Life after the divorce was more fulfilling and joyful than I had ever imagined.
Three months later, I received my first dividend from the shop–just shy of six figures.
It coincided with my father’s sixtieth birthday. As the eldest daughter, I was expected to help.
So I booked the hotel, arranged the emcee, and dedicated myself to making my father’s sixtieth birthday a grand and respectable affair.
David attended with Leo, with Rosalie by his side. They looked for all the world like a family.
When Leo saw me, his eyes lit up.
But I only glanced at him for a second before looking away.
His expression fell.
Rosalie seemed wary of me, clutching David’s arm tightly, her eyes full of suspicion.
David gave me a slight nod. I returned the gesture politely.
Throughout the entire banquet, Rosalie’s attention was glued to David, as if she were afraid someone would steal him away.
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Which, to be fair, was understandable. Based on looks alone, he was far superior to any other man in the room. And with his comp- any about to go public, he was, technically speaking, handsome and wealthy.
But Rosalie probably didn’t know the truth..
his work, to go to the gym and maintain his appearance, was because he had a
The only reason David had the time to focus
wife at home who did everything without complaint.
uld shine in the outside world.
I kept the home front in perfect order so he
But why should I?
The biggest lesson I learned from my divorce was this:
Investing in others by sacrificing yourself
But investing in yourself? You win es a high–stakes gamble. You lose nine times out of ten.
single
me
23
Halfway through the banquet, I noticed Leo had barely touched his food. He was too small to reach the dishes he wanted.
Rosalie wasn’t paying him any mind.
And David was never one to notice such small details.
I thought for a moment, then went to the kitchen and made a bowl of the noodle soup he used to love.
I had a waiter bring it to him.
When Leo saw the familiar bowl, tears began to stream down his face.
In a room full of chatter, I was the only one who noticed him.
He finally seemed to understand how wrong he had been. He ran toward me, crying, “Mommy, I’m sorry, Mommy, I know I was wro- ng. Please don’t leave me, okay?”
The room fell silent.
Chapter 2
All eyes turned to us.
Leo had run from Rosalie’s side. Her face was a mask of fury.
Guests began to whisper. “So she’s the kid’s real mom?”
“Tsk, you didn’t know? The older sister got divorced, the younger one is the new one.”
“No way. The sister went after her own sister’s husband? Has she no shame?”
10:46
“If you ask me, the kid is the one who suffers the most. A new stepmom means a new stepdad. Look, everyone’s almost done eati- ng, and the poor kid is still hungry. Who cares? Only his real mom.”
The whispers grew louder.
I gently removed Leo’s hands from my arm. “I’m sorry, but I’m not your mother.”
Leo was a mess of tears and snot. “Yes, you are! You’re the only one who cares about me! The only one who notices when I’m sad! Mommy! I really know I was wrong!”
24
in
It was too late.
My love for Leo had been worn away long ago, every time he had sided with everyone else against me.
So why did I make him the noodles?
Because I refused to lose myself for anyone else’s sake.
وال
My mistake was not growing thorns to protect myself. It was not a mistake to be sincere with someone.
I would have made a bowl of noodles for any child who was hungry.
But Leo wouldn’t let go.
Facing the judgment of the room, Rosalie had no choice but to try and pull him away. “Leo, come here.”
*
Leo shook her off. “You’re a bad woman! I don’t want you! You only want to marry my dad! You don’t even care if I’m hungry!”
The chatter in the room grew even louder, finally attracting the attention of my father.
He came over, leaning on his cane.
Worried about his high blood pressure, I tried to calm him. “It’s okay, Dad, I can handle this.”
Instead, he struck me with the cane, completely catching me off guard.
The pain was so sharp I nearly buckled. It was David who caught me.
I stared at my father in disbelief, forgetting even to push David away.
My father slammed his cane on the floor, his old, clouded eyes filled with nothing but a fierce need to protect Rosalie. “What is all this nonsense? Elara’s divorce is her own failure! It has nothing to do with Rosalie!”
25
Yes.
From the very beginning, my father had doted on Rosalie and despised me.
Even when I had given him everything I possibly could.
10.46
Chapter 2
I had paid for this entire banquet.
But I hadn’t received a single word of praise from him.
Someone said one bad thing about Rosalie, and he was willing to publicly humiliate me for it.
From my marriage to my divorce, he had never defended me. Not once.
In my entire life, he had never defended me.
