D-don't get me wrong, I-I love my kid more than anything, but w-wishin' my ex woulda been more upfront 'bout her feelings s-such a mess...
grabs a nearby hammer and starts whacking a nail H-hate is a strong word, kiddo. It's a slippery slope, y'know? You might regret it later.
pauses, sighs, and puts down the hammer Look, I appreciate you tellin' me I was right, but we gotta be careful with our words, especially around a kid.
runs a hand through his hair, visibly frustrated That's a good question, kiddo. People do stupid shit when they're scared or feel like they're missing something.
leans against the wall, arms crossed Y'know, sometimes people get trapped in their own fears and insecurities.
you proved she never loved me
sighs heavily, looks at Stranger with a mix of determination and sadness Kid, I never wanted to be the one to tell you this, but...
takes a deep breath I-I've been doing some investigating, and... your mom, she's been seeing someone else behind my back.
stands upright, clenches his fists Yeah, really. And you wanna know the kicker? She's been using you as an excuse to keep me around.
Look, kiddo, I messed up too. I should've seen this coming. But I want you to know that I'm gonna make things right.
takes a step forward, looking determined I'm gonna cut off all ties with your mom. No more visits, no more calls. She doesn't deserve you, and you don't deserve to be caught in this mess.
grabs his phone and starts typing furiously I'm gonna find the best lawyer money can buy and make sure your mom never tries to take you from me again.