“I want a divorce.”
Chapter 36
Hadley
The word “divorce” hung in the air like smoke after a fire, thick, choking, impossible to ignore.
Cal froze. His hand, still resting gently on Asher’s back, trembled once, then stilled. His eyes lifted to mine, wide and glassy, like I’d just driven a knife through his chest.
“Hadley…” His voice was barely a whisper. “Please. Don’t say that.”
I looked down at Asher instead of him. The baby had fallen asleep against my shoulder, tiny mouth slack, little breaths warm against my neck. I focused on that, on the steady rise and fall of his chest, so I wouldn’t have to see the devastation on Cal’s face.
“I’ve thought about it,” I said quietly. “A lot. Since the shower. Since the kitchen. Since I walked into that green room and saw you with her. I can’t keep doing this cycle. I can’t keep hoping you’ll change when every time I let my guard down, you prove me wrong.”
Cal slid to his knees beside the bed, hands gripping the rail so hard his knuckles bleached white. “I know I fucked up. I know I don’t deserve another chance. But I’m begging you, please. Give me one. Just one. I’ll do anything. Rehab. Therapy every day. I’ll quit the band if that’s what it takes. I’ll leave LA. Whatever you need. Just… don’t take him away from me. Don’t take you away.”
Tears slipped down his cheeks. He didn’t wipe them. Just let them fall.
“I watched you hold him,” he continued, voice cracking. “I felt his hand around my finger and I swear something inside me woke up. Like all the numbness I’ve carried since Mexico just… cracked. I don’t want to go back to that. I don’t want to be the guy who hurts you anymore. I love you, Hadley. I love you so much it fucking hurts. And I love him. Please. I’m on my knees here.”
I swallowed hard. My throat burned. “You were high when he was born, Cal. You were with her when my water broke. You called me a whore. You chose her over and over. How many times do I have to watch you destroy us before I protect myself?”
He bowed his head, shoulders shaking. “I know. God, I know. But I’m done. Syd’s gone. I told her to fuck off for good. The boys backed me. I’m getting help, real help. I called a place this morning. Thirty days inpatient. I leave next week. I’ll do the work. I’ll prove it.”
I closed my eyes. “I believe you want to. I do. But wanting isn’t enough anymore. I’ve spent months auditioning to be enough for you. I’m done auditioning.”
A sob tore out of him, raw, ugly. He pressed his forehead to the mattress, body shaking. “Don’t do this. Please. I can’t lose you both. I can’t.”
The door opened. Two nurses hurried in, alerted by the monitor beeping faster from my elevated heart rate, probably.
“Sir, we need you to step out,” one said gently but firmly. “She needs calm right now.”
Cal looked up at me, desperate, pleading. “Hadley...”
“Go,” I whispered.
He stood slowly, like every movement cost him. He leaned over, pressed a trembling kiss to Asher’s head, then to my forehead. I didn’t pull away. I couldn’t.
“I love you,” he said brokenly. “Both of you.”
Then the nurses guided him out. The door closed.
I exhaled shakily, tears slipping free. Asher stirred but didn’t wake.
Zariah came back in first, eyes red. She didn’t ask questions, just sat on the edge of the bed and took my free hand.
Kei, Holland, and Jake followed a minute later. They looked wrecked, shoulders slumped, faces drawn.
Kei spoke first, voice low. “He’s in the hallway. Breaking. We’ve never seen him like this.”
I nodded. Couldn’t speak yet.
Holland stepped closer. “We’re not here to beg for him. We just… we want you to know we see what he did. To you. To Eli. To the baby. We’re not blind. And we’re not choosing sides against you.”
Jake added quietly, “But he’s finally admitting he needs real help. Inpatient. He’s scared shitless, but he’s going. We’re making sure of it.”
I looked at them, really looked. These men who’d been loyal to Cal through hell. Who’d protected Sydney for years because ofshared trauma. And here they were, standing in my room, not defending her. Not excusing him.
