Chapter 20
Emily swallowed hard. “You pushed me down the stairs. You told people I was poisoning you with mangoes. You begged for Sophia to replace me. Did you really think I’d forget that?”
“I tried,” she continued, voice cracking. “I tried so hard to be a good mom. Maybe I wasn’t perfect, but I gave you everything I had. And in the end, this is
what I got.”
Lucas turned red with shame. Still, he didn’t let go. “Sorry, Mom. We were stupid. We didn’t understand. But we do now. Please… just give us another
chance.”
Before Emily could answer, Ava’s small voice broke in: “Emily… are you leaving?”
She looked down. Ava was clinging to her, wide eyes swimming with tears.
Nathan gently picked up his niece, soothing her. “Hey, hey, don’t worry. Emily isn’t going anywhere just yet. Whatever she decides–we’ll respect it. And you’ll still see her.”
Ethan’s jaw tensed. Watching Nathan hold Ava with such easy familiarity while standing next to Emily–it made his blood boil.
He stepped forward. “Emily, don’t be ridiculous. These are your kids. You’re really going to walk away from them to play house with someone else’s?”
Emily stood slowly, her eyes suddenly cold and sharp. “When they shoved me down the stairs–did they need me then? When they told the housekeeper they wished Sophia was their mom–was I needed then? When they screamed they hated me in front of a roomful of people, where was your concern?”
Each word struck Ethan like a blow. He had no answer.
The children broke down crying. Lily clung to Emily’s shirt. “We’re sorry! Mommy, please don’t leave us again. We promise–we’ll be better. We love you
so much.”
Tears shimmered in Emily’s eyes, but she stayed firm.
Nathan handed her a tissue. A small gesture, but it sent Ethan over the edge.
“Who the hell do you think you are?” Ethan snapped. “This is my family. This is none of your business.”
Nathan didn’t flinch. He adjusted his glasses, voice calm. “I’m Emily’s friend. And let’s be honest–if anyone here doesn’t have the right to speak, it’s the one who let this happen.”
Ethan’s fists curled at his sides.
The tension was thick–until Ava suddenly piped up, “Emily, we haven’t finished our bowls yet…”
That tiny voice sliced through the storm.
Emily took a deep breath and turned to Ethan. “Take the kids and leave. I’ve said all I need to say.”
“No!” Lucas wailed, clinging to her leg. “Please, don’t leave us! Please, Mommy!”
Lily joined in, her little hands wrapped tightly around Es
waist, tears streaming down her cheeks. “We’ll be good, we swear! Don’t go!”
The room devolved into chaos.
The owner of the studio hovered nearby, clearly unsure if he should call the cops. Around them, other customers paused their pottery–making, pulling out
their phones to record the scene.
Emily stood frozen at the center of it all, pale and shaking like a leaf in a storm.
Ethan’s eyes locked onto her trembling hands. In that moment, something hit him–hard and unforgiving.
He’d made a terrible mistake.
He thought bringing the kids would soften her. Thought the sight of them would make her come home.
But he’d never once stopped to think about how deeply he’d hurt her.
Some wounds don’t heal. Some things, once broken, stay broken–like shattered porcelain. You can glue it back together, but the cracks always remain.
“Lucas… Lily…” Ethan’s voice was hoarse as he crouched beside them. “Let’s go. We’ll come back another time.”
“No!” Lucas wailed. “You said you’d come home today—you promised!”
Emily closed her eyes. A tear slipped down her cheek.
Chapter 20
29.41%
R
ReelShort
4.6 FREE
Google Play
INSTALL
Heiress sacrifices all for husband–then finds his shocking betrayal.
Nathan gently guided Ava’s small hand toward her, and the little girl clasped Emily’s fingers tightly, as if her grip could lend her strength.
Then, steady as steel, she faced Ethan. “I can’t forgive what happened. I won’t. If this is about child support, I’ll wire it tonight. But don’t come back here. If you do, I’ll call the police.”
The room went still.
Ethan looked at her–really looked–and saw something that shook him: resolve.
She meant every word.
He bent down, scooped up the sobbing children, and without another word, headed for the door.
Before stepping out, he turned once more.
Emily was kneeling beside Ava, comforting her. Nathan stood close, not touching, but near.
They looked like a family.
A real one.
Chapter 20
R
