I took it out again, holding it by the edges like it might burn me. I stared at the watermark I hadn’t noticed before—GoldPix Studios. That was where Zach used to have his early promo shoots back when his label was just starting out. He mentioned it once—said they used to rent a suite at the back for after-parties which I now suspected meant champagne-fueled hookups and egos on full display.
The burn in my chest grew into something sharper. Sure, I wanted answers. But more than that, I wanted control over my life again. I was pouring Liam’s milk when the headlights flashed across the window. My heart constricted inside my chest.
Only one person still drove that matte black Lexus and had the nerve to show up unannounced. The doorbell rang once. Twice. Thrice. I took a breath, gathering all the courage I could muster. My hands trembled slightly as I opened the door. I hated that he could still get under my skin.
“Arianne,” he said softly, like my name was a bruise he wanted to press gently.
I didn’t budge. “What do you want, Zachary?”
“I thought we should talk,” he began. “About Liam. About us.”
“There is nothing to talk about,” I said, voice flat. “Not anymore.”
He looked down, pulled something from his coat. An envelope. He held it out like a peace offering.
“I know you agreed,” he said. “My lawyer was supposed to bring this to you, but I decided to hand it to you in person. Closure.”
I gave a hollow laugh. “That’s rich coming from someone who got caught on national television. You didn’t just ruin a marriage. You made a mockery of it.”
Closure. Such a neat little word for a war that wrecked me. I didn’t reach for the envelope. I reached for the only thing I had left—my dignity. I was about to slam the door in his face when a quiet voice interrupted us.
“Dad?”
I craned my head to look at my son. Liam stood on the staircase in his dinosaur pajamas, rubbing his eyes.
Zach’s expression softened immediately. “Hey, buddy.”
Liam didn’t move. “Why are you here?” he asked flatly.
Zach hesitated for a second and continued. “I came to see how you’re doing. I brought the—”
“I told you not to come,” Liam said, voice steady.
Zach blinked, stunned. “I know. I missed you, buddy. I just thought maybe you want us to bond like we used to.”
“How could you do that when you’re with her?” he asked in a soft, low sheepish voice.
“Liam, I can always find time for you, you know that, right?”