I vowed that I’d give fatherhood my all, and since then, I had kept my promise. The house I’d shared with Alexis sold for a good profit. I began investing more time into my parents and brother while also putting in effort with Everly.

I still despised her, and resentment burrowed deeper every time I looked in her general direction. But I was also striving to build a respectful foundation where we could co-exist as parents.

Our interactions were limited to the baby, and we openly talked about the future we wanted for our child. We even managed to agree on keeping the gender a surprise—something to look forward to, we both told ourselves.

I also accompanied her to all pregnancy-related appointments. She didn’t feel comfortable with me being present in the room with her, though, which I understood. Instead, I would wait outside until she was ready to be taken home.

If only those actions eradicated the tormenting impression Alexis left behind. Six months had passed since she had ditched town, and the suffocating weight of her loss crashed down on me once more as I processed the end of our marriage.

That final thread was cut. Irrevocably gone.

I didn’t know how long I was sitting there before Everly’s soft voice called from the doorway. She was rubbing her protruding abdomen in soft circles, her brows furrowed in concern.

“Is everything okay?”

“My divorce was finalised today,” I replied, stiff and disbelieving.

Her worried tone turned placating. “That’s a good thing, Owen. That means we don’t have to feel guilty anymore. We can move on and carve out a life for ourselves.”

“There is no we, Everly. There never was or will be. The only relationship we will have is a co-parenting one.”

Despite my denial, she ventured closer, holding her pregnant belly as genuine sadness painted her features. “We made a miracle, Owen. Why can’t you see that? Against all odds, we made this little human together. Does that not prove our love and connection with one another?”

I aggressively rubbed my temples, a wicked migraine rapidly taking over. It was like she was trying to convince herself. Love? She didn’t know the meaning of the word.

“Everly,” I said, my voice strained and tired. Fuck, I was just so tired. “I don’t know what fantasy you’ve conjured up in your head, but I only see you as the person who destroyed my life, and now my child’s mother.” I nearly cackled at the absurdity of it all. “Look, I know it won’t do for one parent to hate the other, and I don’t want my kid growing up in a hostile environment, so I’m not going to be cruel to you. But you can’t keep on spouting this bullshit narrative.”

She began to cry then, earnest tears running down her cheeks, unchecked. If only I cared.