Dumped By My Wife, Now A Single Father

Chapter 002

Colton's POV. 

Even with the papers burning a hole into my palm, my mind won’t stop thinking about Felix.

"No, Lisa! Don't do this!" I went to my knees, blinking rapidly as the tears refused to stay back. 

My pride didn't matter anymore. My son did. "Hate me more if you want. Cheat on me if you want. Just don't leave Felix; he needs you more than anything." My voice cracked.

Growing up without parents had left me with deep scars I still carried, and I couldn't let Felix suffer the same fate.

"Exactly why I want to leave! Felix is the biggest mistake of my life, and you are the second mistake. I wish he died at birth; I wouldn't have to waste my life raising a sick son!" Lisa snapped with no hint of regret. 

My stomach twisted; I must have heard her wrong. 

How can a woman call her son her biggest mistake? 

 "What? He is your son, Lisa! How can you wish for your son's death?" A scream tore through my throat as pain exploded through my body.

I stared at the floor, letting the tears flow freely. My lips trembled as I raised my head to look at her. "I thought you loved me" 

Lisa scoffed. "Love? A poor man like you does not deserve happiness, not to talk of love! You are just a dirty lowlife farmer!"

She walked toward me, her eyes sharp enough to cut through me. Her eyes burned with hatred, and my breath caught in my throat. 

"I only married you out of confusion. If I hadn't gotten pregnant with Felix, I would never have married you. I can't even believe spending 6 years with you! " 

"Every day I spent with you felt like a punishment. Even your touch disgusted me!!"

Lisa lifted the diamond necklace on her neck with a smug smile. "Do you remember when I asked you to buy me this necklace? "

She laughed. "A man like you got it for me in 3 minutes! There is a big difference, Colton. Let that sink into your head!!"

She tucked the pen into my hand with force. "Sign that, Colton! I've packed my things already. I don't want to waste another minute sharing a roof with you"

 I stared blankly, hoping I would wake up from this endless nightmare. I couldn't find the right words; the warmth drained from my body, leaving nothing but emptiness. 

Is it a crime to be poor? Is that why heaven chose to punish me this way?

I looked into Lisa's eyes, searching for any sign that this wasn't real, but her eyes remained cold. My vision blurred with tears, thinking back to how Felix always loved to have both parents around him. How do I face him from now on? How do I explain to him that his mother chose to live because of my incompetence?!

With different thoughts flooding my mind, a reality set in. I looked around; my tears dropped as I searched the room with my eyes. It was quieter than usual. 

 "Where is Felix?"

Lisa laughed.

The sound of her laughter scraped against my ears.

"Looking for your precious son?" Her tone was dripping with mockery, causing me to feel more tense as I awaited her next action.

My heart lurched. "Felix?" I called out. 

Silence followed. 

"Felix, where are you?" My voice cracked. A cold sweat broke out as I searched the entire room. My son has never been quiet unless he is sleeping; he always welcomes me home with a gentle smile. 

However, everywhere was empty. "Felix!"

I rushed to the backyard, calling repeatedly, hoping to hear his voice, but no one answered. I stumbled on a stone as I ran into the farm, calling repeatedly.

My breathing became ragged as I ran back to the house. Getting back inside the room, Lisa had already slid into a simple casual gown with her bags packed neatly next to each other.

"Where is my son?" My hands rested on her shoulder as I shook her vigorously. 

Smack!

A hot, resounding slap landed on my cheeks. My face turned pale, and a sharp pain shot through my cheeks.

I swallowed the lump in my throat as I stared at the man standing protectively beside Lisa.

"Don't you dare touch my woman!" He growled, his muscles showing beneath his singlet.

I stumbled backward, sitting flat on my butt. "Felix!!"

At that moment, Lisa pressed her lips against the man, leaving me helpless on the floor. 

My gaze darted wildly from one corner of the house to another.

His little sandals were still beside the door.

His favorite toy truck lay overturned on the floor.

He couldn't have gone outside.

Cold dread settled in my stomach.

Behind me, Lisa giggled. "He should be inside there"

I traced the direction of her finger to the wooden wardrobe, and my heartbeat increased. What is he doing there?

"No!" I breath-held, shaking my head repeatedly. My trembling hand reached for the handle; the wooden door creaked open, and my breath caught in my throat. 

