Dear Ex-wife; You'll Regret It

Chapter Five

Kaelen

Riley’s hand trembled slightly at her side, her breathing ragged, while Kaelen stood frozen, his daughter clinging to him like she was afraid he might vanish.

For a long moment, no one moved. The children had been ushered away, the parents whispering as they went. Darren wiped at the bite marks on his hand with a napkin, his face twisting between anger and self-righteous pity.

Riley finally tore her gaze from Mirella and turned to Darren, her voice softer now, regret laced in it. “Are you alright? I’m so sorry. She didn’t mean to—”

Kaelen couldn’t hold back anymore. “Don’t,” he cut in sharply. “Don’t you dare apologize to him.”

Riley’s head snapped toward him. “Excuse me?”

“She’s your daughter,” Kaelen said, his voice trembling with anger. “She was humiliated, insulted, and pushed. You saw it. You heard it. And the first thing you do is hit her?”

“Kaelen, enough,” Riley said coldly. “You’re making a scene.”

He laughed bitterly. “A scene? Riley, our daughter was crying on the ground, and you—”

“I said enough!” she snapped. “Do you even know what she said? She called Darren names. She bit him! What kind of child behaves like that?”

“The kind of child who’s been hurt,” Kaelen shot back. “The kind of child who’s been pushed to her limit because her mother won’t protect her.”

Darren stepped forward, forcing a strained smile. “Look, let’s not turn this into something ugly. It was just a misunderstanding. Kids fight all the time.”

Kaelen’s glare was cold. “You should shut your mouth before I forget there are witnesses.”

Darren’s smile faltered. “Watch your tone.”

“Watch yours,” Kaelen said, stepping closer. “You think I didn’t hear what you said? You called my daughter a burden. You called her sickly, weak—”

Riley’s voice sliced through his words. “Stop it!” She moved between them, facing Kaelen. “You’re completely out of line.”

He stared at her, stunned. “Out of line? He insulted your child, Riley. Our child. And you’re defending him?”

“She’s been spoiled,” Riley snapped. “You’ve raised her to think she can throw tantrums whenever she doesn’t get her way. That’s not strength, Kaelen—it’s disrespect. No matter what, Darren is older than you. He deserves respect.”

Kaelen’s eyes darkened. “Really?” he repeated, voice low. “That’s what we're going with?”

Darren’s jaw tightened. He took a step back, unease flickering in his expression.

Kaelen’s gaze burned into him. “Go on,” he said. “Tell her what you said about Mirella. About me. Tell her everything you’ve been whispering when she wasn’t around.”

Riley frowned, confused. “Kaelen, what are you talking about?”

“Tell her,” Kaelen said again, his tone icy. “You want an apology? Fine. Repeat every word you said to me earlier, and if I’m lying, I’ll apologize to you right here.”

Darren’s mouth opened, then closed again. His color drained. “I… I think there’s been a misunderstanding—”

“Say it,” Kaelen demanded. “You had no problem speaking a few minutes ago. What’s stopping you now?”

“Kaelen!” Riley’s voice shook with anger. “Stop intimidating him!”

Kaelen turned his glare on her. “Intimidating? He insulted our daughter to my face! You think I should just smile and nod?”

Riley’s frustration boiled over. “You’re impossible! Every time something goes wrong, it’s always someone else’s fault! You’ve turned her into this—this angry, unstable child! Look at what she’s become. You’re not fit to be a father if this is what you’ve taught her.”

The words hit harder than he expected. For a moment, Kaelen said nothing, the pain sinking deep. Then his voice dropped to a low growl.

“And you?” he asked quietly. “You think hitting her makes you fit to be a mother?”

Riley flinched. “Don’t twist this.”

“I’m not twisting anything,” he said. “You slapped her, Riley. You broke her heart in front of everyone, and you still haven’t even looked at her. Might I remind you that you didn't even come for her birthday?"

Riley’s eyes flashed. “You think I don’t care? You think I wanted to hit her?”

