Chapter 02
1152 Words
BLAIR'S POV
If someone had told me this morning that my husband, the same man who ditched me for an important deal, would end up at the same amusement park with another woman and a child in his arms, I would have laughed in disbelief. I would have said, no way. I would have told them Oliver would never betray his own daughter like that.
But the nightmare is right in front of me, and it’s hard to even breathe.
The boy presses his cheek against Oliver’s jaw, his small hands clutching him while Skylar wipes sweat from his forehead, smiling too easily. They’re all wearing matching headbands, and it’s the picture of a perfect little family.
In all my years as his wife, Oliver has never looked at Hailey the way he looks at that boy.
My jaw clenches, rage filling every inch of me.
I don’t even notice Hailey tapping my hand until I hear her small, innocent voice.
“Mummy… did I do something wrong? Why won’t Daddy spend time with me?”
Something cracks inside me.
I squat beside her, cupping her face in my hands. Her eyes are red, lips trembling as she fights back tears. My little girl, just five, has already learned to hold back her emotions because of him.
“You did nothing wrong,” I say, my own lips trembling but more from rage than sadness. “You’re perfect. The best thing that’s ever happened to me.”
“Then why is Daddy there instead of with us?” she asks. “Does he hate us?”
Blaise immediately lifts her off the ground, wrapping her in his arms. I tilt my head to look up at him and his face is a storm of anger. I feel that same anger, the same rage.
My fingers ball into fists as years of Oliver’s negligence, his endless excuses, and his absences flashes in my mind. Has this been it all along? All those times he was too busy at work, was that just his way of being with Skylar and her child?
“I’m closing a deal tomorrow. It’s non-negotiable.” His words from last night keep looping in my head, over and over.
And yet, here he is.
I don’t even notice my feet moving until I’m walking toward them, each step making my fists clench tighter.
Close enough to them, Oliver lifts his gaze and freezes when he meets mine. For a moment, his face goes pale, like he’s caught somewhere between disbelief and panic. Then his attention shifts to Blaise holding Hailey and that shock turns into anger. Wait… anger?
“What are you doing here?” he demands before I even speak.
I scoff. I really can’t believe this. I must be dreaming. A very, very bad dream.
“Are you asking me that?” I snap. “Unlike you, I’m actually supposed to be here with our daughter. Our daughter.” I let my gaze flick to Skylar and the boy. “Unless… the deal you’re closing is with her and that child. Care to explain what exactly you’re doing here?”
Oliver’s face twitches and he lifts a finger toward Blaise. “I told you not to expose our daughter to other men. Why is he here?”
They must be selling audacity somewhere in this park, because clearly, he has bought a lifetime supply.
“Exc—” Blaise starts, but I touch his arm, stopping him.
I step closer, fixing my gaze on the ugly picture in front of me. “Do you know Hailey cried this morning when she realized you were gone?” I ask. “How would you even know who I expose her to when you’re never around?!”
My voice rises, and a few people glance our way, but I don’t care. I point at him, my hand shaking. “It’s your daughter’s birthday, your daughter! And this is where I find you? Playing father to someone else’s kid?”
His jaw tightens. “That’s not what this is.”
“Oh?” I tilt my head. “Because from where I’m standing, it looks exactly like that.”
He gestures to Skylar, who wears an innocent, almost pleading look. “You know her situation, you know she deserves some help. Okay? Unlike both of us, she has no one. She’s raising her child alone, and the least we can do is show some sympathy… as friends.”
I blink at him. “Sympathy?” I tilt my head, letting out a sharp scoff. “Did you just say sympathy? So you want to help a friend while leaving me to raise Hailey on my own? Is that it? Tell me, when was the last time you even came with me to a checkup? Or bought her a single toy? Heck, almost all her toys are from Jack and this man” I glance at Blaise “who you apparently think shouldn’t even be around her.”
“You’re being unreasonable,” Oliver snaps, shielding Skylar’s child’s ears with his hand. “And you’re drawing attention to us.” He shoots me a look full of disappointment, and it makes my skin crawl. “I never knew you could be so cold toward Skylar. You know better than anyone that she’s in need of help.”
Oh, I know Skylar well, a lot more than anyone actually. Once upon a time, she used to be my friend and I met Oliver through her because they’ve been childhood friends. And I know her well enough to see through the act, to spot the pretense behind that fake, miserable look she’s perfected.
“Oliver, you’re—”
“Please don’t fight because of my Ezra,” Skylar interrupts, snatching her boy from Oliver and she holds him like we’re both threats. “It’s not his fault he got attached to Oliver as a father figure. His own dad…” she sniffles even though there’s no tears in her eyes. “His father was a very bad man and my boy was hurt.”
She glances at Oliver, then back at me, placing her hand lightly on his arm. “Oliver has been more than helpful to us, out of his good heart. You know… sometimes adults spend time together for… reasons you might not see. Even though he might spend a night with us, he really cares about his daughter, of course. I just hope you don’t get the wrong idea.”
He might spend a night with us.
The words pierces my mind like nails. I meet her eyes, and I don’t need to read between the lines. I know exactly what she’s implying, the meaning hiding beneath that pitiful, innocent tone.
“I can see you’ve not changed one bit, Skylar,” I grind out. “You’re still a snake.”
- Writer
