Chapter 3

3.

The next day, Leopold kept his word. He canceled his meetings and took Aidan and me to a theme park.

He carried Aidan off the carousel, and the little boy giggled, hugging his neck tight.

The sun was blinding. It looked like the perfect picture of a loving father and son.

I thought about giving him one last chance.

"Daddy, I want to ride the roller coaster!" Aidan pointed at the tracks, waving excitedly.

Leopold was about to answer when his phone rang.

He glanced at the screen and walked to a quiet corner. His voice was low.

But I still heard the name "Bianca."

He walked back with an apologetic look. "There's an emergency at the office. I..."

"Just go," I interrupted, taking Aidan's water bottle. "Just remember to come back and pick us up early."

He blinked, clearly surprised that I was being so easygoing.

"Okay, you guys have fun. I'll be back as soon as I handle this."

After calming Aidan down, I took him to the bumper cars.

That's where I ran into the owner of the rhinestone necklace.

Bianca.

She was with a three or four-year-old boy who looked quite a bit like her.

The boy suddenly bumped into us, and the cotton candy in Aidan's hand fell to the dirt.

"Hey! Why did you do that?" Aidan's eyes turned red as he gave the boy a shove.

"You brat! How dare you push me?" The boy raised his foot to kick Aidan.

I immediately pulled Aidan behind me.

Bianca spoke up lazily. "Mrs. Sterling, they're just kids. Don't be such a stickler."

I noticed her hands were protectively covering her lower belly. A terrifying thought flashed through my mind.

"Ma'am, he ran into me and stepped on my candy," Aidan argued his case.

"It's just candy. I'll pay you back."

Bianca pulled out her wallet, tossed a ten-dollar bill on the ground, and sneered. "That's enough for several."

Fury surged through me. Just as I was about to snap, the man who supposedly had an "office emergency" appeared.

He looked at Bianca first, his voice dripping with concern. "Bianca, are you okay?"

Bianca shook her head, pouting pitifully. "Mr. Sterling, I just brought my brother out to play. I didn't expect..."

"What happened?" Leopold frowned at me, his eyes full of blame.

"Daddy, he bullied me!" Aidan ran over to grab his hand, but Leopold shoved him away.

"Aidan!" Leopold's voice boomed. "Did you start this? Apologize to him right now!"

Aidan froze. "I didn't do anything."

"I said apologize!" Leopold's temper flared. He swung his hand and slapped Aidan across the face.

The sharp crack echoed through the park.

Aidan clutched his cheek, staring at his father in disbelief. Tears streamed down his face, but he stubbornly refused to make a sound.

People around us began to whisper and point.

Bianca put on a fake concerned face. "Mr. Sterling, don't be angry. He's just a child."

"Leopold, shut your mouth!" I roared, rushing forward to pull Aidan into my arms.

Leopold flinched at my scream, his face turning an ugly shade of gray. "Sienna, have you had enough of making a scene?"

"Me? Making a scene?" I looked at him and started laughing. "Leopold, look closely. Your son was bullied, and you hit him without even asking what happened?"

He opened his mouth to speak, but I didn't give him the chance.

I slapped Bianca across the face. Hard.

It was louder than the strike he had given our son.

Leopold immediately shielded Bianca, and she once again covered her stomach.

In that instant, everything became crystal clear.

Leopold was still trying to act tough. "Aidan was in the wrong too."

I cut him off. "His only mistake was having a father like you."

I picked up the shaking Aidan. "The divorce papers, Leopold. I'll sign them today."

His face went deathly pale. He reached out to grab me. "Sienna, let me explain."

I dodged him and walked toward the exit.

It was over.

Nine years of marriage ended right there in the dirt.