Over the last few weeks, the house had become colder. The warmth between Lucas and Lorna had turned into something brittle, not because of the weather. They hardly made contact anymore. They recorded conversations. Looks were cautious. And the silence finally broke tonight.
"You're no longer even acting, are you?" With a clatter, Lucas threw his phone onto the marble countertop and barked.
Lorna's eyes narrowed as she turned away from the sink. "What is the intended meaning of that?"
"I observed your gaze on him during the school function. during dinner. The way your eyes follow him when he exits a room, the way you laugh at his jokes. His voice tight with pain, he took a step closer. "You still have feelings for Michael Hudson."
Her heart pounded as she tensed up. "That is unfair."
"Oh, it's not? Then, Lorna, tell me—what is it? because you no longer gaze at me in that manner. For years, you haven't. His tone shook with a mixture of anger and grief as he clenched his fists. "You're emotionally cheating on me by seeing your child's father."
Lorna's tone faltered. "You have no right to make this seem so easy. I co-parent with Michael. I've been attempting to do that for Jason.
Lucas paced and scoffed. For Jason? or for oneself? It's possible that you're using Jason as a pretext to return to the man who broke you.
She yelled, "I'm trying to make this work." However, you continue to undermine it with your accusations and paranoia. Lucas, perhaps you are the one who has given up!
A floorboard creaked upstairs, relieving the tension.
Both of them froze.
A tiny head looked down from the stairway's summit.
Jason stood there, pale and wide-eyed. "Mom? Dad?
Lorna felt her heart sink to her stomach. "Jason, please return to your room, baby."
However, the harm had already been done. For a boy his age, there was too much understanding in his naive eyes.
Disgrace rising in his throat, Lucas turned away.
Lorna softened her voice and walked toward the stairs. We're just chatting, my love. Everything is fine.
Jason remained motionless. "Are you fighting because of me?"
She was torn by the question.
She forced a smile and whispered, "No, baby." "This has nothing to do with you, believe me."
Lorna was left to comfort the boy; they were both beginning to fail as Lucas walked away behind her, quietly and solemnly.