Chapter 2

2

"Wyatt, don't be so rude!"

Luckily for him, he had his gentle Auntie Tessa. He actually listened to her.

"Did you hear me, Wyatt? Apologize to your mother right now, or no bedtime stories tonight!"

Under Tessa's stern gaze, Wyatt reluctantly stomped over to me and muttered a half-hearted "Sorry."

I touched his head, unable to bring myself to stay angry.

No matter what, he was my son.

Since I was leaving, I felt like I owed him a lifetime of apologies.

"Wyatt, how about Mommy plays with you for a bit?"

I wanted to cherish the little time I had left. I knelt down to his level, but he glanced back at Tessa and then sulked over to the couch.

"No thanks. I haven't finished my social studies project yet."

He opened his backpack and ignored me completely.

Tessa looked uncomfortable and tried to apologize on his behalf.

"I'm so sorry, Jada. He's just stressed with schoolwork. He's not ignoring you on purpose. Why don't you go rest in your room? I'll take care of him."

Her apology sounded so natural, so maternal. My heart twisted. I walked back to my room, exhausted.

He was my son, yet another woman was apologizing for him.

Right now, I felt like the mistress in my own home, unable to break into their perfect little circle.

By evening, dinner was ready. Wyatt came to get me.

He knocked timidly on the door, his voice dripping with resentment. "Mom, you've been being lazy all day. We even have to call you for dinner. No wonder Daddy doesn't like you. You're a bum."

"Auntie Tessa's been busy all day, and you didn't even help."

He looked miserable. I rubbed my aching eyes and was about to ask what was wrong when I saw Tessa on the couch.

She was holding Wyatt's textbook, looking peaceful and kind.

Wyatt ran back to her side. "I called her. Can we get back to the story now?"

Those words were a blade to my chest. He wasn't busy with school. He just didn't want to play with me.

Tessa realized the tension and stood up quickly.

"Dinner's ready. Maybe I should head home. Jada's here, she can look after Wyatt."

"No!"

Wyatt immediately grabbed her leg, his lip trembling as he shot me a look of pure spite.

"Why did you have to come back? Every time you're here, Auntie Tessa has to leave. I don't want you! I don't want to see you at all!"

I rubbed the faint scar on my wrist where Wyatt had bitten me. It hurt, but the physical pain was nothing compared to the ache in my chest.

But I had no choice. I forced a smile. "Stay. Wyatt needs you."

This took Soren by surprise. Over the years, I had fought with him and Tessa constantly because of Wyatt.

I used to blame him for always relying on her, for making our son love her more than me.

Back then, Wyatt would always hide in Tessa's arms, sobbing and refusing to look at me.

Back then, I looked like a hysterical, jealous wife trying to destroy a happy home.

"Fine. Let's eat," Soren said.

Tessa always knew how to handle these situations. She looked more like the lady of the house than I ever did.

I wiped away my discomfort and sat down.

Soren had cooked. He knew exactly what Wyatt and Tessa liked―everything was loaded with extra hot peppers and buffalo sauce.

I couldn't handle spicy food. After a few bites, I started coughing violently.

Tessa patted my back and stood up to make me something else.

I didn't want Wyatt to get upset, so I pulled her back.

"It's fine. I've had enough."

My eyes watered from the spice and the coughing.

But Wyatt still wasn't happy. He intentionally shoveled a pile of habaneros onto my plate, smirking.

"Mom, this is the result of Daddy's hard work. Don't you know people are starving? You shouldn't waste food."