Page 1 of The Breaking Point

Chapter 1

Applause fills the room as Aiden and I cut the cake. His mother Mary raises her glass from beside him. “Who knew this marriage would last ten years,” she says loudly. Everyone chuckles awkwardly because they know it is not in jest. My best friend Quinn lifts her glass and toasts, “To the happy couple.” The room bursts into cheers and clapping. I offer Quinn a small smile.

We are gathered in the banquet hall of the Hotel Ashburn in Houston, reserved for Aiden’s and my ten-year wedding anniversary. The truth is, we’ve been together longer than that. After all, we have a sixteen-year-old son to prove it, but those are just details.

My husband of a decade presses his lips to mine, smearing a bit of frosting because I warned him what would happen if he ruined my makeup. The man may be reckless but he’s not suicidal. He calls over our boys, and we take turns feeding them cake.

Jackson, sixteen, went through a moody phase not long ago until his little brother Alex turned fifteen. Then, the title of “moody” passed over to Alex and Jackson decided to change his tune. I worried he was missing out on his childhood, but according to Jackson, when Alex started talking back to me, Jackson saw how stupid that looked and made up his mind he did not want to be that person.

The hall is filled with our family and friends, some of whom we have not seen since our wedding day ten years ago. Aiden and I make our way to our high school guidance counsellor, Ms. Linda. Yes, we invited her. She is the reason neither of us gave up on college after we found out I was pregnant just a week before graduation. That was terrifying. We live in Texas, so there were not many options, but I doubt I would have taken them anyway. I had fallen in love with my baby before I even told Aiden, ready to face whatever came alone.

Aiden had been accepted to the Massachusetts Institute of Technology on a full scholarship. I even told him to go without me, but he refused. ‘We made it together, and we would figure it out together.’ That was a very mature decision for an eighteen-year-old. Ms. Linda was the one who convinced him not to quit and helped him apply for late scholarships to the University of Texas at Austin. It was still hours away from where we lived, but we made it work.

“Hard to believe it has been so long,” Ms. Linda says with a warm smile. “You two have come a long way. I am proud of you both.”

Aiden nods. “We could not have done it without you.”

I add, “Honestly, you saved us from making a huge mistake. I don’t know where we would be without your encouragement.”

She shrugs modestly. “Just doing my job. But it is wonderful to see how well you have built your life.”

We trade a few quick stories about the boys, how Jackson’s almost too tall for his own clothes and how Alex keeps surprising us with his stubborn streak.

We slip through the crowd, the hum of voices folding around us. I catch sight of my parents by the buffet, arms folded, watching the chaos with faint smiles. They didn’t show up much when I was growing up, but now, they’re all in, babysitting the boys after school, giving me the chance to build my career. I want to say it’s enough to make up for leaving me at Grandma’s while they chased their dreams, but it’s not. Still, it’s something. My older siblings drift past, no kids, no hurry. They’re both more than a decade older than me.

Aiden’s an only child, and that explains why his mom still hovers like a storm cloud. We fought over it early on. She pushed; we pushed back. Aiden finally drew the line, clear and unshakeable. That kept the peace. Then she met her new husband, someone she actually chose. I made that happen. Now she lives an hour away, close enough to see the boys, not so close that it happens every day.

My boss bailed, but his other executive assistant is here. There’s something about his British accent that makes every word sound posh and dignified, as if he’s narrating a royal ceremony instead of showing up to a party. I don’t like him. Had to invite him out of pure courtesy, never expecting he’d actually show up, and certainly not with some woman draped over his arm who looks like she charges by the hour.

Aiden wanders off to the bar, joining his college buddies as they toss back shots like it’s a competition. Just then, Grant picks theperfect moment to stroll over with Ms. World hanging off his arm.

“Hey, Kate,” he says, that familiar smirk playing on his lips.

I nod, keeping it casual. “Hello, Grant. Thanks for coming. And bringing... a friend.”

His grin sharpens. “Some of us prefer playing the field rather than settling for the first person who sees us naked.”

I arch an eyebrow. “Well, the field turns into jail bait once you hit midlife.”

“You're looking beautiful, Kate.”

“Thanks,” I say, not bothering to hide my irritation.

Grant smirks. “You’d look even better without that prissy look on your face.”

Motherfucker. I’m this close to hitting him.

“There she is,” he says with a grin. “You shouldn’t hide her.” Then he strolls away like he owns the place.

I scan the room, trying to pull my mask back on when Quinn slips her arm through mine. “So that was Grant,” she says.

“Yeah. The tall one, not the one with her boobs practically falling out,” I reply.

Quinn chuckles, shooting me a look, but before she can say what she’s thinking, Aiden calls me over.

Great. His college buddies do not like me. They’ve always blamed me for making him come home every weekend to spend time with his kid instead of partying like the rest of them. Hello!He was in that bathroom stall with me. I don’t tell people but our eldest was conceived in a bathroom stall at our school. That’s what happens when you have a retired army nurse for a grandmother and a helicopter mom.

Quinn tugs on my arm, “Stop cringing and go over there before it gets weird.”

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