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687words
I was the one to break the scilence, texting Liam to come home that evening.
When I went to pick Sophia up from school, his Maybach was already waiting.
The window rolled down, revealing Isabella's triumphant face in the passenger seat.
"Emma, here to pick up your daughter? This is a rather exclusive school. Are you really wearing last year's coat? Aren't you afraid you'll embarrass her?"
I ignored her and moved a few feet away.
Isabella turned to Liam, her face a mask of distress.
"Liam, did I say something wrong? I think I made her angry."
For once, Liam didn't respond.
His eyes were fixed on my thin coat, his voice stiff.
"Emma, it's windy. Get in the car."
I moved even further away.
I don't know when it happened, but we had become strangers, so much that even a simple word of concern sounded forced and hollow.
As we neared the school gate, a scuffle broke out between two children in the line.
I looked closer and my heart sank.
One of them was Sophia.
I ran over and pulled them apart.
The other child was Lucas.
He froze when he saw me, then immediately sat down on the ground and started wailing.
"Waaah! The mean lady hit me! It hurts!"
Liam and Isabella rushed over.
Isabella scooped up her son, her voice shaking with indignation.
"Emma, I know you don't like me, but you can't take it out on a child! They were just playing! Why are you so aggressive?"
Liam's disapproving glare was fixed on me, as if he'd forgotten Sophia was his own daughter.
The teacher looked mortified.
"Mrs. Hayes, Mrs. Vance… both children saw Mr. Hayes and started arguing about who he actually belonged to. It just escalated from there."
It was pickup time, and a crowd of parents had gathered.
"What's all this? Fighting over a dad? Is this one of those wife and mistress situations?"
"That guy looks loaded. The kid's probably just a little gold-digger, making it up."
"So young and already gold-digging. What kind of parents does she have?"
Lucas was still sobbing, his arms wrapped tightly around Liam's neck, crying "Daddy, Daddy."
But Sophia… she just held my hand, her eyes wide and unblinking, fixed on Liam.
The other children were curious.
"Mister, whose daddy are you? You have to tell us! The one who's lying has to apologize!"
Liam opened his mouth. "I'm Soph—"
At that moment, Isabella gave his sleeve a tiny, desperate tug.
In an instant, I knew.
He was wavering.
Just like all the other times, one look from Isabella, Sophie and I became his second choice.
I gritted my teeth, my voice cold.
"Liam, your answer right now will affect Sophia for the rest of her life. Think carefully before you speak."
His body went rigid.
He looked down, his expression unreadable.
Then, in a voice just loud enough for everyone to hear it, he said, "I'm Lucas's father." He turned to Sophia.
"Little girl, I think you've made a mistake."
My heart seized, as if struck by a hammer.
Pain, sharp and blinding, threatened to bring tears to my eyes.
This is our daughter.
The crowd of parents turned on Sophia.
"Little girl, you shouldn't lie about who your father is. And you hit his real son!"
"Yeah, the truth is out and you're not even apologizing? What terrible manners."
"She's just jealous that that boy's father was rich. Wants to be a rich man's daughter."
"That mother of hers doesn't look like a good person either. Probably taught her daughter to do so, to climb the social ladder."
"Liam, you are not human—"
I started, but a sharp pain in my palm cut me off.
Sophia was gripping my hand, her small fingers surprisingly strong.
Her lower lip was caught between her teeth, and the light in her eyes was dimming, fading to gray.
"Mommy," she whispered.
"Just let it go."
Then, she turned to Liam, her movements wooden, and gave a small, formal bow.
"I'm sorry, mister. I've got the wrong person."
