Page 37 of Keeping Skylar (Fractured Hearts #1)

Kaden

What the flying fuck!

It’s like I’m staring at a ghost—only this one is very much alive.

And not just alive, but somehow happier and healthier than I’ve ever seen her.

It’s been nearly six months since I last saw or heard from my wife.

And now, here she is, sitting in front of me, living in a different city, with a whole new life, new friends .

.. and another man’s arm around her. Hell no!

Judging by the look on her face, she’s anything but thrilled to see me.

Can’t say I blame her—not after showing up unannounced to her birthday dinner and interrupting a pretty heated make-out session with some punk who’s clearly been keeping her warm.

Oh, my dear Sky, you’ve got some serious explaining to do!

When I agreed to meet some of my new colleagues at a restaurant for some casual team bonding, I never could’ve imagined—not in a million years—that I’d run into my estranged wife.

It was Scott, our new Operations Manager, who suggested this place for dinner.

Apparently, it’s the talk of the town, and now I understand why. Every dish I ordered was incredible. I was so impressed; I had every intention of personally thanking the chef before I left.

But there are more pressing matters to deal with—starting with why Sky ghosted me without giving me a chance to explain my side of things.

Or why she left everything behind to start a new life here in Melbourne, diving headfirst into a new relationship before the ink on our divorce papers has even dried.

It was sheer coincidence that I decided to grab another drink at the bar after the staff finished singing Happy Birthday .

On my way there, a familiar laugh I hadn’t heard in a long time stopped me in my tracks.

Curious, I rounded the corner, half-expecting my ears to be playing tricks on me—but what I saw, left me completely floored.

Skylar, my usually shy and reserved wife when it came to public displays of affection, was right there in front of me, locked in a steamy kiss with some random douche for the whole world to see.

Before I could stop myself, my feet were carrying me straight towards their booth to find out what the hell was going on. The look on her face when she saw me was priceless—she was clearly stunned, of course. I’m the last person she ever expected to run into tonight.

When she met my gaze, I wanted her to see the fury in my eyes, to let her know that I finally found her, and there was no escaping me now. Ready or not, she owes me a conversation, and she’s going to give me one before the night ends. She’s already made me wait long enough.

“Well, well. If I didn’t know any better, I’d say I’m seeing a ghost,” I snark, keeping my gaze firmly on my wife while pointedly ignoring the others in the booth.

Sky doesn’t move, her mouth remaining tightly shut as she stares at me in shock.

The man beside her, the one whose frisky hands were all over my wife just moments ago, slowly turns to face me, his expression a mix of curiosity and caution.

When our gazes finally meet, the schmuck has the audacity to grin at me.

“Hi, I’m Heath. Are you a friend of Skylar’s?

” he asks. I ignore his stupid question and tilt my head to the side, letting my eyes scan him slowly, trying to figure out what Sky finds so appealing about the guy.

There’s no denying Heath’s good looks—tall, muscular, and all sharp lines and angles.

He looks to be around my age, maybe slightly younger.

He carries a confidence that borders on arrogance, the kind that suggests he knows exactly how charming and attractive he is—and isn’t shy about using it to his advantage. It’s probably how he managed to win my wife over in the first place. Double schmuck!

I tear my gaze away from him and glance around their booth, spotting another couple seated across from them, both eyeing me with guarded suspicion. Good. They should be.

When I look back at Sky, she’s still frozen in place. Once she shakes off the shock, she blinks, clears her throat, and finally finds her voice. “What are you doing here, Kaden?” she asks nervously.

“After all this time, this is how you greet your husband.” I hear a sharp gasp from the woman seated across from her, while Heath and the other man whip their heads back and forth between me and my wife, trying to make sense of what they’ve just heard.

Sky ignores their stares, her eyes fixed solely on mine. “You know damn well you’re not that to me anymore,” she snaps, her voice low and oozing with venom.

I casually shrug, playing it off like her words didn’t hit a nerve. “Last I checked, we’re still married in the eyes of the law, my sweet darling wife.” I smirk.

