Chapter 2

Chapter 2

Because of how hard it was to bring her into this world, Darren and I had pampered Riley like a princess from the moment she was born.

I never imagined that the sweet baby I cherished would grow up to harbor such deep resentment toward her own mother.

The next afternoon, Darren and Riley returned home alongside Valerie.

I had already seen on social media that the three of them spent the weekend at a mountain resort.

In many ways, Valerie acted more like Mrs. Mercer than I ever did.

After all, both Darren and Riley preferred her company anyway.

Our relationship had not always been this strained.

There was a time when Riley would hold my hand with her tiny fingers and call me mommy.

She used to shower my face with sweet kisses and fall asleep peacefully in my arms.

I could not pinpoint when the rift began.

Was it when Valerie returned from overseas and Darren hired her as Riley's private tutor?

Or was it when I became strict about her schoolwork, triggering her rebellious streak?

I did not know the answer.

I only remembered the first time Riley mentioned Valerie's name during homework time.

Because Riley had scribbled her math sheets carelessly, I made her redo the entire page.

In a fit of rage, she threw her pencil down and brought up Valerie.

"Why can't you be fun like Aunt Valerie!"

"She lets me eat Chick-fil-A and drink soda, and she gets Daddy to take me to theme parks! Aunt Valerie is pretty and stylish, so why can't you fix yourself up?"

"All you do is nag me all day. No wonder Daddy calls you a washed-up, nagging hag!"

Riley sneered at me with pure disgust on her little face.

Her words instantly reminded me of Darren. Over the past year, hadn't that same contempt flickered in his eyes?

When we first dated, Darren had infinite patience for everything I did.

Even after childbirth left my body exhausted and scarred, he had never once looked at me with distaste.

Now that we had wealth and comfort, he looked down on my plain face and tired frame, worn out by years of grueling lab research and motherhood.

I stood frozen in place.

The theme park was the very place Darren used to take me on our romantic dates.

Now, he took Valerie there instead.

The front door opened, and their cheerful laughter drifted into the living room.

I pressed my lips together, swallowed the lingering sorrow, and washed my breakfast dishes before setting them in the sterilizer.

"Mom, I'm not doing my homework this afternoon. Aunt Valerie is taking me to the arcade," Riley announced, resting her hands on her hips.

I glanced at her briefly.

In the past, I would have lectured her about finishing her responsibilities before playing.

Now, I found the entire effort utterly pointless.

"Okay," I replied quietly. I picked up my handbag and prepared to head to the laboratory.

Seeing my indifferent reaction, Riley ran barefoot across the hardwood floor toward Darren and threw herself into his arms, sniffling theatrically.

"Daddy, Mommy was mean to me!"

Darren set his briefcase down and scooped Riley up. The defined muscles of his arms showed through his crisp white dress shirt.

Even though he had watched the entire exchange, he turned to me with a cold, accusatory scowl.

"Rowan, she's just a little girl. Why do you always have to act like a drill sergeant? It's just homework. What is your problem?"

I looked up at Darren and felt a chilling sense of alienation.

This was our seventh year of marriage. The bright, caring man I fell in love with had become completely unrecognizable.

Riley wrapped her arms around his neck, shooting me a smug, mocking smirk because I was being reprimanded.

In the past, I would have stood my ground and argued about the importance of our daughter's education and discipline.

This time, I remained dead silent, turned around, and opened the door to leave.

Wasting my breath on them had lost all meaning.

Behind me, Valerie's soft, sugary voice floated down the hallway.

"Darren, is Rowan mad at me? It must be my fault. If she dislikes me this much, maybe I should just quit."

"Don't mind her," Darren scoffed coldly. "She walks around looking like a corpse every single day just to spite everyone…"