"Awwn, so cute", Lisa mocked from behind. 

Felix was curled into a tiny ball. His wrists were tied tightly with rough rope, and his ankles were bound together.

A piece of cloth had been stuffed into his mouth, almost covering his nose. His little body trembled violently.

His frightened eyes met mine.

"D... Daddy..." His muffled cry pierced through my heart.

My fingers fumbled with the knot. "Please!" The knot wouldn't cooperate. My hands shook so badly that I could barely loosen the rope. 

The rope finally gave way; the knot slipped from his tiny wrists, leaving the red mark. 

I pulled the clothes away from his mouth, and he gasped desperately for air before throwing himself at me.

"Daddy..."

His tiny voice broke me.

I wrapped both arms around him, holding him so tightly it felt as if I could shield him from the entire world.

"I'm here." My voice cracked. "Daddy is here now."

A tear landed on Felix's hair, followed by another drop. I buried my face against his shoulder, but the sob escaped anyway.

The guilt of arriving late tightened my chest in such a way that I couldn't breathe. 

Lisa clapped slowly behind us. "How touching. Both of you look pathetic!" 

My breathing quickened. I clenched my teeth in anger. "You will regret this!"

She laughed. "I was only trying to be of help by taking him out of your way. Imagine you don't have to take care of a sick son after I leave!"

"Is that not something good?!"

I gently laid Felix on the old duvet laying helpless on the floor. I reached out to the papers with our shoulders bumping into each other. I snatched the pen and scribbled my name across the page.

However, I regretted it almost immediately as the man rushed at me, stomping on my face with a few kicks before letting go.

His boot crashed into my ribs. Then my stomach. I curled around myself, gritting my teeth as the pain spread through my body.

"Have a miserable life." I watched Lisa leave with the man, without looking back.

Is this how love ends? I still can't believe my life turned upside down in a matter of hours. 

"Daddy..."

I rushed to Felix, holding him in my embrace, but his body was cold. "Let Daddy take you to the hospital"

I walked carefully to the drawer where I kept my savings. Yanking the box open, my shoulder dropped instantly. 

My mouth parted as I searched the box. I checked every corner of the drawer to see if the money mistakenly slipped out of the box. My hand searched the drawer once again, then my breathing stopped. 

No!

It can't be...

Just then, my hand landed on a piece of paper. I recognised Lisa's handwriting immediately, but I wasn't expecting the context. 

(Consider this as your shared assets after divorce)

"Lisa!!!!!" A scream tore through my throat as I read the short note over and over again.  

She took all my savings, everything I had saved up in my entire life. Now Felix’s is at risk; how is he going to survive?

Chapter 2

Colton's POV

“Daddy…”

The tiny voice shattered me.

I dropped to my knees and pulled the wardrobe door open completely.

Felix was curled up inside, his little knees pressed against his chest. His cheeks were wet with tears, and his eyes were wide with fear.

“Felix!”

I reached for him immediately. He threw his arms around my neck the moment I pulled him out.

“Daddy...”

“I’m here. I’m here, son.”

I held him tightly against my chest, my hands trembling as I ran them over his little body.

“Are you hurt?”

He shook his head against my shoulder.

“Why were you inside there?”

He didn't answer.

I pulled back slightly and looked at his face.

“Felix, look at Daddy.”

His lower lip trembled.

“Mommy said I should stay there....” He responded in a low, breaking voice.

My chest tightened.

“She put you inside the wardrobe?”

He nodded. 

I closed my eyes.

For a moment, I couldn't speak.

My son had been locked inside a dark wardrobe because his mom was having affairs. 

I pressed my lips against his forehead.

“I’m sorry, Felix.”

I hugged him again.

“Daddy is sorry.”

Behind me, I heard footsteps.

I turned.

Lisa was standing near the doorway with her bags.

The other man stood beside her.

Neither of them looked ashamed.

My eyes burned.

“You locked our son inside a wardrobe?”

Lisa shrugged.

“He wouldn't stop crying.”

“He's six years old!”

“And?”

I stared at her.

“How could you do that to him?”

She rolled her eyes.

“Don't start acting like some perfect father.”

I slowly stood, keeping Felix in my arms.

“I may not have money. I may not have a big house. But I have never treated my son like he was a burden.”