In the next breath, Heath abruptly stands and steps in front of me. We’re toe-to-toe, as if preparing for a fight of a lifetime, our chests nearly touching. Our jaws are clenched, and fists are tight on our sides, ready for whatever comes next.

“Mate, you’ve got five seconds to walk away,” Heath warns me.

He’s an inch taller, with a bit more muscle, but height and size don’t always translate to strength.

I’m skilled in boxing and Muay Thai, and he looks like he can hold his own too.

Neither of us is willing to back down or show even a hint of intimidation.

How tempting would it be to land a nice, firm uppercut to his jaw right now.

But before either of us can make a move, Sky leaps out of her seat and rushes towards us. “No, Heath! Stop!” she yells, desperately trying to wedge herself between us.

The other man sitting at the booth quickly rises from his seat and rushes over to grab Heath by the arm, whispering something to him.

Heath takes a step back, giving Sky the chance to step in front of him.

She places a gentle hand on his chest, her touch seemingly snapping him out of his daze.

When he looks down at her, his expression instantly softens.

“Heath, please. Not here, okay,” she pleads. “It’s not worth it. He’s not worth it.”

I release a loud scoff, and Heath shoots me a menacing glance, his nostrils flaring, a silent warning flickering in his eyes.

“Please sit down. I’ll handle this, okay,” she urges him.

He shakes his head in disapproval. “No! That slimy, son of a bitch doesn’t get to waltz in here demanding some happy fucking reunion with you. He’s not welcome here!” he bellows, pointing a finger at me.

I let out a deep chuckle, noticing the growing attention from the other patrons. “And who might you be, exactly? Another lowlife fuckboy trying to get into bed with someone else’s wife?”

Suddenly, a loud commotion erupts as Heath lunges at me, but the other woman quickly steps in, helping the man restrain him while muttering something to calm him down. My wife screams in panic. Meanwhile, I stand firm, a smirk on my face as I watch the scene unfold, unable to suppress my laughter.

Sky whirls around to face me, her fury palpable as her cold gaze meets mine. “Kaden, outside now!” she barks, gesturing aggressively towards the door.

Just as she’s about to storm off, Heath grabs her elbow. “Babe, don’t go.”

She offers him a reassuring glance, then gently places her hand over his. “I’ll be fine. I promise.”

He frowns, seemingly unconvinced, but after a brief moment, he releases his grip and lets her go.

Sky strides towards the door without looking back at me, and I trail closely behind her.

I’m inches away from outside when Heath’s voice slices through the air, stopping me in my tracks. “If you even think about hurting her again, I promise it’ll be the last time you ever do,” he says, his voice cold and threatening.

I don’t bother looking at him or responding. My goal isn’t to hurt Sky or make her feel uncomfortable; I just want her to talk to me. With an exasperated sigh, I step outside and make my way towards my wife. Finally. At last.

Skylar is leaning against the building, arms crossed, her gaze fixed on the street ahead.

Her expression is icy and hard, offering no hint of warmth.

But even in her anger, she radiates a beauty that’s somehow even more striking than I remember.

As soon as she notices me approaching, she pushes herself off the wall to stand in front of me.

I keep my distance, careful not to make her feel cornered.

For the first time in nearly six months, we stand face to face, each of us silently assessing the other. My mind is still trying to grasp the reality that my wife is right here, in front of me. I almost feel the urge to pinch myself, questioning if this moment—and she—are actually real.

I draw in a deep breath, realising it’s on me to break the silence. “Happy birthday, Skylar,” I say, my voice low and steady. “Looks like you’ve already celebrated without me. While I’m trying not to take offence to that, I’d be lying if I said it didn’t sting being left out.”

She scoffs, rolling her eyes as she folds her arms tightly across her chest. “Cut the crap, Kaden. What do you really want?”

“I want what I’m owed—a proper fucking conversation with my wife!”

“I owe you shit!” she hisses. “There is nothing more I need to say to you that I haven’t already covered in the letter.”

“Oh, that’s right! How kind of you to leave me a goddamn letter without even giving me a chance to explain things.”

She lets out a cynical laugh, and that only fuels my anger. “And what could you possibly have said to convince me otherwise? I’ve seen enough proof of your betrayal to last me three lifetimes!”

