Bad Mommy

Lucille's POV

I was finally let out of the hospital, ready to reunite with my family. I glanced down at the cake on my lap, and my lips curled into a smile.

The cake was for my son, he was five years old today. I had missed moments with him because of my illness, but I wasn't going to miss this one.

My son and husband would be so surprised to see me. I pictured their expressions, and I chuckled softly.

"We are here, Ma'am," the cab driver said, pulling me from my thoughts.

The cab came to a halt, and I fished some cash from my bag before stepping out of the car. I paid the driver and glanced at my house. It looked so familiar and warm. It hadn't changed one bit.

With a warm smile, I walked to the gate and once I passed through, I approached my house excitedly, but the sight that greeted me upon entering made me cold.

I saw my son and my husband standing close to a cake, with someone I hadn't expected.

Vanessa. My ex-best friend.

She wasn't my friend anymore because of what she did to me. This woman had been attempting to ruin my life for twenty years now. Why was she here again? Why did my family look so happy around her?

My heart sank as their birthday song echoed in my ears. They hadn't even noticed me.

"Happy birthday, Liam," Vanessa cooed, feeding my son his cake.

I felt so upset. That should be me.

"Thank you," Liam giggled as she kissed his cheeks.

The cake trembled in my hands as I saw the affection my son showed her. But the worst part was when she straightened herself to kiss my husband, Brandon.

"Vanessa!" I yelled, and she pulled away.

"How dare you?!" I snapped, storming towards them.

I placed the cake on the table and shoved her away from Brandon.

"Get away from him!" I yelled, glaring at her. "What the hell are you doing here? Didn't I warn you never to get close to me or my family again?"

"Lucille, relax, I just came to fill the void of your absence and help your family cope," She said, her voice dripping with sarcasm.

"By kissing my husband?" I shouted, my frail body trembling with rage. "You're completely insane, Vanessa!"

"Lucille, stop this, you're frightening the poor child," She faked concern, pulling my son close to her.

"Haven't you done enough? Stealing two of my husbands hasn't sufficed?" I yelled, my voice shaking and my heart quivering.

Over the years, Vanessa had seduced my former husbands, leading them to divorce me. She hadn't spared one.

"Lucille, you need to calm down, you're ruining your son's birthday," She said calmly, as if she wasn’t the one trying to take my family away from me.

"Let go of my son," I sneered and attempted to pull my child from her, but Liam pushed my hand off.

"Mommy, I don’t want her," He cried, wrapping his hand around Vanessa’s waist.

An intense pain rippled through my heart. Did my son just call her...Mommy? What the hell was happening?

"Baby..." I called softly, but he clung to her. "I'm your Mommy," I said, tears pooling in my eyes.

"Lucille, stop all this. You're creating a scene," Brandon said, grabbing my arm and pulling me back.

"Let go of me!" I cried, yanking my arm out of his grip.

"Brandon, how could you do this to me? You know how much time..."

I swallowed hard, unable to finish my sentence. I didn't have much time left. I had a terminal disease that had taken so much from me. I just wanted to spend my remaining days with my family.

"Why are you doing this to me?" I asked, my tears spilling. "Is this why you haven't been visiting?!" My voice hitched, my frail body shaking.

"You don't look good. You should go back to the hospital, where you belong," He uttered, his voice cold, void of remorse.

Gasps left my lips at his words, and tears streamed down my face uncontrollably.

"I thought you were different."

When I met Brandon, he was great to me, and when I married him, he was even better. I told him about my ordeal with Vanessa and my previous husbands and he treated me so good, just to make me trust him. Our marriage for five years had been exceptional unlike my previous marriages where I only spent one year each.

But then, Vanessa appeared.

"You should have stayed in the hospital," He added, dismissing my feelings.

I couldn't even recognize him anymore.

I turned to my son again, but he glared at me.

"Brandon, you know I'm your mother, not this woman. Vanessa is bad—"

"Liar!" He interrupted with a yell.

I flinched, surprised by the hatred that laced his voice.

"You're the bad one here. You're a bad mommy, always in the hospital to escape your duties!"

His words felt so painful because I hadn't spent my time in the hospital by choice. I just wanted to live longer for him.

"Baby, I know you're upset with me, but Mommy can explain," I sobbed. I reached for the cake and brought it close to him.

"I came today, and I'm not leaving again...I promise..."

"You're just a liar. Go away!" He snapped.

"Brandon, she's still your mommy. Don't speak so harshly to her," Vanessa intervened, pretending to be good.

"No, she's no longer my mommy. You're my mommy now," He smiled, hugging her.

My eyes tightened as tears rushed from them. I could feel my heart-shattering. She must have fed him with so many lies against me. My son used to be so eager to have me back. She had turned him against me.

I fluttered my eyes and pressed forward angrily, "Get away from him!"

I shoved her away from him, but the next thing that happened shocked me.

My son suddenly pushed me with a surprising force, and because of my frail weight due to my illness, I fell hard to the floor.

"Ow!" I whimpered as I landed with a thud, the cake smashing to pieces beside me.

I glanced at my son in complete shock.

"Don't hurt my mommy," He pouted and went to hold her again.

My body trembled as I burst into tears, devastated.

"Grab on," I suddenly heard, and looked up to see Vanessa stretching a hand to me.

She slowly leaned in close, and whispered with a devilish smile, "Remember? I said I was going to take everything from you."

My body froze and I let out a gasp. This bitch was crazy and she was really after my life.

“You dare! You evil bitch!” I screamed as I grabbed onto her shoulders and was about to draw her down when Brandon quickly saved her from me.

"Oh stop it!" Brandon snapped. He put Vanessa behind him quickly.

"You're jealous and it's pathetic. I've finally realized how worthless you are. I would choose her any day over an evil and awful woman like you."

I gasped at his comment. How was I evil? What was he talking about?

"Evil? How?" I questioned, my voice breaking in shock. "Did she tell you more lies? Brandon, we've been married for five years. I understand why Liam as a child might believe her, but you—"

"Why wouldn't I believe her?" He interrupted. "You killed your own mother. How do I know you wouldn't do worse to us?"

His words stung me so deeply, dragging out buried and painful memories within me.

Tears welled up in my eyes as I recalled my mother. She was an awesome woman, smart and wealthy. But she was also sick like me. That fateful day, I was with this same devil called Vanessa when I gave my mom her medicine.

I didn't know how it happened, all of a sudden, my mom started to convulse and she died as a result of an overdose. Everything happened like a blur but one thing I remembered was that Vanessa was with me that night. This woman had caused me so much harm. I regretted the day I met her.

"How could you be so wicked to end your mother's life for her money?" Brandon said, staring at me in irritation.

I never told Brandon the true reason for my mother's death, so Vanessa must have told him lies.

"I don't even trust you now, and I never will," Brandon said coldly. "I do not want someone so dangerous around myself or my son."

"Brandon, that's not what happened...I..."

Before I could finish, a sharp cry filled the air. My heart stopped as I turned to see Liam clutching his stomach and collapsing on the floor.

"Liam," I cried, dropping me to my knees and pulling him into my arms. "What's wrong, baby?"

"It hurts," He sobbed, his small hand clutching his stomach. " My stomach hurts."

"Son, what is it?" Brandon came to my side. "Why does your stomach hurt?"

"Mommy's cake is poisoned," He sobbed, squirming in my arms.