Chapter 6
Tiana didn't cry when I told her I wanted a separation.
She laughed.
A sharp, disbelieving laugh.
"You're going to throw away four years over money?"
I stood beside the kitchen counter.
"No."
She folded her arms.
"Then why?"
"Because I don't trust you."
Her smile disappeared.
I continued.
"You told me Andre wasn't supporting Jayden."
She looked away.
"You don't know the whole story."
"You told Andre I didn't want him involved."
"That was complicated."
"You told him I'd agreed to adopt Jayden."
She opened her mouth.
Nothing came out.
I took a breath.
"And you used money from our joint account toward a property you kept secret."
Her eyes narrowed.
"So now I'm a criminal?"
"I didn't say that."
"You're acting like it."
I shook my head.
"I'm saying our marriage needs honesty, and we don't have it."
For a moment, she looked genuinely hurt.
Then her expression hardened.
"Fine."
She reached for her handbag.
"If you want to leave, leave."
I stared at her.
"This is our home."
She laughed.
"We'll see what the lawyers say."
I nodded.
"Yes. We will."
That night, I moved into the guest room.
I didn't want a dramatic confrontation.
I didn't want Jayden hearing us shouting.
And I didn't want to make decisions in anger.
The next morning, Tiana told Jayden we were separating.
She did it before I came downstairs.
When I entered the kitchen, he was crying.
"Marcus?"
My chest tightened.
I looked at Tiana.
"What did you tell him?"
She crossed her arms.
"The truth."
Jayden wiped his face.
"Mom says you're leaving because I'm expensive."
I felt the air leave my lungs.
I turned toward her.
"Tiana."
She shrugged.
"You said you weren't his ATM."
I closed my eyes.
She'd taken one sentence from an argument and turned it into something cruel.
I knelt beside Jayden.
"Look at me."
He shook his head.
"Please."
He raised his eyes.
I took a breath.
"I'm not separating from your mother because of your expenses."
Tears rolled down his cheeks.
"Then why?"
"Because adults need honesty and trust in their relationships."
He swallowed.
"Did I do something wrong?"
"No."
I held his shoulders gently.
"You are not the reason."
Tiana looked away.
Jayden began crying harder.
I hugged him.
He clung to me.
"I don't want you to go."
My throat tightened.
"I know."
I held him.
"And I want us to work out a healthy way to stay connected, with your parents involved."
He nodded against my shoulder.
Then he whispered, "Promise you won't forget me?"
My eyes burned.
"I won't."
Over the next several weeks, David helped me begin the separation process.
Tiana hired her own attorney.
We exchanged financial disclosures.
The previously undisclosed property arrangement became part of the legal review.
The money transferred from our joint account was traced.
Some payments had been deposits toward a property purchase contract.
Others were connected to personal expenses.
The records showed that Tiana had been setting aside money while telling me we had almost nothing left.
I felt sick.
But David reminded me that legal outcomes would depend on the facts and applicable law.
We couldn't assume everything would be returned.
We had to document it properly.
Meanwhile, Jayden was struggling.
His grades slipped.
He stopped attending basketball practice.
He argued with Tiana.
And he became quiet whenever Andre called.
One afternoon, his school counselor contacted me.
Jayden had asked whether he could speak with both me and Andre.
I was surprised.
But I agreed.
We met at the school with the counselor present.
Andre arrived early.
He looked nervous.
Then Jayden entered.
His headphones hung around his neck.
He stared at both of us.
For a moment, nobody spoke.
Then he whispered, "I need to know something."
Andre leaned forward.
"Anything, son."
Jayden looked at him.
"Why did you stop coming to my games?"
Andre's face crumpled.
"I didn't stop wanting to come."
Jayden shook his head.
"Mom said you didn't care."
Andre wiped his eyes.
"I cared every day."
He took a breath.
"Sometimes I missed games because of work. Sometimes I wasn't told the schedule had changed."
Jayden looked toward me.
I remained silent.
This was their moment.
Andre continued.
"But I should have worked harder to stay connected."
Jayden began crying.
"I thought you didn't want me."
Andre stood slowly.
"Jayden, can I hug you?"
The boy hesitated.
Then nodded.
Andre pulled him close.
Both began crying.
I looked away.
My own eyes filled.
For years, Jayden had carried a wound that didn't belong to him.
Now, for the first time, I watched his father begin helping him heal.
Afterward, Jayden turned toward me.
"Marcus?"
I smiled gently.
"Yeah, buddy?"
"Can I still call you when I need help?"
My throat tightened.
"Of course."
He looked between us.
"Is that okay?"
Andre nodded.
"Absolutely."
Jayden's face softened.
For the first time in weeks, he smiled.
That evening, I moved into a nearby apartment.
It wasn't as large as our house.
The furniture was simple.
The kitchen was small.
But the windows let in plenty of sunlight.
I stood in the living room holding a cardboard box.
For a moment, I felt defeated.
I'd worked so hard to build a home.
Now I was starting over.
My phone rang.
It was Jayden.
"Marcus?"
"Hey, buddy."
"How's the apartment?"
I looked around.
"Pretty good."
"Do you have a couch?"
I laughed.
"Not yet."
He gasped.
"What?"
"Just a folding chair."
He started laughing.
"That's terrible."
I smiled.
"Tell me about it."
Then he said, "Can I come help you pick one?"
My heart warmed.
"I'd like that."
He paused.
"Maybe Dad can come too."
I smiled.
"If everyone agrees, that sounds great."
A few days later, Jayden and Andre visited.
We went furniture shopping.
Jayden chose a gray couch.
Andre helped carry the smaller boxes upstairs.
We ordered pizza.
For a few hours, the three of us laughed like old friends.
It felt strange.
But good.
Then Jayden looked around my apartment.
"Marcus?"
"Yeah?"
"You're still family to me."
My throat tightened.
I sat beside him.
"You're family to me too."
He smiled.
Then he said something that made both Andre and me laugh.
"Good. Because I'm still going to need help with algebra."
I grinned.
"That might be the one thing I can't promise."
Andre laughed.
"I've got algebra."
Jayden looked relieved.
"Perfect."
For the first time, I understood that my relationship with Jayden didn't have to be defined by fighting over titles.
I could care about him.
Andre could be his father.
And Jayden could have support from both of us.
That was enough.
But the next morning, David called.
His voice sounded serious.
"Marcus, the financial review has uncovered something unexpected."
My stomach tightened.
"What?"
He hesitated.
"The property Tiana was saving for wasn't intended to be her personal residence."
I frowned.
"Then what was it?"
David took a breath.
"The purchase documents list another person as a proposed co-owner."
My heart began pounding.
"Who?"
He paused.
May you like
Then said a name I hadn't heard in years.
"Your business partner, Calvin Brooks."
