Chapter 6
I'd never seen Mom like this before.
She wasn't shouting or making a scene, nor was she crying or screaming.
Her voice was steady, but every word was sharp as a blade.
Reuben was so stunned he couldn't get a word out.
He pointed at Kaitlin, his hand trembling.
"You... just you wait!" he sputtered.
Then he turned and stormed out.
"Dad!" I called out, trying to stop him.
"Where are you going?" I asked.
"None of your business," Dad snapped.
He didn't even look back.
"Going to see your darling, huh?" I shot back.
He stopped in his tracks.
"Then let me tell you something," I said.
I stood up and walked right up to him. "I've still got the screenshot of that text."
"There are more than twenty people in our family group chat. I have no idea how many actually saw it," I said. "But I can make sure every single one of them does."
Dad's face went pale.
"You wouldn't dare!" he snapped.
"Wanna bet?" I shot back.
I looked him right in the eye.
"Isn't your reputation the thing you care about most?" I said. "Aren't you always afraid of people talking behind your back?
"Well, I'll make sure everyone knows you've had a mistress for eight years, and now she's pregnant. You're planning to ditch Mom and marry her.
"How do you think Grandpa and Grandma will react? What will Uncle and Aunt say? And your business buddies. How do you think they'll see you?"
Dad's face kept shifting, going from ashen to flushed and back again.
"You little..." he sputtered.
"What? Go on, say it," I shot back.
"I'm your daughter. You care about your reputation, but I couldn't care less," I said.
"If you dare mess with Mom, I'll expose everything," I warned. "Let's see who's really shameless."
Dad stormed out.
He slammed the door behind him, his face livid.
Mom sat on the couch, looking toward the door.
"Breanna, you shouldn't have done that," she said softly.
"Mom?" I asked, confused.
"Your dad's got a thin skin. If you push him like that, he'll hold a grudge against you," she said.
"Let him be mad, whatever," I said and plopped down beside her.
"If he can do it, why should he care what people say?" I added.
Mom let out a sigh.
"You don't understand. Your dad is..." she began.
"I know," I cut her off.
"He only bullies the weak and backs down from the strong," I said. "You've put up with him for eight years, and he thinks he can walk all over you. But now I'm telling him. We're not going to let him walk all over us anymore."
Kaitlin looked at me, her eyes getting teary.
"Breanna..." she said softly.
"Mom, you don't need to be afraid," I said softly.
I held her hand.
"From now on, I'll support you," I promised.
"No matter how much he gives you, I'll still be here for you," I added.
Mom's tears started to fall.
"I've taken care of you for so many years... How can I let you take care of me now?" she said.
"Was raising me really just your responsibility? Wasn't it tough for you?" I asked. "I've grown up now. It's my turn to look after you. Mom, you don't need to be afraid."
I hugged her.
"No matter what happens, I'll always stand by you," I promised.
That night, Dad didn't come home.
He didn't come home the next day either.
On the third day, the family group chat finally lit up.
Someone asked: [Where's Reuben? Why can't we get a hold of him?]
Another relative chimed in: [Kaitlin, did you and Reuben get into a fight?]
[Reuben says he's staying at a hotel. What's going on?]
I didn't say anything.
Mom didn't say anything either.
Then Grandpa called.
"Kaitlin, what's really going on with you two? Reuben says you're asking for a divorce?" Grandpa asked.
"He's the one who wants out, not me," Mom said.
"What are you talking about?" Grandpa asked.
"Go ask your son," Mom shot back.
She hung up the phone.
Two days later, Reuben showed up again.
But he didn't come alone.
There was a woman standing right next to him.
She looked just past thirty, with voluminous, wavy hair, a tight dress hugging her curves, and makeup so heavy it was almost theatrical.
Her belly was already slightly rounded. She was definitely pregnant.
"So you're Kaitlin, huh?" she said.
Then she greeted me, her voice so sugary that it made my skin crawl.
"Reuben's always talking about you," she added.
Kaitlin looked at her, her face calm and composed.
"So you're the mistress?" Kaitlin said.
The woman's smile froze.
"Mistress? I'm Reuben's..." she stammered.
"What are you, exactly?" Mom cut her off.
Mom stood up.
"I've been married to him for twenty-six years. Who do you think you are?" she said.
The woman started to say something, but Mom cut her off. "So, you're pregnant now, huh?"
Her words were sharp as a blade.
"Congrats. Eight years of waiting, and you finally got your wish," Mom said. "But don't think becoming the official Mrs. Barker is going to be that easy. "This house is mine. All of this belongs to me."
"You think you can just toss me out with nothing? Not a chance," she added.
The woman's face dropped. She glanced over at Reuben.
"Reuben, I thought you said..." she started, her voice shaky.
"Said what?" Mom cut in, her voice icy.