Chapter 3
The Taylors were still busy chatting when the restaurant manager walked up and handed me a microphone.
“Today is both a birthday celebration and a college send–off for these two exceptional young men,” the manager said with a smile. “As their mother, would you like to say a few words–and perhaps share your parenting experience?”
I took the microphone calmly.
“Thank you all for coming to celebrate Liam and Ben’s acceptance to Harvard. Today is-”
I didn’t get to finish.
A man and woman suddenly walked in, hand in hand.
I looked up–and even after all these years, I recognized them instantly.
Ryan Taylor. My husband who’d supposedly died.
And Vivian Davies–his so–called first love who died with him.
Gasps echoed through the hall. A tidal wave of
But Ryan’s parents?
murmurs and disbelief swept through the guests.
They didn’t even look surprised. In fact, they calmly waved Vivian over to sit beside them–like it
was the most natural thing in the world.
Ryan walked straight up to me.“Vanessa,” he said coolly, “you were never much of a wife–but I’ll admit, you were a damn good mom.”
My sons turned to stare at Ryan in confusion.
“What’s going on?” Liam asked.
Ryan pointed at Vivian.
“She’s your real mother.” Ryan sneered, motioning at me, “this barren broodmare spent twenty years wasting oats in my stable!”
“If she hadn’t refused to divorce me and threatened suicide, we wouldn’t have been separated for eighteen years.”
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I opened my mouth to speak, but the rest of the Taylors beat me to it.
“That’s right. Vanessa’s the one who refused to let go. She kept Ryan tied down, away from his real
family.”
“Sure, she raised you, but she’s always been manipulative.”
“But it’s all fine now. You’re grown. You got into Harvard. It’s time to reunite as a real family.”
My sons stood frozen, completely bewildered.
Vivian stepped forward, tears in her eyes, clutching both boys‘ hands.
“I’m your mother,” she said, voice trembling. “I sent you birthday gifts every year. I even snuck
around to see you after school.”
Then she turned to me with a syrupy smile.
“Thank you, Vanessa… for raising my boys so
777 Well.”
Ryan slung an arm around her shoulders and gave me a smug look.
“Let’s get divorced. It’s time I did right by Vivian.
”
Everyone waited for my reaction.
They expected tears, a breakdown, maybe a dramatic scene.
Instead, I simply smiled.
“Alright,” I said. “Let’s get divorced. Tomorrow.”
The room went silent.
Even Ryan and Vivian looked stunned.
They had prepared for resistance–but I agreed without hesitation.
Ryan frowned, confused. “Are you out of your damn mind?”
I raised an eyebrow. “What? You changed your mind already?”
Vivian tugged Ryan’s arm urgently. He pulled out a stack of papers from his bag.
“Sign this,” he said quickly. “From now on, the boys are no longer your concern. You have no right
Chapter 3
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to see them again.”
I didn’t even read it.
I signed at the bottom and pushed the papers back across the table.
“Mom? You’re just… giving us up?” Ben asked, his voice cracking.
Vivian tucked the papers away with a satisfied smile.
“Thank you, Vanessa. Without you, we never could’ve lived so freely.”
She looked at my six–foot–tall sons with greedy pride.
“Alright,” said my former father–in–law, waving dismissively. “You’re not needed here anymore.
You can go.
I didn’t move.
“Not yet,” I said calmly. “Since we’re all here–and the papers are signed–it’s time you heard the
truth.”
Vivian stiffened. “What do
you
mean?”
I smiled.
I’d waited eighteen years for this.
Then I clapped twice and turned to the entrance.
“Bring them in.”
A few seconds later, two more boys entered the hall…
Chapter 3
