Chapter 94
Ivan, sensing my hesitation, asked cautiously, “Mom, is Dad really busy with work?”
Unable to lie, I crouched in front of him. “I’ll always be here for you, and I’ll always love you.”
Ivan asked no more questions. Picking up the cake, he said, “Mom, let’s make a wish and eat the cake. We don’t need to wait for Dad.”
Llit the candles and took a photo.
As I was about to post it on Facebook, I saw Molly’s update: “A romantic evening with my love.”
The accompanying photo showed a table laden with food from a fancy restaurant.
Although their faces weren’t visible, I noticed a wedding ring on the hand in the top right corner.
It was the ring I had chosen for Antonio when we married.
He always wore it on the pinky finger of his left hand, the finger that signified being single.
The irony was crushing.
On Ivan’s sixth birthday, Antonio was enjoying a candlelit dinner with his mistress.
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The pain and anger I’d been carrying suddenly dissolved into a quiet peace.
I liked Molly’s post and put my phone down.
“Happy birthday, Ivan.” I sang, and in the candlelight, Ivan closed his eyes and made a wish.
“My birthday wish is to be with Mom forever.”
Tears streamed down my face, my hand flying to my mouth to stifle a sob.
The urge to leave intensified.
“I’ll always be with you,” I said, holding Ivan close.
Neither of us mentioned Antonio again that night.
It felt as though it had always only been the two of us.
After Ivan fell asleep, I retrieved the divorce papers from the drawer.
At 2 AM, Antonio finally arrived.
Seeing the cake on the table, a flicker of regret crossed his face.
“Sorry, I forgot.”
It was ridiculous.
Was he claiming he hadn’t seen my messages?
I held out the divorce papers and flipped to the final page. “Sign this.”
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Before I could finish speaking, his phone rang.
Molly’s voice, laced with anxiety, filled the room. “Mr. Kaufman, I think my power is out. Could you come over and stay with me? I’m really scared.”
Antonio jumped up, his face etched with concern. “Don’t worry. I’ll be right there.”
He hung up, tossed the papers aside without a glance, and said,.
“We’ll deal with this later,” before rushing out the door.
Two weeks later, after I had completed the handover of my work.
Antonio approached me with an exquisitely wrapped gift box.
“I forgot to give this to Ivan for his birthday,” he said.
Two weeks late. He’d finally remembered.
I took the gift and unwrapped it–it was a toy Pit Bull Terrier.
Ivan was terrified of Pit Bulls.
When he was five, Antonio had taken him to an amusement park.
He’d let go of Ivan’s hand to greet a friend, and Ivan had gotten lost in the crowd.
When he was finally found, he was huddled on the roadside, trembling, having been frightened by a Pit Bull.
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Pit Bulls had been his worst nightmare ever since.
And Antonio thought this was an appropriate gift.
I took a deep breath and set the box aside.
“Thank you,” I said flatly.
Antonio frowned.
Then, as if just remembering, he said, “Molly’s power hasn’t been restored since Ivan’s birthday. I’m thinking of letting her stay with us.”
I forced a smile, “Where will Ivan and I stay?”
“Just take some time off. Pack a bag, and take Ivan somewhere for a few days,” Antonio said casually.
I stared at him, incredulous. “Are you kicking me and Ivan out for Molly?”
