Chapter 13 : Wild Bent Jealousy The worst part wasn't the silence . It was the pretending charade . Every morning , I brewed coffee knowing she was upstairs , slathering her face with too much foundation and walking around the house like she didn't shatter everything between me and Zach . Every night , I forced a smile for Liam's sake as she flounced across the hallway in her silk nightwear , brushing past me like the air didn't reek of her perfume and betrayal . We were three ghosts trying to survive under one roof . Except she was the only one laughing . " Liam , ready for school ? " I called out as I zipped his lunchbox shut . " Coming , Mom ! " he chirped , slinging his backpack over one shoulder . Then , like a vulture circling roadkill , Celine descended the stairs in full glam , dressed like she was off to a gala instead of a quick morning drop - off . " I thought I'd tag along ," she said with a sickeningly sweet smile . " Liam and I had a little chat last night , didn't we , bub ? " Liam blinked . " Um . Yeah . About fruit snacks ? " She giggled , ruffling his hair . " He's such a good listener . " My lips twisted into a sneer . " Celine , " I said carefully , " this is Liam's school routine . Maybe sit this one out ." Her smile didn't falter . " But Zach asked me to drop something off at the office later , and I thought I could just ride along . Bonding time , right ? " Before I could answer , Liam was already tugging on my hand , eager to go . I didn't want to cause a scene - not in front of him . So I swallowed the bile rising in my throat and said , " Fine . " But inside the car , she took the front passenger seat before I could even blink . " Shotgun , " she said playfully , twirling a lock of hair . I drove in silence as she rambled about some new skincare line , occasionally glancing back at Liam with fake warmth . He responded politely , but his eyes flicked between us . He wasn't used to this . He shouldn't have to get used to this . When we pulled up at the school gate , Celine leaned over me - literally over my shoulder - to open the door . " Bye , baby ! " she called out . " Don't forget what we talked about , okay? " Liam raised a brow but nodded . " Okay ... " As soon as he disappeared through the gates , I exhaled sharply . " You're unbelievable . " Celine leaned back smugly . " Oh, don't act surprised . You let me in the car , didn't you ? " " I let you sit in silence . But of course , you don't understand boundaries , do you ? " Her smile sharpened . " Neither do you , apparently . Still living here . Still breathing his air . " I gripped the steering wheel hard enough to crack it . " I'm here for Liam . " She tilted her head . " Are you ? Because I don't think Liam's the one you keep staring at when Zach walks in shirtless from the gym . " I didn't dignify it with an answer . She smirked deviously . " That's what I thought . " That evening , Zach came home late . I was cleaning up Liam's coloring mess when I heard the front door click open and the shuffle of familiar footsteps . " Hey ," he said , dropping his keys on the table . He looked exhausted , his shirt half - untucked , a line of worry etched on his brow . I didn't say anything . I just nodded . He hovered in the doorway for a second longer . Like he wanted to say something else - but didn't . Then Celine appeared behind him , draping her arms around his neck like a vine . " You're late ," she purred , pressing a kiss to his cheek . " I told you , I had back - to - back meetings with the producers ," he muttered . " Hmm . Still could've called ." She turned to me . " Right , Arianne ? " I didn't look up . " Don't involve me into your ugly little drama ." Zach frowned , but Celine just shrugged and trailed him to the kitchen . I could hear her laughter echoing off the walls . It was always a little too loud , a little too forced . But Zach didn't stop her . Not once . That afternoon the next day , the doorbell rang . Arianne didn't expect anyone - not when her whole body still buzzed with tension from Celine's little performance the other day . She opened the door , expecting a delivery or maybe the neighbor with a misplaced package . But it was Neil - tall , calm , charismatic in his simple shirt and jeans , and impossibly grounded . He stood there like a sigh she didn't know she'd been holding in. " Sorry to drop by unannounced , " he said , voice low and steady . " I figured you could use the company . " Arianne blinked , then stepped aside without thinking . " You have no idea . " Neil walked in , eyes sweeping across the hallway , pausing at the framed photo of Zach and Liam on the wall . His gaze moved past it , over the still , quiet piano that hadn't been played in months . The house looked peaceful , but they both knew better . " You okay here ? " he asked gently . Arianne let out a soft exhale . " I'm surviving . " He smiled and pulled out a brown paper bag . " I brought those strawberry tarts you love . From that bakery in Sundry . Still warm . " Something in her cracked open , just a little . She smiled genuinely . " God , I needed that . " They took the tarts out to the garden where Liam usually plays . The late afternoon sun filtered through the trees , casting golden light and long shadows across the tiles . There was something so safe about the silence between them , about the way Neil let her breathe without asking her to explain her brokenness . She laughed - a genuine one - for the first time in weeks . Neil had always had that effect on her . Steady , warm , careful . Like someone you could trust with the truth . Little did they know , Zach was watching them from the window on the second floor . He saw how Arianne's head tilted back as she laughed , her hand grazing Neil's arm as he handed her another tart . Neil's eyes never left her . He leaned in slightly as he whispered something , and she laughed again - so freely it cut Zach to the bone . He hadn't seen her ex - wife laugh like that in months . Celine came up behind him , linking her arm with his . " What are you staring at ? " " Strangers in my garden ," he spat , grinding his teeth . Her eyes followed his gaze - and narrowed into slits . " Oh , that detective is breaking the borders now , huh ?. " Zach stayed silent , but something dark flickered in his eyes . The way Neil leaned closer . The way Arianne touched his wrist . How natural it all looked . Like he belonged . He clenched his jaw , muttering heavy expletives at the back of his head . " You're not jealous , are you ? " Celine asked , voice syrupy with spite . Zach's silence gave her everything she needed . She stepped in front of him , forcing him to look at her . " You have me , " she said , pouting . " You chose me , remember ? " His jaw tightened . But his eyes remained locked on the porch , on the woman he let slip too far . Discover our latest featured short drama reel. Watch now and enjoy the story!