Lach flinched like he’d been struck. He stepped back, eyes fixed on the screen. His voice was hollow.
“That’s… that’s my kitchen…”
In the yard?”
“Because your wife put my bags outside and locked the door. Told me to stay gone or lose the kids. Said you thought it was my idea.”
I handed him the note from my suitcase.
He read it twice. His hands trembled. He looked from me to Chloe.
His jaw tightened. “Go inside. Pack your things.
Now.”
No shouting. No scene. Just quiet, firm truth.
She stood there a moment, then turned and walked inside. Lach let out a heavy breath and sank onto the garden wall, like his legs couldn’t hold him anymore. He dropped his head into his hands.
“No, Ma. I felt something was off for a while.
But I kept… looking away. Because I didn’t want to know.” He exhaled, voice raw. “She pushed you out.
And I let her. That’s on me.”Continue reading…