Chapter 3

3

I expected a call from Quinton, but the first person to reach out was my best friend, Lindy.

"Faline, what is going on? Why is there a scandalous video of you trending online?"

"What video?" I asked, confused.

Lindy sent me a link.

In the video, a man and a woman were caught in a very inappropriate act.

Their bodies were blurred, but the woman's face was crystal clear.

It was my face.

The video was exploding on local social media.

The top comment read: "Isn't this Zachary's mom from the Northside Pre-K?"

Other videos started popping up―clips of my son at school.

The comments were disgusting.

"Like mother, like son. No wonder that kid is such a brat!"

"I knew there was something wrong with them. My kid goes to school with him. They're both trash."

I felt sick. I dialed Quinton's number immediately.

"Mr. Miller is busy, Faline. He doesn't have time for you," Sienna answered.

"Did you do this? Did you frame me?" I screamed.

"I don't know what you're talking about, sweetie. But let me give you some advice: if you don't have the skills to play the game, don't start a war. Look at you now. You're losing."

She hung up.

It was them. They had used AI or some editing tool to ruin my reputation.

Quinton was willing to destroy me and his own son just to get back at me.

My phone started ringing off the hook. My parents, my relatives―everyone had seen it.

I spent the whole morning crying and explaining the truth.

Thankfully, the authorities flagged the video for violating community standards and it started disappearing by the afternoon.

I checked the time. I had to pick up Zachary.

I didn't want to show my face in public, but my son was waiting for me.

When I got to the school, the teacher looked at me with pity.

"Zachary's father's assistant already picked him up. Mr. Miller called and confirmed it."

Fear gripped my chest like a vice.

Quinton hadn't talked to me all day, but he took Zachary?

I called him, my heart hammering against my ribs.

He picked up this time. He sounded calm. He said they were at the amusement park.

There was no way Quinton was just being a 'nice dad' after everything.

In the background, I heard a child's muffled scream.

I drove to the park as fast as I could.

Near the giant Drop Tower, I saw Quinton holding Raina.

Sienna was fed her daughter some cake.

"You first, Mommy!" Raina giggled.

Sienna took a bite and offered some to Quinton.

"Daddy Quinton, take a bite!" Raina insisted.

Quinton hesitated for a second, then smiled and ate it.

People passing by whispered about what a 'perfect family' they were.

Sienna and Raina leaned against Quinton's shoulders, looking blissful.

Then, a blood-curdling scream came from above.

I looked up. Zachary was buckled into the Drop Tower, hundreds of feet in the air.

He was sobbing so hard his voice was going hoarse.

Zachary has a phobia of heights. Quinton knew that.

It was the reason we bought a house on the ground floor.

And yet, his own father had strapped him into a machine designed to fall from the sky.

"Quinton! Are you insane? He's terrified!" I screamed, running toward them.

"The doctor said he could have a panic attack or a heart failure at this height!"

Sienna stepped in my way before I could reach him.

"Faline, Zachary wanted to ride it. It's not our fault."

"Look, he's totally fine up there!"

"Get out of my way!" I shoved her aside and ran to the ride operator's booth.

The ride ended, and people stumbled off, clutching their chests.

I tried to get to Zachary, but the machine started up again immediately.

This time, my son was the only one on it.

He was lifted back into the sky, his tiny body trembling.

I felt like I was losing my mind.

I searched for the operator, but the booth was empty.

The crowd was thinning out. Only Quinton, Sienna, and Raina remained, watching.