Chapter 3

3.

I dragged my suitcases all the way to the bus stop, my mind completely blank.

Going to my parents' place was my last resort, but reality dealt me another brutal blow.

My father sat on the sofa and said casually, "Why get a divorce? Kendra's business is booming right now. You have no idea how lucky you are!"

My mother chimed in immediately. "Your father is right, Garrett. A man needs to be open-minded. Don't go throwing around divorce over every little thing."

I couldn't help but scoff.

"Open-minded? She brought her side piece into our home, and my own son calls him dad. How much more open-minded do you want me to be?"

"How dare you speak like that!" My mother's tone turned sharp.

"Calling him a side piece sounds awful! We've met Holden before. He comes from a good background, and he's great to you and Rory. Stop being so paranoid."

I stared at them in disbelief.

"Are you serious right now? Kendra cheated on me, and instead of standing by me, you're telling me not to be paranoid?"

My voice shook with anger. "Are you two even my real parents?"

Just then, my younger brother Dustin poked his head out of his bedroom, looking annoyed.

"Bro, can you stop causing drama? Kendra promised to buy me an Audi once I get my driver's license. If you divorce her, who's going to buy my car?"

My mother added, "Exactly, Garrett. You haven't worked in years. You have zero income. If you get divorced, how do you plan to survive? Are you going to sponge off us old folks?"

My father nodded in agreement. "Besides, even if she did something wrong, isn't the child still yours? For the sake of the kid, you can't get divorced!"

Listening to them, my blood ran cold.

In their eyes, the humiliation and pain I suffered didn't matter at all.

All they cared about was Kendra's wealth and their own selfish interests.

I stared at them as if looking at a group of strangers.

Without uttering another word, I grabbed my bags and turned toward the door.

"If you still consider me your mother, you march right back to your wife!" my mother screamed behind me.

I didn't look back. I walked out into the cold night.