I quickly avert my gaze, unable to meet her eyes—because she’s right.

My wife had gathered more than enough proof of my infidelity; there was no room left for denial.

But that’s not what haunts me. It’s the fact that I never got the chance to make things right, to fight for her .

.. for us. She just walked away without a word, like I never meant anything to her at all.

“If you had stayed, I would’ve fought tooth and nail to earn back your forgiveness ... your trust. I wanted to fight for our marriage, Skylar. I still do.”

“Oh my God, Kaden! Do you hear yourself right now? Are you really that much of a lying, selfish prick?!” She shakes her head in disgust. “You say you want to fight for our marriage, but only weeks after I left, you were already shacking up with your mistress. And yes, Kaden. I know that you and Lucia are still together. So, don’t you dare stand there and lie to my face! ” she spits.

I run my hand anxiously through my hair. “I’m sorry, okay? I didn’t plan for any of this to happen—it just did.” My voice is soft, sincere, as I take a small step closer to her.

She immediately steps back, shaking her head as her arms wrap tightly around her stomach, like she’s shielding herself from me.

“ It’s too late, Kaden. There’s nothing left to fight for.

The damage is done—it’s beyond repair. I’ll never forget what you did to me, and I could never trust you again.

The sooner you accept that, the easier it’ll be for both of us to move on. ”

For a split second, her eyes flick towards the window, where Heath stands like a sentinel—watchful, ready to protect what’s his.

What the hell am I even saying? Skylar isn’t his. She’s mine. “Who is he to you?” I ask, not bothering with the details. She knows exactly who I’m talking about.

“We’re not talking about him.”

“Don’t you think I have the right to know, seeing as I’m still your husband? You both seem a little too comfortable with each other in there.”

“Kaden,” she warns.

“I just want to know if you’re seeing him—and for how long?” I press; my tone sharp.

Her eyes narrow, then she shakes her head. “I’m not discussing anything with you.”

“Why can’t you answer? Were you with him when you were still with me?”

“You can’t be fucking serious!” she snaps.

“How would I know?” I casually shrug. “You left in quite a hurry, and then all of a sudden, I find you here, all hot and cosy with your new boy-toy. Seems like you moved on pretty quickly yourself,” I say, the words dripping with accusation.

“Unlike you, Kaden, I’ve always been loyal and honest. I never once deceived you or broke your trust. What’s going on between Heath and me happened months after I left you.”

My wife talking about her moving on with another man is the last thing I wanted to hear. This entire time, I’ve been clinging to the hope that one day she’d give me a chance to fix our marriage. But what she says next makes me believe I may already be too late.

“If you must know the truth, that man in there”—she gestures towards Heath, her voice breaking with emotion, “has been a blessing. For the past several weeks, he’s been helping me heal—helping me mend the heart you ripped out and crushed.

So, before you start throwing accusations and shifting blame, maybe take a long, hard look in the mirror.

Maybe then you’ll finally see who’s truly at fault .

.. whose careless, selfish choices have caused nothing but pain and destruction in our lives.

Can you do that, Kaden? Or is that still asking too much? ”

Before I can even form a response, she turns on her heel and walks away—straight back into the arms of her saviour, Heath, who’s now waiting patiently for her at the door.

I force myself to look away, unable to bear the sight of how natural they are together—the ease and familiarity between them hitting me like a punch to the gut. And the worst part? I have no one to blame but myself. I set all of this in motion.

Guilt and regret engulf me from every direction.

I regret being selfish and weak when it came to Lucia.

I regret every lie I told and every moment I betrayed Skylar’s trust. I regret not fighting harder for our marriage when I had the chance.

But most of all, I regret letting her walk away, right into the arms of another man.

This can’t be how our story ends—not now, not when I’ve finally found her. I have to believe that our encounter tonight happened for a reason. That perhaps it’s my second chance, my shot at making things right between us.

If staying in this godforsaken city is what it takes to win her back, then so be it. I’ll do anything to have my wife again. Anything. And there’s not a damn thing Heath or any of his loyal sidekicks can do to stop me.

It’s time I finally stand up and fight—for my wife, for our marriage, and for everything we once had.