CHAPTER 70 - We need talk

The soft rays of the morning sun filtered through the curtains, casting a gentle glow over the room. I woke up, groggy, my body still heavy with exhaustion from the night before. My eyes fluttered open, and for a split second, I forgot where I was. It wasn’t until I felt the warmth of Jade’s tiny body against mine that the reality of the situation came rushing back. I had slept off in the nursery.

Panicking, I looked at Jade. Jade was still asleep in my arms, her small chest rising and falling with each gentle breath. I smiled down at her, the only pure thing in this whole mess. She was my reason for everything. For staying, for enduring, for fighting through the chaos.

Thank goodness she's okay. I thought I had lost my grip on you while sleeping.

“My baby, I can't keep pretending that I am okay with how things are. I can't let you grow up in a house where the only thing constant is the tension between your parents. I wouldn’t do that to you.” I whispered to her.

I stood up from the chair, being mindful of not disturbing Jade, and placed her in her crib. Her little fingers curled around the edge of the blanket, her face peaceful and serene. For a moment, I just stood there, watching her.

It breaks my heart that your life has to be this complicated, that the two people who should be your safe haven are locked in a marriage sealed by a contract.

*Sighs.

I went to my room and decided to take a shower.The hot water cascaded over me, washing away the remnants of sleep and, for a moment, the weight of the world. I allowed myself a few minutes of peace, a few minutes of not having to deal with anything or anyone. Just the sound of the water, the warmth, and the silence. But as the minutes passed, my thoughts crept back in. The feeling of being trapped. Of being manipulated. Of being caught between my past with Jayden and the future I wanted for Jade.

When I stepped out of the shower, I wrapped myself in a towel and went to the dresser to get dressed. I wasn’t sure what I was going to say, but I knew it was time. Time to take control of the situation. Time to set boundaries. Time to draw a line in the sand.

I dressed quickly, my movements sharp and deliberate. I had made up my mind. Today, I will speak my truth. Jayden needed to know exactly where I stood, what I was willing to do, and what I wasn’t.

Just as I finished dressing, I heard the faint sound of footsteps outside the door. My heart skipped a beat, knowing who it was. A moment later, the door creaked open, and Jayden stepped inside, carrying a tray with breakfast. His tired eyes met mine, and he offered a small smile, but there was something behind it. Something I couldn’t quite place.

“Morning,” he said, his voice hoarse, as though he hadn’t slept much. “I thought you might need some food before the day gets started.”

I nodded, forcing a smile as I sat down on the edge of the bed. “Thanks.”

He set the tray down on the nightstand and lingered by the door, his eyes scanning me, almost like he was waiting for something. I didn’t know what he was expecting.

“Everything okay?” he asked, his tone hesitant, like he was afraid of what I might say. “You’re quiet this morning.”

Does he expect me to wake up and start yelling?

I didn’t answer immediately. Instead, I picked up the glass of juice he’d brought me, taking a sip. The cool liquid calmed my nerves, but only for a moment. I could feel the weight of the conversation pressing down on me, and I knew I had to say something before the silence became unbearable.

“Jayden,” I started, my voice steady but firm. “We need to talk.”

His expression shifted, his eyes narrowing slightly, as though he knew something was coming. He took a step closer, his posture stiff. “About what?”

“I can’t do this anymore,” I said, my words coming out in a rush. “I can’t keep living in this limbo, pretending that everything is fine when it’s not.”

Jayden’s brow furrowed, confusion and concern flashing across his face. “What do you mean? What’s not fine?”

I looked him straight in the eye, unflinching. “This marriage. It’s not working. It’s never been about love, and it never will be. And I can’t pretend that it is just for the sake of some contract or some idea of what a family should be. I won’t do that to Jade. I won’t let her grow up in a house where there’s nothing but mistrust and manipulation.”

Jayden’s jaw tightened as I spoke, and I could see the frustration building behind his eyes. He opened his mouth to say something, but I held up a hand, cutting him off.

“I’m not done,” I said, my voice cold. “I’ve been thinking about it a lot, and I’ve come to a decision. I’m going to stay until Jade turns five. I’ll stay for…for her, for her stability, for her well-being. But after that, I’m leaving. And I’m taking Jade with me.”

The words hung in the air, heavy with finality. Jayden stared at me, stunned, as though he couldn’t comprehend what I was saying. His face paled, and for a moment, there was silence, thick, uncomfortable silence that felt like it was suffocating me.

“You can’t do that,” he finally said, his voice rising slightly. “You can’t just take her away from me.”

“I’m not taking her away from you,” I replied, my tone unwavering. “I’m giving her the chance to grow up in a home where there’s love, where there’s trust. Not in this house, not with you. Not with all the games you’ve played and the lies you’ve told. I won’t let Jade become a casualty of your manipulations, Jayden. I won’t let her think that this is what a family looks like. I don't want you using her to better your family's companies.”

Jayden’s face darkened, his fists clenching at his sides. “This is ridiculous,” he spat. “You can’t just make decisions like this without consulting me. She’s my daughter, too.”

“And I’m her mother,” I shot back, my voice firm. “And I’m the one who gets to decide what’s best for her. You’ve had your chance. You’ve had more than enough chances. But everything is always about you. And I’m not going to stand by and let you continue to use her as a pawn in your games.”

He took a step toward me, his eyes blazing with anger. “You’re making a huge mistake, Daphne,” he said, his voice low and threatening. “You don’t know what you’re doing. You can’t just walk away from this, from me, from everything we’ve built.”

I stood up, my heart pounding in my chest, but my resolve was stronger than ever. “Everything we’ve built?” I repeated, incredulous. “You think this is something worth saving? You think we’ve built something real? This isn’t a marriage, Jayden. This is a contract. And just a couple of months left and I'd be done with it.”

Jayden’s expression twisted with rage, but I didn’t flinch. I couldn’t. Not anymore. Not when I was finally standing up for myself. Not when I was finally taking control of my own future.

“I won’t stay in a marriage built on lies,” I said, my voice steady. “And I won’t let Jade grow up in one, either. I’ve made my decision, and I’m not changing it. I’m staying until she’s five, and then I’m leaving. And you can’t stop me.”

Jayden stood there, his fists still clenched, his chest rising and falling with the intensity of his emotions. For a moment, it seemed like he might argue more, but then something in his eyes seemed to shift. Maybe he realized that this time, I wasn’t going to back down.

“I’ll fight for her,” he said, his voice low, but the threat was there. “I’ll do whatever it takes to keep her with me.”

I didn’t flinch. “You’ll have to go through the courts, then. Because I won’t let you take her away from me.”

The finality in my words hung in the air like a challenge. Jayden looked at me for a long moment, his gaze full of anger, confusion, and maybe even a hint of regret. But in the end, all he said was, “We’l

l see about that.”

And then, he turned and walked out of the room.