“I don’t know what you want anymore,” Kaelen said. “Because the woman I married would have protected her child first.”

Her voice trembled with fury. “You’re twisting everything to make me the villain!”

Kaelen’s patience snapped. “You didn't need any help being the villain today.”

Riley’s face hardened.

She looked ready to strike again, but before she could move, Darren gently grabbed her arm. “Riley,” he said softly, glancing around. “Let’s calm down. There’s a child watching.”

“Don’t touch me,” she hissed, jerking her arm free. “You stay out of this.”

But Kaelen caught it, the flicker of fear in Darren’s eyes.

The coward was terrified. Terrified Kaelen would expose him. Terrified Riley would find out what he’d said behind her back.

And Riley saw it too.

Her expression twisted, fury snapping through her like a live wire.

“You’re threatening him now?” she screamed. “In front of me? What’s next, Kaelen—are you going to hit him too?”

Gasps rippled around them, but Riley didn’t care. She took a step forward, eyes wild.

“Go on! Show everyone what you really are!”

Kaelen’s jaw locked. “You really think that little of me?”

“I don’t think,” she hissed. “I know. You’ve lost control! Look at yourself—you’re pathetic!”

His voice was low, dangerous. “Watch your mouth, Riley.”

“Or what?” she barked. “You’ll hit me? Like you almost did last time?!”

The words sliced through the air.

He flinched, disbelief evident in his expression. “You’re out of line.”

“Out of line?” Her laugh cracked. “No, Kaelen. I’m finally seeing you clearly.”

Before anyone could stop her, she grabbed one of the toys from the children’s play area and hurled it straight at him.

It struck his forehead with a hard thud.

The crowd gasped but he didn’t move. His hand went to the mark, warm and wet under his fingers, but the pain barely registered.

What hurt was deeper.

Then a small voice broke through the chaos.

“Daddy!”

Mirella’s cry was pure terror. She tore free from his arms and planted herself between them, trembling so hard her knees almost buckled.

“Stop! Please stop! Don’t let Mommy hit you anymore!”

Kaelen froze.

The entire world seemed to freeze.

His breath caught as he stared down at his daughter—her little hands spread wide, her tear-soaked face lifted in desperate defiance.

“Mirella,” Riley’s voice cracked, sharp and trembling. “Get out of the way.”

“No!” she sobbed, shaking her head. “No, Mommy!”

Riley’s control snapped. “I said move!” She lunged forward, reaching for the girl, but Kaelen stepped in, his arm coming up like a wall.

“That’s enough,” he said, voice rough, deadly calm.

“Don’t tell me what’s enough!” Riley shrieked, trying to shove past him. “You’ve been humiliating me for weeks—lying, scheming, making me look crazy!”

Her voice rose higher with every word, each one echoing through the corridor. “You think you can walk out of here like some saint while I look like the villain?!”

“Riley,” Kaelen said quietly, warning in every syllable.

But she kept screaming, her face blotched red with rage. “You want to take her from me? Try it! I’ll drag you through hell before I let you touch her again!”

Kaelen didn’t flinch this time. His voice came out cold and final.

“I’m taking care of my daughter. You can scream all you want, but this ends now.”

She laughed—a sharp, broken sound. “You think you’re the victim? You think you’re the better parent?” Her voice cracked into a snarl. “Fine! If you want out—then get out! Let’s end this damn farce and get a divorce!”

Kaelen stared at her for a long second.

Then he bent down, gathered Mirella in his arms, and turned away.

She buried her face against his chest, sobbing. “Don’t leave Mommy.”

His throat tightened. “It’s okay, baby,” he whispered hoarsely. “Daddy’s got you.”

Behind him, Riley’s voice broke again, raw and jagged.

“Don’t you walk away from me, Kaelen! You hear me?! Don’t you dare—”

But he was already gone, her words crashing uselessly against his back as he walked out—carrying what little was left of the life they’d just destroyed.