“That’s not exactly it.” Eric’s heart squeezed painfully as he saw the hurt on her face, shaking his head slowly.

“The thing is, from today, I won’t be staying here with you two anymore. This will be your home now, and I’ll be living at the old place.”

“Why?” Joy’s brow furrowed as she tried to understand. “But… aren’t families supposed to live together?”

That single word, “family,” struck Eric hard. Regret filled his eyes, and he couldn’t shake the guilt he felt for letting her down.

“Joy.” He placed a gentle hand on her shoulder, forcing the words out with difficulty. “Your mommy and I, we’re not going to get married. We won’t be living together as a family anymore.”

In his heart, he would always see them as his family—his forever, his only love. But right now, this was what he needed to say. “Not getting married, not a family anymore…”

Tears brimmed in Joy’s eyes as her tiny shoulders quivered. Her voice wavered through her sobs. “Why?”

“I’m so sorry.” Regret clenched Eric’s chest, the weight of guilt pressing down on him.

“I broke my promise, Joy. Please listen to your mommy. I’ll visit you when I can, alright?”

Tears gathered on Joy’s lashes as she pouted.

A sudden outburst shook the room. “No!”

Her reaction startled Eric. He took a step back. “Joy?”

“NO, no!” Louder cries escaped from Joy. “You broke your promise, Daddy! You promised to marry Mommy! You said we would always be a family!”

Each word seemed to break her a little more, and soon she could hardly speak through her sobs.

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“You don’t want Mommy anymore! I don’t want you either! I don’t love you anymore!”

“Joy!” Eric’s pain only deepened as he reached for her, desperate to hold her close.

“Don’t touch me!” Joy pulled away from him, her head shaking. She darted toward Hadley. “Mommy! Mommy!”

Hadley’s eyes filled with tears as she pulled Joy into her arms, holding her tight as her daughter sobbed.

“Mommy…” Joy wept, hiding her face in her mother’s embrace. “Daddy’s mean! I don’t want him anymore!”

Struggling for words, Hadley’s voice caught in her throat. She searched for some way to comfort Joy.

A glance at Eric showed nothing but turmoil and heartbreak on her face.

He had promised her before that he would take care of everything and talk to Joy himself.

This was all he could manage as an explanation.

No other words seemed right.

Their lives had gone separate ways. The wedding would never happen, and whether it was his decision or hers, it made no difference now.

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