Chapter 4
The shadow of Elena’s sedan lengthened across the freshly mown lawn as it pulled into the driveway precisely at two o’clock. True to his plan, David had successfully persuaded the kids to spend the afternoon at the neighborhood community pool with their friends, ensuring they were entirely insulated from the friction of this visit. He stood by the front door, waiting with his arms crossed as the front screen door creaked open.
Elena stepped inside, looking impeccably put-together in a tailored beige trench coat despite the domestic chaos trailing behind her. She didn't look at David; her eyes scanned the entryway as if she were inspecting a hotel she was considering giving a poor review.
"Where are the children?" she asked, dropping her leather handbag onto the hallway console table with a sharp click.
"They're out," David replied evenly, holding his ground near the living room archway. "Which is better for everyone involved. You said you wanted to grab your clothes and your jewelry box. They're packed and sitting in the guest room upstairs."
Elena paused, turning her head to look at him with a cold, analytical squint. "You’ve turned them against me, haven’t you? I could hear it in Tyler’s voice on the phone. So cold, so formal. Just like you."
"I didn't have to turn anyone against you, Elena," David said, his voice remaining terrifyingly calm. "Your actions speak with a clarity I could never hope to match. Throwing a child's medals in the trash because they overshadowed your afternoon isn't something that requires a smear campaign. It speaks for itself."
"It was a moment of frustration!" Elena snapped, stepping closer, her voice rising just enough to puncture the quiet of the house. "You have no idea what kind of pressure I'm under. Between my obligations at the gallery and trying to keep this household from falling apart—"
"By trashing Mia's achievements?" David interrupted, his tone dropping an octave. "Let's not rewrite history, Elena. You've resented her success from the very first ribbon she brought home. It didn't fit the narrative you wanted for this family."
Elena's jaw tightened. She walked past him into the living room, her heels clicking rhythmically against the hardwood floor. She stopped by the mantelpiece, where a framed family portrait from three years ago sat. In the photo, all four of them were smiling, their bodies posed just right, though the underlying stiffness had been visible to David even then.
"I gave up my career for this family," she whispered, her back to him.
"No, Elena," David said, following her at a measured distance. "You chose a lifestyle, and when reality didn't match the glossy magazine spread you envisioned, you blamed everyone around you for failing to play their assigned roles."
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She whipped around, her eyes flashing with genuine anger. "If you think you can just push me out of my own home, you've got another thing coming. My lawyer will tear those separation papers to shreds."
"Then let the courts decide," David replied, gesturing toward the stairs. "Your bags are upstairs. Take what you need, and let's keep this civil."