Lisa's expression hardened.

“That's exactly why I'm leaving.”

I stared at her.

She picked up her handbag.

“I'm done with this life, Colton.”

“You're leaving?”

“Yes.”

She walked toward the door.

I followed her.

“Where are you going?”

“Anywhere that isn't here.”

“With him?”

She glanced at the man beside her.

“Yes.”

Something inside me sank again.

I looked at the man.

He gave me a faint smile.

It wasn't friendly.

It was the kind of smile a man gave when he believed he had already won.

My fingers tightened around Felix. “What about our son?”

Lisa stopped. “What about him?”

“You're his mother.”

“So?”

“He needs you.”

She laughed softly. “He needs you, doesn't he?”

I frowned. “What are you talking about?”

“You're the one who thinks being his father is enough.”

I felt my blood boil.

“He's my son. Of course I will take care of him.”

“Good.” She picked up her suitcase. “Then take care of him.”

I stared at her. “You're just leaving him?”

She didn't answer.

 “Lisa!”

She turned around. “What?”

“How can you walk away from your own child?”

For the first time, something resembling irritation crossed her face.

“Because I'm tired, Colton.”

Her eyes moved over our small house.

“This place has never given me anything.”

I looked around. The cracked walls. The old sofa. The tiny dining table.

The kitchen where we had shared countless meals.

It wasn't much.

But it was home. Or at least, I thought it was.

Lisa walked past me.

Then she stopped. “Oh, and one more thing.”

I looked at her.

“What?”

“You should stop pretending you can still afford to keep this family together.”

My brows pulled together. "What does that mean?”

She smiled. "Have a nice day"

The door slammed behind her.

I stood frozen.

Felix was still in my arms.

I looked toward the bedroom.

I rushed into the room with Felix clinging to me. His body was shaking vigorously. 

I placed him carefully on the bed.

“Stay here, Felix. Daddy will be right back.”

I hurried toward the old wooden box beneath the bed.

I pulled it out.

My hands were shaking as I opened my savings box.

It's empty.

My breath caught. “No.”

I searched again.

Nothing.

I checked beneath the mattress.

Nothing.

The small box where I kept the money was gone.

Every note.

Every last bit of money I had saved.

Gone.

I sank onto the edge of the bed.

Lisa had taken it.

My savings. The money I spent months putting aside. The money I had planned to use for Felix.

I had skipped meals, worked longer hours, and taken extra farm jobs just to save every little amount I could. All for him. 

My eyes filled with tears as I stared at the empty savings box. “How could she?”

A soft cough came from behind me. I turned and saw Felix sitting on the bed, his face pale. 

“Daddy?” he whispered. 

I quickly wiped my tears. “I'm here.” 

He coughed again, deeper this time, and I immediately stood. “Are you okay?” He nodded weakly, but when I placed my hand on his forehead, my heart dropped. 

He was burning. “Jesus…”

“Why didn't you tell me you weren't feeling well?” I asked, touching his cheek. 

His tired eyes met mine. “My tummy hurts.”

 My chest tightened. 

He tried to stand, but his knees suddenly gave way. I caught him before he hit the floor. “Felix!” He leaned against me, breathing heavily. Fear shot through me. “Look at me, son.” 

His eyes struggled to stay open. “Daddy…” 

“Yes?” “I'm cold.” I touched him again. His body was burning, yet he was shivering.

Memories rushed through my mind, Felix lying sick in a hospital bed years ago, the doctors telling us he had pneumonia, Lisa crying beside me, and me promising our son that I would always protect him. I had believed I could. But now my wife had left, she had taken my savings, and my son was getting sick again. 

“No.” I lifted Felix into my arms. “Daddy is taking you to the hospital.” He rested his head against my chest as I grabbed my keys and rushed toward the door.

Then I stopped.

I had no money.

My eyes moved toward the empty savings box, and my throat tightened. I had nothing left. But I couldn't stand there, not when my son needed me. I held Felix tighter and ran outside. “Hold on, Felix. Daddy's going to get you help.” I rushed toward the road, desperately searching for a vehicle.

Then I looked down at him.

His eyes were slowly closing.

“Felix?”

No response.

“Felix!”

I shook him gently, but his head fell against my chest.

 Panic ripped through me. “Felix!”