He Never Loved Me, Until I Left by Joy Brown Chapter 06

He Never Loved Me, Until I Left by Joy Brown Chapter 06

Nicholas stumbled through the front door, the alcohol making him clumsy.

*Isabella, can you grab my pajamas?” he called out automatically, loosening his tie.

Silence.

Nicholas stopped short, then remembered-she wasn’t here anymore.

He wandered into the bedroom, struggling out of his wine-stained shirt. Usually Isabella would appear quietly around this time, take his jacket, and bring

him clean clothes.

Not tonight.

He went to the living room and flicked on the lights.

Joseph’s crayon drawing hung on the wall-a stick-figure family of three, everyone smiling.

The “daddy’ wore a tie and held hands with ‘mommy’ and ‘Joseph.”

Nicholas stared at the picture that used to irritate him, and laughed bitterly.

How ironic.

All that happiness his son had drawn-Nicholas had never actually provided any of it.

He remembered Joseph sneaking into his study once, hands behind his back, eyes bright with hope: “Could… could you maybe come for a walk with me? 1 want to look at the flowers.”

Nicholas hadnt even glanced up, his voice sharp with annoyance: ‘I’m working. I don’t have time.”

“Oh… Joseph’s excitement deflated instantly. “Sorry for bothering you.”

The little boy had turned away, shoulders sagging.

At the time, Nicholas had been relieved.

Finally, some quiet.

Now he realized how crushed Joseph must have felt.

He pulled out his phone with shaking hands.

Their last conversation was still the sports day invitation Isabella had sent.

He started typing.

“Send me your address. I’ll pick you and Joseph up tomorrow.”

He stared at the words, then deleted them.

Too demanding. She’d think he was giving orders.

“Where are you staying? I’d like to see you both.”

He hit send.

[Message failed to deliver]

Nicholas’s stomach dropped. He checked his contacts.

Isabella’s profile picture was grayed out.

She’d blocked him.

He opened the company chat and scrolled frantically through hundreds of names, looking for hers.

Nothing.

Isabella was gone from the system entirely.

Panic clawed at his chest.

He thought about that resignation letter sitting unopened on his desk and felt sick.

His hands shook as he called Daniel from HR.

“Ring… ring…”

Hello? Mr. Jackson?” Daniel sounded distracted, kids laughing in the background. “Daddy! Come help with my project!”

‘Sorry, just a minute, Daniel told his child.

‘What can I help you with so late, Mr. Jackson?”

“I need to ask about Isabella. Nicholas’s voice came out rough. “Why isn’t she in the company directory anymore?”

“Oh, Ms. Taylor. Daniel’s tone was matter-of-fact. “She resigned a few days ago. Everything’s finalized.”

Daniel continued, “She said her husband found steady work in Harmony City, and they’re moving overseas for their son’s education. We’re happy for her- being a single mom is incredibly difficult.”

Nicholas gripped the phone until his knuckles went white.

“Mr. Jackson?” Daniel sounded confused. “You didn’t know? I assumed you approved it, especially since single parenting is so challenging.”

Nicholas couldn’t find his voice.

Right. Single parenting was challenging.

And as the child’s father, he’d apparently never noticed.

A kid’s voice piped up from Daniel’s end: “Daddy! Come on!”

Daniel’s tone immediately softened: “Almost done, sweetheart. Just let Daddy finish this call, okay?”

“Okay… the child sighed.

Hearing that gentle exchange, Nicholas felt his throat close up.

That’s how parents should talk to their children-with automatic warmth.

He thought of Joseph’s hopeful face, of that careful request for a walk, of his own harsh dismissal.

‘Mr. Jackson?’ Daniel prompted. “You still there?”

“I… Nicholas’s voice cracked. ‘Never mind.”

He hung up.

The living room fell silent except for the wall clock’s steady tick.

Joseph’s drawing seemed to mock him under the bright lights-that happy family that would never exist.

Nicholas collapsed onto the couch and buried his face in his hands.

He’d had everything once.

A wife who adored him.

A son who craved his attention.

And he’d destroyed it all himself.