I've always hated bothering others, but what choice do I have?

Kyle refused to sign the papers, so I had to drag things out and ask a friend who had the time.

"This is pointless. Let's just break up, Kyle."

There! I said it! A few years late, maybe, but I said it.

I almost slipped and mentioned divorce, but that didn't sound right. Kyle and I only had a rushed wedding ceremony. No marriage license or anything, so that will do.

“What now? Changing your tactics? Can’t use your son to guilt trip me, so now it’s yourself?”

I felt a stab of anger. “You think everything is a game, don’t you? Andy was real, Kyle. His pain was real.”

Andy had been diagnosed with congenital heart disease. Since then, we've been in and out of the emergency department. Sad to say, his life was like a ticking bomb.

My son desperately wanted to see his dad, but Kyle never showed up. We've been together for ten years, but he only thought I was using Andy to manipulate him.

But that ends now. It's over.

"Think what you want. I'm leaving," I said as I grabbed my luggage and started to go.

But Aria chimed in. “Kyle, didn’t you promise to take Andy to Disneyland? You didn’t cancel that for a concert with me, did you? Blair’s upset…”

Kyle responded soothingly. “Don’t worry. I know my priorities. We can go to Disneyland anytime, but a concert like that doesn’t happen all the time.”

I scoffed and kept moving. “Priorities, huh?” I muttered under my breath.

Kyle must’ve sensed something was up because he rushed forward and grabbed my hand.

“It’s the middle of the night, Blair. You really have to do this now?”

“Is missing a Disneyland trip really worth crying over? I’ll clear my schedule next month and take Andy then, okay?” he added, probably noticing my puffy eyes.

Next month?

I wish there was still a next month!

If he cared even a little about our son, he’d know how foolish that sounded.

I pulled my hand away. "No need!"

Kyle stared at his empty palm, stunned. Maybe he never thought that the woman who had always clung to him would now avoid him like the plague.

He tried to catch up, but Aria grabbed his arm.

“I'm sorry, Kyle. It’s my fault. Even though I knew Andy was faking his illness, I shouldn’t have competed with a child for your attention. Now, Blair’s mad at me.”

Faking... faking illness?

My mind went blank, and I could feel my pulse pounding in my ears. Before I knew it, I had already slapped Aria across the face!

“Bitch, what did you just say?!”

“Blair, I didn’t mean…”

“Don’t you dare talk about my son like that!” I cut her off, my voice rising. “You don’t know anything about what we went through, so shut your fucking mouth!”

Kyle stepped in and positioned Aria protectively behind him. “Blair, that’s enough. She’s your sister, for Pete’s sake!”

I glared at them. How shameless!

“Who cares if she’s my sister? She better watch her mouth!”

Aria, looking hurt, pleaded, “It’s fine, Kyle. If Blair won’t admit that Andy is faking his illness, I’ll just drop it.”

I frowned and looked at Kyle. “You think Andy is faking it too?”

Kyle didn’t say a word, but his silence spoke volumes.

Damn. What a nice father this man was!

Kyle looked around, but Andy was nowhere to be seen. “So, where’d you take him this time?”

Clearly, he didn’t believe me. If only he’d come home, he’d see our table covered in medications and medical records. But well, he never did.

I remember when Andy knew he didn’t have much time left. I expected him to cry, but he didn’t. Instead, he said he wanted one last family trip to Disneyland.

I wanted to grant it, of course.

So, I begged Kyle and knelt before him. When he refused, I clung to his pants, promising that it would be the last time I’d ever bother him.

One last request, and I’d set him free.

He was happy then. He didn’t say much, but his sparkling eyes told me he was happy.

I was miserable, but so what?

Kyle was a kid I found by the river when we were little. He was homeless, so I begged my parents to adopt him.

It never became official, though. The adoption papers didn’t push through, so we weren’t legally siblings.

When I was in junior high, my parents split up, and Aria went to live with my dad. I always stuck close to Kyle, so I begged him to come with me and my mom.

Little did I know, that made Kyle resent me for years. Turns out he wanted to go with Aria.

Later, my mom made Kyle promise to take care of me, saying it would give her peace of mind. Maybe he didn’t have a choice, so he married me in a quick, no-frills wedding—no family, no friends, no certificate.

He said that was all I deserved.

“Don’t ask as if Andy is just a thing to drag around. He’s your son, Kyle. Can’t you sound a little concerned?”

“Why not? He’s not my responsibility,” Kyle said coldly. “I never wanted any of this.”

Hearing that made me mad.

How heartless could he be?

“You think you’re the only one suffering? Andy didn’t ask to be born into this mess, jerk! He’s a child. Your child! And he deserves better.”

“Aria and I... belong together, Blair. You and Andy are just... complications.”

“Complications?” My voice broke.

I stared at Kyle in disappointment.

Why did I even agree to marry this guy? He used to look like a Prince Charming to me, but now? Seeing him alone made me want to scream.

Kyle opened his mouth, probably to say something stupid, but Aria cut in.

“Kyle, my foot hurts, and my face is burning. God! Can you check if it’s swollen? I’m worried it’ll ruin tomorrow’s business event.”

Right on cue, Kyle’s attention shifted to her.

Aria collapsed dramatically into his arms, water welling up in her eyes like she was in some soap opera. And there was the handprint I left on her cheek!

It was so red, and I was so proud!

Right then, she cried. Not sure if she's faking it or not, but my stupid husband wiped her tears away like she was a fragile porcelain doll.

He used to be that sweet to me. He’d pick me up when I fell and brush away my tears. Now, I couldn’t even remember the last time he was nice to me.

“Apologize to your sister, Blair.”

Excuse me? I straightened my back and lifted my chin. “No way.”

Kyle blinked. You didn’t expect that, did you?

I used to be careful around him because I liked him. Tried to be perfect so he wouldn’t hate me. Desperate, I know, but nothing I did ever measure up to Aria.

After looking surprised for a second, Kyle went back to cuddling Aria.

No time to stay, I turned to leave, but his voice stopped me.

“Blair, don’t push me.”

Then, a bodyguard stepped in, guiding me back. Kyle lounged there, legs crossed, looking at me like I was an annoying fly.

“Apologize to Aria,” he ordered.

Aria gave me a smug smile and then turned to Kyle with fake sweetness. “It’s okay, Kyle. Blair didn’t mean it.”

Kyle sighed, patting her arm. “Aria, you’re too kind. You treat her like a sister, but she’s never seen you that way.”

After that, he glared at me. “Anyone who hurts Aria will pay double.”

Bullies would corner me and steal my lunch money way back in elementary school. But whenever they did that, Kyle would swoop in and beat the crap out of them to protect me.

That protector was long gone, though.

He's protecting someone else now.

When Kyle signaled the bodyguards, they forced me to my knees. I could feel his satisfaction as I bowed my head. Is this what he wants?

On his cue, a bodyguard stepped forward and raised his hand to hit me. Just then, Aria spoke.

“Kyle, she’s still my sister. Men can be too rough. Let me do it.”

Kyle didn’t care, of course.

He just nodded, and Aria slapped me twice.

Then, she turned to Kyle. “Oh no, Kyle! Did I hit too hard?”

Kyle laughed coldly. “She deserves it, Aria. You should have slapped her harder. You’re too kind.”

Not gonna lie, Aria's slap hurt.

“Don’t be stubborn now, Blair. Apologize.”

Apologize for what? For her talking shirt about my son?

If this had happened before, I would have done what he asked immediately.

But I’ve had enough.

Smiling, I spat the words out, “In your dreams!”