Chapter 5
The pain tore through her chest like fire. Emily clutched at her heart, breath shallow, tears slipping down her cheeks.
She didn’t know how long she sat there before her phone buzzed beside her.
“Ms. Harper?” the voice on the other end was brisk, polite. “We’re calling to confirm your one–way ticket to Willow Creek. Would you like to select a seat?”
Emily wiped at her tears with trembling hands. “Window seat, please,” she whispered.
As soon as she hung up, the door creaked open.
Ethan walked in, posture stiff and businesslike. Perfect suit, crisp cuffs, not a hair out of place.
“Who were you talking to?” he asked, tone unreadable.
Emily set the phone down. “Just a friend.”
He didn’t press. Instead, he stepped closer to her bed, looking down on her like always. “It wasn’t your fault last time. It was Sophia who gave them the mango juice.”
He said it like he was talking about the weather. Flat. Dismissive.
“But she didn’t know they were allergic. Let’s not dwell on it.”
Emily’s heart twisted so violently she thought it might stop. When he thought it was her, he nearly strangled her with his bare hands.
But when it was Sophia?
Just a soft: She didn’t know.
Emily opened her mouth–she wanted to scream, to ask him how could you, to throw every ounce of hurt in his face.
But all that came out was a whisper.
“…Okay.”
It was like all the fight had been bled out of her.
The anger, the humiliation, the nights she cried herself to sleep–it all dissolved into a bitter, empty smile.
So that’s what love and not love looks like.
Ethan seemed surprised by her lack of reaction. After a pause, he added, “The kids are going to summer camp next week. Sophia and I will be going with
them. You’ll go home on your own.”
He waited for her to break. To cry. To beg him not to take them.
But Emily simply nodded. “Got it.”
He frowned. Something felt,.. off. But his phone buzzed. One glance at the screen and he was already walking out.
“Work,” he said over his shoulder.
Once the door clicked shut, Emily finally uncurled her hand. Four perfect crescent moons of blood marked her palm.
Over the next few days, her phone buzzed nonstop.
Message after message from Sophia.
Photos. Videos. Smiling faces and sunshine.
In one clip, Lucas and Lily beamed at the camera. “This is our mom!” they shouted proudly, arms wrapped around Sophia’s waist.
“Wow, your mom’s so pretty!” a kid offscreen gasped.
“Your dad’s handsome too. You’re like… the perfect family!”
“Wait–who’s that lady who picks you up from school sometimes?” another asked.
There was a beat of awkward silence before Lily chirped, “Oh, her? She’s just the nanny.”
Emily dropped the glass in her hand. It shattered on the tile, splintering into pieces at her feet.
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She slowly crouched down, staring at the mess.
And then… she laughed.
So that’s all she’d ever been to them.
Not a mother.
Just a glorified, unpaid maid.
Well, that was about to change.
Let their “perfect mom” take over now.
A week later, the kids came barreling through the front door, fresh from summer camp.
They didn’t even look her way–just ran straight for the kitchen, full of excitement.
“Mom!” Lily shrieked, her voice shrill. “You won’t believe it–Sophia twisted her ankle during the parent relay race, and Daddy was sooooo worried!” Lucas jumped in. “Yeah! He cleared out an entire private hospital just for her! Canceled all his meetings too–stayed with her the entire time!”
Emily stood by the oven, slipping on oven mitts as they chattered on, her face unreadable.
“Mom, are you listening?” Lily stomped her foot. “Daddy treats Sophia way better than he ever treated you! I mean-
Ding.
The oven timer cut her off.
A warm scent filled the air.
The kids perked up instantly.
“Cake!” Lucas grinned, rising on tiptoe. “I want the first slice!”
Emily pulled the tray out. The edges were burnt. Not badly–but enough.
She stared at it for a second.
Then turned–and dumped the entire thing into the trash.
“Hey!” Lily shrieked. “Why’d you do that?!”
“It’s burnt,” Emily said calmly. “Not worth eating.”
“You’re lying!” Lucas snapped. “You’re just mad at us! You didn’t want us to have it! You’re a terrible mom!”
Lily’s face turned red with rage. “We don’t want a mom like you!”
Emily peeled off the mitts slowly. Her chest ached–worse than the allergy attack.
She looked at the two children she had nearly died bringing into the world.
And suddenly, they felt like strangers.
“…Good,” she said quietly. “Because I don’t want kids like you either.”
Their mouths dropped open.
“You can go to Sophia from now on. Let her take care of you,” She added and turned away, heading for the stairs.
Behind her, their screams echoed through the house. “We hate you! We’ll always hate you!”
Emily’s steps faltered at the base of the stairs.
But she didn’t look back.
She took one step.
Then another.
And just as her foot touched the third-
A hard shove slammed into her back.
Chapter 5
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