After my daughter's EpiPen was swapped, I changed her surname

"Mr. Lawson, can you please stop cutting my birthday cake?"

The whole private dining room went silent after my daughter Mia said that.

Nathan was still holding the cake knife.

The tip was smeared with frosting.

His smile froze, like he didn't understand what he'd heard.

"Mia, what did you just call me?"

Mia sat in her booster seat, face still pale.

She was only six.

She'd been discharged from the ER just yesterday. The tape from the IV hadn't even been fully peeled off the back of her hand.

But when she looked at Nathan, her voice was steadier than ever.

"Mr. Lawson."

"This cake is from Mommy."

"Stop cutting pieces for Tommy."

Nathan's expression slowly darkened.

Serena, sitting beside him, quickly pulled her son closer, her eyes reddening on cue.

"Mia, are you maybe confused?"

"Tommy just wanted a little piece. He didn't even know this was your birthday cake."

I looked down at the cake on the table.

It was six inches across.

Strawberry.

A little sign sat on top.

Happy 6th Birthday, Mia.

Half a minute ago, Nathan had been doting on Serena's son.

"If Tommy wants some, he can have some. I'll cut you the biggest slice, buddy."

He'd said it so casually.

He'd completely forgotten.

This was the belated birthday dinner he'd thrown together for his daughter after missing her entire birthday.

It was also Mia's first meal since being discharged.

I didn't say anything.

Mia said it for me.

She pulled her plate closer.

"He can't have the biggest piece."

"Today is my birthday."

Nathan frowned.

"Mia, since when are you this selfish?"

"Tommy is younger than you. Let him have some."

Mia's eyelashes trembled.

She asked, "When I was having my allergic reaction, was he still younger than me?"

Nathan's hand froze on the cake knife.

Even Serena's tears dried up.

I finally looked up.

"Nathan."

"If you think she's being selfish, then this dinner is over."

He flinched at my tone and immediately set the knife down.

"Claire, that's not what I meant."

"Yesterday was an accident."

"I didn't know Mia would eat peanut butter."

I let out a small laugh.

"Of course you didn't."

"You were too busy clapping for Serena's son."

Nathan's expression turned ugly.

"That competition meant everything to Tommy."

"He's never had a father. It was his first time on stage, and he was shaking with nerves."

"Serena's had it rough raising him alone. What's wrong with helping out?"

I'd heard this too many times.

Serena's had it rough on her own.

Tommy doesn't have a father, poor thing.

Our Mia has everything she needs.

So Mia can wait.

Mia can share.

She can give up her birthday. Give up her daddy. She can even give up the EpiPen that keeps her alive.

I picked up Mia's little jacket and draped it over her shoulders.

"Mia, we're leaving."

Mia slid off her chair right away and grabbed my hand.

Nathan seized my wrist.

"Claire, are you done with this tantrum?"

"This is Mia's belated birthday dinner. Are you trying to embarrass everyone by walking out now?"

I looked at him.

"Embarrass everyone?"

"Nathan, your daughter almost died yesterday."

His Adam's apple bobbed.

Before he could speak, Serena burst into tears.

"Claire, don't blame Nathan."

"This is all my fault."

"I'm the one who borrowed the EpiPen. I was wrong."

"I was just so scared. Tommy's school had a field trip, and his teacher said there'd be lots of bugs in the hills. I was worried he'd have a reaction..."

Mia cut her off.

"Is Tommy allergic to peanuts?"

Serena froze.

"What?"

Mia asked again.

"Is he allergic to peanuts?"

Serena opened her mouth but nothing came out.

Nathan answered for her.

"It was just a precaution."

"Claire, don't teach her to be so confrontational."

I looked at him.

"A precaution?"

"The day Mia was diagnosed with a severe peanut allergy, do you remember what the doctor said?"

Nathan was quiet for two seconds.

"Of course I do."

I nodded.

"Then say it."

He couldn't.

Mia said it for him.

"The doctor said I could die."

No one in the room spoke after that.

Mia tilted her face up and looked at Nathan.

"Daddy."

When he heard that, something in Nathan's eyes finally brightened.

Then Mia finished her sentence.

"That's the last time I'm calling you that."

"From now on, I want Mommy's last name."

Nathan's face fell.

"Mia, do you even understand what you're saying?"

Mia nodded.

"Yes."

"I don't want to be your daughter anymore."