how you’re doing…” A dry laugh escaped my lips. “Sister? Really, Travis? Do you honestly think that applies anymore? For the past nine years, I haven’t felt like family—hell, it’s been longer than that if we’re being honest. You made sure I was aware of my place.” The pain of rejection resurfaced, twisting my heart as I labeled the void they’d dug into my chest. The affliction of being cast out by not just my husband but my family was a wound that wouldn’t easily heal. “Ava…” he started. I cut him off before he could continue. “I stayed away from your sister and her perfect little life, just like you asked. Now I’m asking you to do the same. Stay away from me, and we won’t have any issues.” “But we’re family,” he protested, frustration edging his voice. I raised a hand to halt him. “Let’s not go there. You, your mother, and Emma are family. I’m not a part of that, and I’ve never been, thanks to you all reminding me every chance you got.” Saying it out loud hurt like hell. The truth stung, but it was liberating. They had excluded me time and time again until I became nothing more than a haunting presence in their lives. “You gave Letty a chance. Why can’t you give us one too?” His voice was tinged with anger, fury igniting beneath the surface. “Letty has been kind and supportive. Unlike all of you, she hasn’t treated me like garbage for the mistakes I made when I was young and foolish, blindly in love with someone who never saw me,” I replied, bitterness threading through my tone. I remembered Scarlet had exposed the truth to me when she mentioned how Travis confided in her when their bond became serious. She had noticed my absence from family meals and events, casting a glaring spotlight on my exile. “Please leave, Travis. Just don’t come back. Consider me dead and forget you ever had a sister named Ava.” With that, I turned away, dropping onto the bed, facing the wall as if it could shield me from the world. Silence enveloped the room, extending like a cold hand until I heard the shuffle of his footsteps retreating. Once he was gone, the floodgates broke. Silent tears soaked my pillow as I wept into the fabric, feeling every ounce of hurt crash over me like a relentless tide. They wanted too much from me. I had invested everything: my love, hopes, and dreams… I had persisted even as they treated me like an outcast. Now, when I had nothing left to offer, he dared to seek a place in my life? They had shattered me beyond repair, leaving me grasping for the pieces once more, but it was far too late.