Guess What, Hubby? I'm Your Stepmom Now!

"Mommy, I don't want to go to school."

Eve's dress was wrinkled when she came home, and her hair was a little messy.

I immediately knelt down and held her in my arms, asking what was wrong.

"The other kids said I don't have a dad... that I'm a child nobody wants."

Her eyes were red from crying as she curled up against me. My heart ached for her.

"Didn't Daddy promise to attend Family Day at school today?"

At the mention of her father, Eve's tears fell even harder.

"He came... but he brought Linda with him. He wouldn't let me call him 'Dad.' Linda said he's her dad. Mommy, does Dad not want me because I'm not a good girl?"

I held her tighter.

I had thought when Roy said he would go to school today, it was to attend Family Day with our daughter.

I never imagined he would show up only to enroll Linda, the daughter of his deceased best friend.

I wanted to comfort Eve, but the memory of Roy's cold indifference made the words stick in my throat.

I regretted everything.

Louis had been Roy's best friend for years, but five years ago, Louis died of an illness, leaving behind his wife, Sammy, and their newborn daughter, Linda.

When Roy learned the news, he immediately requested a transfer overseas. He told me, "Life is too hard for a woman raising a one-month-old baby alone. They need a man around."

But he forgot that we had only just gotten married. For five years, I raised our daughter alone.

I walked into the hospital by myself. I signed the birth papers by myself. Even naming Eve took a month of urging before he finally replied with a short email.

I thought five years would be enough for him to fulfill whatever responsibility he felt toward Louis' widow.

I waited five years for him to come back.

But he didn't return for us—he came back because Sammy said, "I want to see the city you live in."

He gave up a promising overseas career, dissolved his company, and brought them back to settle down.

He even enrolled Linda in Eve's school himself. To prevent Linda from being bullied, he refused to let his own daughter call him 'Dad' in public.

I looked at the pretty dress Eve had picked out just to welcome her father. Last night, she had been too excited to sleep. This morning, she clung to me, shyly asking, "Mommy, do I look pretty today? Will Daddy like me?"

And now, here she was, disheveled and heartbroken.

I closed my eyes, trying to hold back the pain swelling inside me.

"I'm sorry, Eve. It's not your fault. It's mine. Next time, I'll attend Family Day with you."

Exhausted from crying, Eve slowly fell asleep in my arms, still clutching a five-year-old photo of Roy.

My heart felt like it was being pierced by needles.

If I hadn't been so naive five years ago, maybe Eve wouldn't have to suffer like this now.