Amaris rushed to my side, her cool hand resting lightly on my back as she gave it a soft pat.
The faint scent of tobacco lingered on her, a scent that mirrored the one that clung to Silas.
"It’s just my old illness. Nothing serious," I rasped, my voice weak, barely above a whisper.
"Then rest up. Amaris and I have things to discuss outside."
Silas rose from his seat, his voice carrying an air of authority as if he were the rightful master of the house.
Amaris glanced at me briefly before turning away, her steps light, almost skipping with excitement.
I narrowed my eyes, watching them through the small gap, every movement under my scrutiny.
Silas turned back, his gaze slithering over every inch of my home like a filthy autumn insect.
A smug, unrestrained smile twisted across his face, one of ownership and satisfaction.
Amaris’s retreating figure trembled slightly, whether from excitement or shame; it was hard to tell.
But this was my home.
That woman, still my wife in name, had just shamelessly flirted with another man.
My throat tightened, the sensation of fire building within me.
I began coughing again, this time violently, stars dancing in my vision.
"Silas, let’s move farther. It’s too noisy here," Amaris’s voice floated in from outside, laced with impatience and scorn.
Silas’s voice, lazy and dripping with disdain, followed, "Let him sleep. Sick people need their rest. It’ll be quieter for us outside."
Their footsteps faded and the room fell into silence once more.
Only my labored breathing served as a reminder that I was still clinging to life.
Just then, the courtyard gate creaked open. Caelum had returned.
Caelum, my child with Amaris, at least, that’s what I had always believed.
But in my last life, the words I overheard in my final moments had cast a shadow of doubt.
"Dad, where’s Mom?"
Caelum pushed open the door, scanning the house, impatience clear in his voice.
"She had something to do and went out."
"Has Uncle Silas come yet? The school keeps asking for a parent and you’re an embarrassment looking like this. What am I supposed to do?"
Caelum tossed his school bag onto the table, frustration seeping from him.
His words hit me like a cold splash of water and I understood.
Amaris must have told him about Silas moving in long before.
In my past life, I had fretted over how he might react, even trying to explain things to him.