Unbroken by Secrets

Chapter nine- shattered silence

Skylar finally gave birth to a baby boy, as expected, and they named him Clark. It was a moment that should have brought joy, but something had been brewing under the surface for months—something neither Xavier nor Skylar had been willing to confront. They enrolled Erica into a boarding school, thinking it would give Skylar time to focus on their newborn. But even with Erica gone, Skylar’s detachment only grew, leaving Xavier grappling with both confusion and frustration.

On that fateful evening, the house was unusually quiet except for the soft hum of the night outside. Skylar sat in the dimly lit living room, her fingers tightly gripping a half-empty bottle of scotch. She stared blankly at the wall in front of her, the shadows flickering from the dying embers in the fireplace casting a ghostly dance across the room. A storm of emotions churned within her, but she let none of it show. She was good at that—burying it deep.

The silence was broken by Clark’s loud cry, sharp and needy. Upstairs, Xavier jolted from his sleep, his heart racing as he scrambled out of bed. Rubbing his eyes, he rushed to the nursery, scooping the baby into his arms. His mind was heavy with exhaustion; sleepless nights had become the new normal since Clark’s arrival. He rocked the baby gently, trying to soothe him, but the cries only grew louder, more desperate. Clark needed feeding, and it wasn’t something Xavier could provide.

Cradling the baby, he made his way downstairs to the living room. The smell of alcohol hit him first, sharp and pungent. Then he saw Skylar, sitting there, barely moving.

“Didn’t you hear the baby crying?” Xavier asked, his voice sharp with irritation but weighed down by fatigue. He bounced Clark lightly, trying to calm the child.

Skylar didn’t even glance up. Her voice was flat, void of any warmth. “And how is that my business?” she replied, taking another slow sip of scotch as if she hadn’t heard him.

Xavier blinked in disbelief, anger bubbling up inside him. “What do you mean by that? You’re his mother. You’re supposed to take care of him.”

Finally, Skylar’s cold gaze lifted to meet his. “And you’re his father,” she shot back, her words laced with venom. “Where’s it written that I must be the one to take care of the baby? You wanted a child, and that’s what I gave you. Now, it’s your responsibility, whether you like it or not.”

Xavier’s jaw clenched. His patience, already worn thin from nights of crying and sleeplessness, was at its breaking point. “I can’t believe this is you speaking. He’s crying, Skylar—your son is crying.”

“Our son,” she corrected with a cruel smirk, unbothered by his growing frustration. She swirled the scotch in her glass, almost mesmerized by the motion of the liquid. “Do you really think I’ll drop everything to feed him, change him, just because you expect me to? You know I’ve got more important things to do.”

“What things?” Xavier asked, his voice cracking under the weight of their unraveling. “All you do is sit here, drink, and act like this child doesn’t exist.”

Skylar chuckled darkly, a sound that sent chills down his spine. “More important things like reclaiming my life,” she said, bitterness seeping into her voice. “Nine months, Xavier. Nine months of being imprisoned in this house, losing myself, just so you could get the son you always wanted.”

Xavier’s shoulders slumped as his anger gave way to sorrow. “I didn’t imprison you, Skylar. I thought… I thought after giving birth, things would change. That we’d change. That you’d find some peace.”

“Well, you were wrong,” she said coldly, her voice cutting through the fragile hope in his heart. “The only thing that’s changed is that Erica isn’t here to emotionally blackmail me anymore. And tell your family not to bother coming to see Clark. I’ll make sure they regret it.”

Xavier’s heart sank. “My mother is coming over today.”

Skylar shrugged, unaffected. “Then tell her I went out to a party. Maybe she’ll take the hint.”

Xavier stared at her, disbelief and heartbreak swirling in his chest. “Skylar, that’s my mother. Show some respect.”

Skylar laughed, a cruel sound that felt like a slap to his face. “I don’t respect people who don’t respect me,” she said, rising unsteadily from her chair, the bottle still in her hand. “Let her stay in her lane.” She disappeared up the stairs, her footsteps heavy and uneven, leaving Xavier standing there, holding their son.

Clark had quieted after the argument, his small face nuzzling against his father’s chest. Xavier looked down at his son, his heart breaking for the family that was supposed to be whole. “Let’s get you changed, little man,” he whispered softly, pressing a kiss to the baby’s forehead as he carried him upstairs to the nursery.

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Four hours later, the soft chime of the doorbell echoed through the house. Mrs. Shalom stood at the entrance, her sharp eyes immediately taking in the tense atmosphere. She had suspected something was wrong for months, and now it was undeniable. Skylar wasn’t there to greet her, of course.

After helping Xavier settle Clark, Mrs. Shalom sat with him in the quiet of the living room. The exhaustion on her son’s face told her more than words could. “Xavier,” she began gently, but her tone was firm, “we warned you about this. We saw the signs. If you had listened—”

“I love her, Mum,” Xavier interrupted, his voice cracking. He rubbed his eyes, trying to hold back tears. “I thought... I thought after Clark, she’d change. We’d find our way back.”

Mrs. Shalom sighed heavily. “Even if love wasn’t involved, you’re married. Divorce isn’t an option for your father orm me. But this—this isn’t how it’s supposed to be. Are you telling me she hasn’t come home yet? It’s 2 a.m.”

Xavier shook his head, his eyes hollow. “I’m used to waiting for her.”

Mrs. Shalom frowned, her heart aching for her son. “Have you eaten?”

“I’m not hungry. I just… I just want her to come back safely.”

Mrs. Shalom placed a comforting hand on his shoulder. “She’s not a child, Xavier. You can’t keep doing this.”

Just then, the sound of heels clicking against the hardwood floor signaled Skylar’s return. She sauntered into the living room, her expression indifferent as she pulled off her heels and tossed her bag on the table. Her eyes met Mrs. Shalom’s hard gaze, but she didn’t flinch.

“You’re still awake?” Skylar asked, almost dismissively, as if her late-night return were perfectly normal.

Mrs. Shalom didn’t back down. “Is that a greeting?”

Skylar snorted, her tone mocking. “Are you talking to me, mother-in-law?”

“Skylar!” Xavier interjected, his voice pleading as he tried to prevent the situation from escalating.

Skylar rolled her eyes. “Everyone should just stay in their lane,” she muttered, clearly done with the conversation before it had even begun.

“I’m not here for you, Skylar,” Mrs. Shalom said, her voice calm but laced with disapproval. “I came to see my grandson. And I can see how much you care about him.”

Skylar’s lips curled into a mocking smile. “You're right. He’s my son. But let’s be clear, Xavier and I share the responsibilities for Clark.”

Mrs. Shalom’s eyes narrowed, her patience wearing thin. “And what responsibility have you fulfilled?”

“I gave birth to him. That’s enough. The rest—paying for him, feeding him, changing his diapers—that’s all Xavier’s job. Let’s change the rules.”

Mrs. Shalom’s expression hardened. “You’re shameless,” she said quietly, shaking her head.

Skylar only laughed, a hollow sound, as she took a step toward the stairs. “Thanks for coming. Goodnight.” Without another word, she disappeared upstairs.

Mrs. Shalom sighed deeply, turning to her son, her voice gentle. “You’re dealing with more than you should, Xavier. Goodnight,” she said, retreating to her own room, leaving Xavier alone once more, staring at the space Skylar had left behind.