“She’ll abandon you, and who’ll be there? Me. Only me.”
“Loving my wife doesn’t mean I love you less,” Roy said.
“Then prove it. But if you walk out that door with her, and don’t bother coming back.”
The silence became unbearable.
A familiar dread settled in my chest.
Usually, this was when Roy surrendered.
He’d say “Mom, let’s not do this,” and I’d endure another year of insults to maintain the peace.
I’d experienced that pattern countless times.
But this time was different.
“You deliberately hurt Vanessa,” he said. His voice was shaking, but he kept going. “You tried to destroy my marriage. I won’t excuse that. Not for anyone. Not even you.”
“I’m your mother.”
“You didn’t lose your son when I married Vanessa, Mom. But you’re losing my trust right now.”
“You owe me your loyalty!”
