Chapter 7.
Jayden’s eyes lit up the moment he saw the figure. Clutching it tightly, he jumped up with glee, but just as quickly, his smile faded. A sneer tugged at the comer of his lips as if he’d just figured something out.
“I knew it,” he scoffed. “That bitch just couldn’t let me go. She probably got this just to butter me up before leaving. She wants me to be grateful or something. Well, not happening. If she wants to come back, she better crawl back and beg.”
Nick said nothing. His silence made it clear that he agreed
Over the years, neither Nick nor Jayden had treated Ana well. Anyone else in her shoes would’ve snapped long ago. But not Ania. She took everything they dished out–quietly, obediently, like it didn’t even affect her. She kept cooking, cleaning, taking care of them like a machine on autopilot. She never once brought up divorce.
There was no way shed stay gone for long. Nick didn’t buy it. A few days, maybe a week and she’d be back.
The thought actually lifted his mood.”
Later that night, Nick was fast asleep when a sudden dryness in his throat woke him. Still half–asleep, he reached out to the nightstand for the usual glass of warm water. It had been there every single night for as long as he could remember.
Tonight, though, his fingers met nothing but cold wood.
He frowned and instinctively called out, “Aria, get me some water”
Silence.
“Ana,” he repeated, more impatiently this time. “I said get me some damn water”
Still nothing
Annoyed, he sat up and tumed to bark at her–only to find the other side of the bed empty. For a second, he just stared, then it hit him.
She was
gone. She had really left
Letting out a frustrated sigh, he ran a hand through his hair and got up to go get the water himself.)
As he stepped into the hallway, a sudden crack of thunder boomed overhead, making the walls tremble. The sky lit up in jagged flashes of lightning that streaked like spiderwebs across the clouds. A second later, rain came pouring down in heavy sheets, beating against the windows. Thunder and lightning roared in tandem, each one louder than the last
Nick barely flinched. Storms like this weren’t uncommon. He filled a glass and started back upstairs.
But as he passed by Jayden’s room, a terrified cry stopped him in his tracks.
His expression changed. He threw open the door and rushed in.
The lights were off and the room was bathed in eerie purple from the lightning outside. The effect was haunting. In the far comer, Jayden was curled up, trembling violently, his small body pressed against the wall
A pang of worry hit Nick. He crossed the room and crouched down. “Jayden, it’s okay. Daddy’s here. Don’t be scared.““”
But Jayden’s eyes widened in panic. He shoved Nick away and scrambled into the closet, his voice trembling and incoherent as out, “Don’t come near mel Stay away! Stay away!”
Nick blinked in shock.
He knew Jayden had always been a little scared of thunderstorms, but this? This was a full–blown breakdown.
he cried
He took a deep breath and tried again, his voice gentle. “Jayden, it’s me. Daddy. I’m not gonna hurt you, Come on, let’s go to my room. You’ll feel safer there.”
At the word Daddy, something in Jayden’s eyes softened. Slowly, tentatively, he reached his hand out
Just then, another deafening boom of thunder tore through the sky and Jayden jerked back like he’d been electrocuted. He snatched his hand away and burst into loud, panicked sobs.”
“I want Mommy Mommy Mommy”
Nick’s jaw clenched. His patience was wearing thin
He stepped forward and tried to pull Jayden out of the closet. “Jayden, stop crying. Come with me.”
The moment his hand touched the boy, a sharp pain shot through his wrist. He yelped and looked down–Jayden had sunk his teeth into his arm, biting down with all his strength.
Blood began to dnp from the wound.
“Dammit–Jayden Nick wrenched his arm back, finally prying the bay’s teeth off him.
Another flash of lightning lit up the room like a strobe light. In that brief second, Nick saw his son’s face–eyes wide with terror, lips trembling, blood at the corner of his mouth &
“Get away from me!” Jayden screamed “I want my mom! I want my mom“:
Nick just stood there, drenched in shadows and guilt. And for the first time in a long time. he had no idea what to say!
