Forgiving Love | rewrite

For Now

Liam's eyes search mine from the other end of our couch, silently confirming if I want to do this. My throat throbs, not from sorrow or fear, but from the amount of self-control it takes me to keep my razor-sharp insults to myself.

It's been a week since I learned about Liam's affair.

The morning he came to my office, I naively thought we could handle everything without more arguments or that I could be civil around him. I was well and truly wrong. I'd like to think of my idiocy as a result of a sleepless night.

Shortly after Liam left, I dozed off on the couch, and once I woke up, everything became clearer in my head. I was astonished to realize I'd let him hold me because he thought I needed it.

How guilelessly I'd fallen under his spell again.

Since then, I haven't been able to look at his face without thinking about his arrogance. Every time I try to regard him without my simmering rage, my veins nearly pop through my skin from the effort. It's no different today, but I bite my tongue for Kara and Aiden, who are unaware of the building tension between Liam and me.

We agreed to tell the twins of our separation in peace once everything else was figured out. And believing it or not, we've gotten through my to-do list after a week.

I found a lawyer to divide our assets in half, and we hired a realtor to sell our house. I already bought a house on the other side of the city, and I am waiting for the owners to move. Liam purchased a penthouse apartment downtown from his company. I also found a promising preschool for the kids near my new house.

So we are prepared to take the next step, telling the kids and possibly destroying their futures.

"Honey, please join your brother on the couch," I request, but Kara continues playing on the floor with her Legos.

"No," Kara purses her lips and gives me a tiny shake of her head.

Aiden is sitting between Liam and me. He practically ran over when I said, "Daddy and Mommy have to tell you something." But Kara's been very upset with me the past week because I've stayed at a hotel to avoid further conflicts with Liam.

My excuse wasn't the worst; I told them I had so much work to do I should stay in town, and in a way, it's true. I drowned myself in all the work I could find to forget about Liam, but I've missed the twins terribly. Although I picked them up from their daycare on Tuesday and Wednesday, it was torture to stay away.

I could've made Liam rent a hotel room, but I didn't want to sleep in the same house his lover's been in.

"Kara, listen to your mother. You can play once we've talked," Liam orders.

"About what?" Kara cocks her head the same way I do occasionally. Liam sighs and rubs his face.

"About life, do what your mother asks," Liam ushers impatiently. Kara pouts at him but obeys and stomps over. She slumps between her father and brother, crossing her arms. I take a deep breath and glance at Liam, who expects me to start.

Of course.

"We want you both to know that we love you very much. Whatever happens, you two are our priorities," I lick my lips. Kara looks up suspiciously, but Aiden stares at me with wide, curious irises.

"I understand that all of this will scare you and be very sudden, but," I clear my throat to cover my cracked voice. "Your father and I've been discussing lately, and from now on, we've decided to live separately."

The twins' heads snap at their father and then back to me. Kara's lips press into a thin line, but Aiden's mouth hangs open.

"What does that mean?" Aiden's eyebrows furrow.