His After The Heartbreak (BL)

Chapter 7 –

The Confrontation

Tyler's POV

"Of course he is," I muttered bitterly, staring at the floor. My blood boiled just thinking about it. The man who had made our lives miserable—my life miserable—was moving on like nothing had happened.

Mom didn't say anything for a moment. The silence was heavy, her hesitation making it clear that she knew how I felt.

"Tyler," she finally said, her voice soft. "We have to go."

I snapped my head up, my eyes locking onto hers. "We have to go? Why, Mom? Why do we have to do anything for him?"

"It's important," she said, avoiding my gaze as she wiped her hands on the dish towel.

"For who?" I demanded, stepping closer. "For him? Because it's definitely not important for me."

Mom sighed, rubbing her temples. "He's still your father, Tyler."

I felt like she'd just slapped me with those words. "Are you serious right now? He's not my father. Don't you dare call him that!"

"Tyler—"

"No, Mom!" I yelled, cutting her off. "Stop defending him! He's not a father. He's a selfish, lying, good-for-nothing—"

"Stop it!" Mom shouted back, her voice shaking, but I barely heard her.

I ignored her, the anger rushing through me like a storm that had been building for years. "What kind of father abandons his family? What kind of father chooses himself over his wife and son? And now you're standing here, telling me we're supposed to celebrate him starting a new life? A better life?"

"It's not that simple," she said, her voice quieter now, as though she was trying to calm the fire she'd just ignited.

"Not that simple?" I repeated, my voice dripping with disbelief. I took a step closer, my chest heaving. "Mom, he left us with nothing! Do you remember that? Or do I need to remind you of all the crap he's put us through?"

"Tyler, don't—"

"No, I will!" I shouted, cutting her off again, my voice loud enough to make her flinch. Every memory, every bitter moment clawed its way up to the surface, and I couldn't stop it even if I wanted to. "Do you remember when he took off without a word, leaving us to figure out how to pay the bills? Or when you had to work two jobs just to keep a roof over our heads?"

Her shoulders sagged, her lips pressed into a thin line, but she didn't respond.

"Do you remember how he'd come home drunk, yelling at you for no reason? The nights he threw things around because he was angry at the world, and somehow, it was always your fault? Like the time he broke that lamp and made me clean it up, because God forbid he do anything himself?"

Her eyes welled up, the tears threatening to spill over, but I didn't care. The words kept tumbling out, my voice trembling with rage.

"What about the time he promised me—promised me—that he'd come to my soccer game? Do you remember that? I waited for hours, Mom. Hours. And where was he? Nowhere. Probably out gambling, or drinking, or doing something he thought was more important than showing up for his own son. Do you know how humiliating that was for me? Everyone else had their dads there, cheering them on, but me? Nothing."

"Tyler, please," she whispered, her voice cracking, but her plea only fueled my anger.

"And then there's the real kicker, isn't there?" I said, my voice turning bitter, almost mocking. "The time he brought her into our house. Our home, Mom! I walked in, and there she was, sitting on our couch like she belonged there. He had the nerve to cheat on you right under your nose, and when you caught them, what did he do? He blamed you! He said it was your fault, that you weren't good enough for him. Do you remember that night? Because I do. I'll never forget it."

Mom's tears were falling freely now, her face pale and broken. But it didn't matter. I was too far gone to stop.

"And you know what really kills me?" I said, my voice trembling with raw emotion. "After everything he's done—everything he's put us through—you're still defending him. Why, Mom? Why are you still standing up for him? He doesn't deserve it! He doesn't deserve you!"

Her lips quivered, but no words came out. I could see the pain in her eyes, the way my words were cutting into her, but I didn't care. She needed to hear this.

"I've spent my whole life watching him tear us apart," I continued, my voice breaking now. "And you—you just keep letting him. You keep making excuses for him, like he's some misunderstood saint. He's not, Mom. He's a monster. A selfish, cruel, heartless monster, and I am done pretending he's anything else."

Her voice came out barely above a whisper. "He's your father, Tyler."

"No, he's not!" I shouted, my voice echoing through the room. "A father doesn't do the things he did. A father doesn't leave his family to fend for themselves. A father doesn't break his promises, or hurt the people who love him. A father protects his family, Mom. He loves them. That man is nothing but a devil, and devils don't change."

"Even the devil was once an angel," she said quietly, her voice trembling.

I let out a bitter laugh, shaking my head. "Yeah, and when the devil fell, he was thrown out. So maybe it's time you do the same, Mom. Throw him out of your life. Stop pretending he's worth it, because all you're doing is making yourself look pathetic."

Her hand came out of nowhere, the slap stinging across my cheek. My head snapped to the side, and for a moment, I just stood there, stunned, my skin burning from the impact.

"That's the third slap today," I muttered bitterly, rubbing my cheek. My voice was quieter now, but no less sharp. "Three slaps and one of them is from you, my mother because of man who doesn't give a damn about you."

Her face crumpled, guilt and pain etched into every line. "Tyler, I—"

"No," I said firmly, cutting her off. My voice was cold, detached. "Don't. Don't say another word to defend him. You're slapping me because of him? A man who walked out on us, cheated on you, and treated us like garbage? How much lower are you willing to go for him, Mom?"

Her tears came faster now, her hands trembling at her sides.

"One day," I said, my voice low and bitter, "I hope you wake up and realize how blind you've been. I hope you finally see him for what he is—a liar. A cheater. A disgrace. And I hope you find the strength to let go."

She tried to speak, but the words wouldn't come. Her voice cracked, her body shaking.

"Well, I'm not going to his wedding," I said, my voice final. "And there's nothing you or anyone else can do to change my mind."

I turned and stormed toward the door, my heart pounding in my chest. But just as I reached for the handle, her voice stopped me.

"I'm doing this for you."

I froze, my hand hovering over the doorknob.

"You're so blinded by your anger that you can't see it," she said, her voice shaking. "I'm doing this to protect you, Tyler. He… he threatened to take you away from me. My only joy. My only reason to keep going. He said if I didn't do what he wanted, he'd take you, and I'd never see you again."