Divorce To Date My Brother’s Bestfriend

Chapter 03

BLAISE’S POV

It’s almost fascinating, in a repulsive way to watch Oliver.

He’s got a diamond in his hand: a loyal wife and a daughter who looks at him like he’s the sun, and he’s tossing them aside for a handful of gravel.

My eyes shift to Skylar, and I’m even more disgusted by her pathetic attempt to manipulate the situation. She’s a textbook hypocrite, using her weakness to poke at someone else’s marriage and it makes me wonder if Oliver is truly blind or if he just likes the ego boost that comes with being a savior.

Sadly, I’ve always known Blair’s marriage was rocky even though she tried to hide it. I could see it in the way she pulled back, slowly isolating herself the moment she married him. She was always the kind of person who could light up a room with her infectious smile. But after she married Oliver… the spark in her eyes dimmed, little by little, until she became someone else entirely.

Now I understand why. It’s because of this coward and also because of her stubborn commitment to holding together a sinking ship, all for her daughter’s sake. It’s draining her, day by day, and the only thing I want to do is break Oliver’s jaw for it.

“I can see you’ve not changed one bit, Skylar,” Blair grinds out. “You’re still a snake.”

“Are you trying to judge me?” Skylar demands, her face paling even more. I didn’t think she could sink any lower, but she’s clearly determined to prove me wrong. “I’m a mother like you, okay? I’ve had a husband too. So just because my son and I aren’t in a good place right now, you don’t get to insult us for that.”

“Blair, take Hailey and go home,” Oliver orders. “We’ll talk about this when I get back.”

That’s it. I can’t stand it anymore.

I know Blair wants me to stay out of this. I know she does. But watching him dismiss her like that, like she’s a problem to be dealt with later makes my blood boil. I’m too close to losing my s**t to stay quiet now.

“Don’t you think you should apologize to your wife?” I cut in and every head turns toward me. I can feel Blair’s gaze on my back, but if she really wants me out of this, she’ll have to tell me herself. “Or do you not think you owe her one?”

Oliver steps closer, his expression going cold. “This is family business. You’re not family, so stay out of it.”

I laugh under my breath and jab a finger at him, then at Skylar. “Then I guess you consider that woman and her son family too?” I say flatly. “Is that why you’ve been an absent father to your own daughter?”

His eyes twitch, his hand curling into a fist. Blair takes Hailey from me and gently sets her on the ground beside her, one hand still resting protectively on her shoulder.

“Aren’t you ashamed,” Oliver sneers, “to go after a married woman and her child?”

“He’s a friend, Oliver,” Blair snaps. “And he’s better than the company you keep.”

I step closer.

“Listen to her,” I say. “Listen to your wife. And do you really think that if I wanted to ruin your marriage, if I wanted to take her from you…you’d be able to stop me?”

I’m fully aware Blair is staring at me now, but some things need to be said, and some men need to be put in their place.

“Do you even understand the value of what you have?” I continue. “Most men would kill for a woman like Blair. When she walks into a room, she pulls attention without trying. She’s one of the most successful women in New York, and you can’t even manage basic respect.”

I gesture toward Hailey. “You abandon your daughter on her birthday, play father to someone else’s kid, and then stand here acting offended.”

My jaw tightens. “Instead of owning your selfishness, you accuse me of meddling? Listen to me. Unlike you, I understand boundaries. I’ve never sought Blair out in private and I’ve never crossed a line. I respect the sanctity of a family far too much to behave like an orphan who doesn’t know where she belongs.”

“Enough!” Oliver yells, his whole body shaking, and eyes blazing with anger. No matter how much of a fool a man is, he can’t ignore the blunt truth when it’s shoved in his face.

I risk a glance at Blair. She’s staring at me with a mix of shock and hurt in her eyes. I hate that she’s had to endure this alone for years, that she’s carried all of this by herself.

Skylar is livid. The mask of self-pity she’s been wearing is gone, replaced by anger and she grips her son’s hand so tightly he’s practically cowering behind her.

I exhale.

“Look,” I say to Oliver, trying to salvage what’s left of Hailey’s day. “This is a family matter, like you said. Why don’t I take Skylar and Ezra out of the park so you can talk to your wife and Hailey can finish her birthday?”

Hailey hears my words and instantly separates from Blair, moving toward her dad with her little eyes glossy.

I hold up a hand, ready to make sure nothing else escalates. “Skylar, let—”

Ezra’s scream cuts through my words as he yanks his hand free from his mother and charges forward.

“No!” he shrieks. “Daddy is mine! You can’t take him!”

He barrels straight for Hailey, his tiny face twisted with a frightening level of anger for a child his size. “Go away! He’s my dad!”

Blair sees it too, but she can’t reach Hailey in time so I drop to my knees instinctively, catching Hailey under her arms and lifting her out of harm’s way.

Ezra, too fast and too little to stop, stumbles and falls face-first onto the ground. Skylar cries out as she rushes to him and I catch a glimpse of his bruised knee just as he bursts into tears.