He Tore Me Apart, Now It’s His Turn to Break

Hailey's POV

Nine years.

That's how long I've been with Caden Wilder.

And in those nine years, I've had ten abortions—for him.

Each time, it was the same performance. Caden would drop to his knees like a man possessed by guilt, his face twisted with shame, telling me how sorry he was, how he failed me, how he failed our baby.

And every time, I let myself believe it.

I let his words wrap around my heart and squeeze just enough to make me forget how exhausted I was.

Because I loved him, God help me, I loved him.

But my love didn't survive betrayal. Not this kind of one.

It happened at one of his company's team-building events.

I wasn't even supposed to be there, but Caden drinks like he has something to forget, and I knew he'd overdo it. I thought I was being responsible and kind by offering to pick him up.

But what did I walk into? It shattered whatever illusions I had left.

My husband was kissing his new assistant. Veronica Steele.

Right there in front of everyone, like I didn't exist.

"Caden, your wife is here. Stop kissing her," one of his friends alerted.

I was not angry, just stunned.

One of his friends tried to nudge him out of it, but he didn't even flinch. Caden just turned to me, drunk and grinning like this was some joke.

"Perfect timing," he slurred. "Hailey, my dear wife, come here and take care of Veronica. She's pregnant with my child. Early stages. She needs someone experienced. You've got the résumé, don't you?"

I swear, for a second, I forgot how to breathe.

Someone in the room murmured, "Caden, your wife just had a miscarriage. That's not funny."

But he just waved them off like it was nothing. "What's the big deal? She's had ten of my kids. All of them aborted. And let's be real, if I don't settle for her, who else is gonna want her?"

And just like that, he said out loud what he'd always made me feel.

Disposable. Pitied. Unwanted.

I didn't respond. I didn't scream or slap him like they do in movies. I just turned and walked away.

Because I finally understood something I should've seen years ago—deep love is what we call it when we're too scared to admit we're settling.

Behind me, I heard one of his friends mutter, "Caden, she's mad. Go after her. She listens to you."

Veronica's voice followed, soft and pathetic. "She's probably upset I'm carrying your child. Maybe I should apologize?"

And then another voice.

He was one of Caden's drinking buddies.

Veronica, your heart is too tender. Her parents are gone. What else does she have but you?"

That's when Caden's voice cut through it all. "Hailey, if you take one more step out that door, don't think you can ever come back."

I froze, and it wasn't because I wanted to obey but because that was the moment I saw him clearly.

Not as the man I loved but as the man he truly was.

I turned around, and sure enough, there he was, smirking while his arms were still around Veronica like he'd already won.

"See?" he said. "She wouldn't dare."

He looked at Veronica. "Veronica is pregnant, and she still has to deal with your drama? Unreal. Go on, Hailey, apologize to her."

That's when something inside me snapped into place.

"We're getting a divorce," I said.

He raised a brow, grinning like I'd just confessed to cheating. "So eager to divorce me, your lover outside can't wait, huh?"

It would've been laughable if it weren't so pathetic. Caden was literally holding another woman, and I was the one accused.

"Fine," he told me. "But before we divorce, let's settle what you owe me."

Then he grabbed my hand like he owned it.

"The ring I put on your finger," Caden continued, ripping it off so fast the diamond cut my skin.

"The earrings I designed for you." He yanked them from my ears, and I felt the cartilage tear.

"The dress." He ripped it without a second thought.

"The lingerie is also something I once loved." He grabbed my hand and mocked, "You're really shameless, talking about divorce but still wearing this lingerie to seduce me behind my back."

People around us whispered and giggled lewdly.

Some turned away. Most didn't.

I shoved him back, trembling, holding what was left of my dress against my chest. "Enough, Caden."

But he wasn't done. Of course not.

"Enough?" he said, mocking. "I owe you. It's time to pay you back."

Caden picked up a bottle from the table, twisted the cap off, and, without hesitation, poured the entire thing over my head.

The liquor was ice-cold.

It ran down my face and into my clothes, soaking everything.

I stood there, shaking, half from the cold, half from the humiliation.

Still, even in that moment, all I could think was: 'This is who he's always been.'

And I'm done pretending otherwise.