Mom Turned Suspect

Two security guards in blue uniforms trailed right behind Victoria Pearson, the after-school program’s instructor. With her smile no more, Victoria pointed her finger at me furiously. “Get her! This woman is posing as a parent to kidnap one of our kids! Talk about audacity!” I froze on the spot, my mind going blank. Kidnap? Posing as a parent? What on earth was the lady talking about? Before reality sank in, the two security guards pounced on me and restrained my arms. As a sharp pain shot through me, I let out a cry of agony. “What are you doing? Let me go!” I put up a fight. “I’m not a kidnapper! This is a mistake! Unhand me!” “A mistake?” The instructor lunged forward and said in disgust, “Who are you kidding?” The commotion caught the attention of other instructors in the office and corridor. They poked their heads out, their chatters ringing in my ear. “What’s going on?” “Apparently, she’s a kidnapper.” “Oh, my goodness! She has some nerve to come to th

Rage shook me to the very core. Oh, perfect timing. Matthew was just the person I wanted to see as well. It didn’t take long before a luxury sedan pulled up outside the school. “Wow! “The car must cost tens of millions of dollars!” “I didn’t know Maddie’s dad was loaded.” Gasps burst within the crowd. Matthew, my husband, stepped out of the car, looking every bit a successful businessman. “Babe!” Cassandra jumped into Matthew’s arms, all teary-eyed. “There you are! I’m so scared. The crazy woman attacked me and tried to steal Maddie away. Sob, sob…” The girl with my daughter’s name scampered over. “Daddy! The strange lady burst into the room and gave me a mean look! She screamed at me! I’m terrified! Keep me safe, Daddy!” Pulling Cassandra close, Matthew ran his fingers along the young girl’s hair with his free hand. “There, there. I’m here now. Everything’s okay. I’m sorry my girls have to go through that.” He patted Cassandra’s back while leaning in to speak t

Matthew was essentially a dependent in my household, seeing that he married into my family’s wealth. In fact, my parents were against the marriage right from the start as Matthew didn’t seem decent. Alas, I was so swept up in the romance to take my parents’ advice. Unable to convince me otherwise, my parents relented, but on one condition. Matthew had to be a stay-at-home husband and father. Over the years, I was the breadwinner while he ran the household. Hence, it was his responsibility to enroll Maddie in an after-school program. It must have been tough for Matthew to play the role of a considerate, devoted husband for so long. Who knew he had the nerve to keep a second family? “Who are you to each other?” Overcome by curiosity, one instructor drew close to ask. I scoffed. Before I could expose his web of lies, Matthew lunged forward and pleaded in a hushed tone, “Sweetheart, can’t we handle this at home?” After a quick side-eye at him, I uttered curtly, “Where’s Mad

Matthew’s brazen remark stunned the crowd. The silence was only broken by his heavy breathing and Cassandra’s daughter’s terrified cries. My gaze shifted from him to Cassandra, who was covered from head to toe in labels. Rage consumed me right there and then. Apparently, life was hard on Cassandra, and Matthew was only doing his bit by lending her a hand. I let out a scoff and cut his spineless rationalizing short. “Matthew, save your sob story, and save your breath for the courtroom. “I’m serving you with divorce papers. You’re not taking a penny out of what’s mine and Maddie’s. I’ll see to it that you get the hell out of my house with nothing to your name.” “D-Divorce? Nothing to my name?” Matthew stared at me in disbelief. Seconds later, he gritted his teeth. “T-That’s not for you to decide! You’re not the judge. You can’t just take everything. Why should you?” “Why?” I watched in amusement as Matthew clutched at straws desperately. “Well, I have proof of your c

That wasn’t the end of our troubles. Barely two days later, the doorbell rang violently. I peeked through the peephole. It was Matthew. Standing outside the door, he put on a big smile. “Andrea? Maddie? Open the door! Why are my things thrown out?” I flung the door open. “Matthew, are you deaf or dumb? Didn’t I tell you that it’s over between us?” The smile on Matthew’s face froze. “You!” He stepped forward to squeeze his way in. “Must you be so heartless? We’ve been together for over a decade. Does that mean nothing to you?” “You want to talk about feelings?” I blocked the entrance. “The moment you looked elsewhere, kept that woman and her child on my money, named the child after my daughter, and sent my daughter to be abused just to make them happy, we’re done! You have some nerve to talk about us. Don’t you feel sick?” Matthew was quick to defend himself. “I-I have broken things off with her! Honest to God! I’ve cut ties with her. Sweetheart, give me another cha