CHAPTER TWO

“You shouldn’t have come here,” Clyde said flatly, irritation flickering across his face. “You weren’t invited.”

My hands curled into tight fists.

“Is that the only thing you have to say to me right now?” I demanded, my voice shaking with fury. “I shouldn’t be here? For my own child’s recital but…” I pointed sharply at Flora, “…she can be here? Why? What right does she have that I don’t?!”

“I don’t think I own you any explaination”

“Yes, you do!” My voice rose. “Because you lied to me. All these months you kept my daughter far away from me only to…”

“Your daughter?” He chuckled mockingly. “Did you give birth to one?”

My entire body went numb.

“Charlotte,” he continued, his voice stripped of all warmth, “have you forgotten? You have nothing in this marriage. So stop this nonsense and fly back home. Or do you want to embarrass yourself right here and let everyone know about your inability to have a child?”

W… what?

My body trembled violently as his words burned through me like acid.

All these years, I had thought he was the best man in this world as he’d been so supportive despite knowing of my inability to have a child. But now…not only was he having an affairs with his first love, he’s still mocking me publicly!

How could he?

My hands clenched so tightly I could feel my bones ache.

Tears threatened to fall, but I refused to let them. Not in front of his mistress. Not in front of the people slowing down to stare.

“You can say anything to me,” I said, my voice shaking but firm. “I’m used to it. But when it comes to my daughter, you don’t get to decide anymore. I’m making every decision concerning her. And right now, I’m taking her home with me.”

“No, you’re not.”

“Yes, I am.”

They have done enough damage.

“Fine,” he agreed, giving a mocking smile as he gestured toward Genevie, “But first, you need to ask her if she even wants to be with you.”

Of course she will. She’s my daughter whom I have raised for six years. Why would she choose someone who hardly has time for her or someone who she just met three months ago over me.

Slowly, I turned to Genevieve and bent slightly to her level, gently taking her warm hand into mine. “Honey,” I called softly, forcing my voice to steady, “I know Mommy has been busy lately, but I would never choose my job over you. You’re my sunshine. My heart. You know that, right?” My chest tightened. “Please… come home with me and I promise I’ll never leave you again. I’ll even quit my job if I have to. I swear.”

Genevieve hesitated for a while.

“Please, honey,” I whispered.

Then she looked at Flora, and then at Clyde.

“Go ahead, sweetie,” Clyde said calmly. “Tell her what you really want.” And she returned her face back to me.

My heart pounded violently as I prayed silently; If she takes my hand right now, I promise I would never let it go again. I wished I had taken her and left this marriage years ago. Maybe we would never have reached this moment.

“No, I am not coming with you!” she said bluntly, snapping her hand away from me . “I’m staying with momma! She was a mother you never were.”

“Genevieve!” I gasped as I couldn’t believe she would utter such words that sound forbidden to my ears. A child I raised right from the moment she was born. A child that I dedicated six years of my life to.

Then everything happened too fast; She shoved both hands hard against my chest and I hit the ground with a loud thud, pain exploding through my body.

“Take me away from her, Momma. Please,” she begged, running straight into Flora’s arms.

“Alright, baby,” Flora murmured gently, brushing Genevieve’s hair back.

For a second, I forgot how to breathe, my mouth opening and closing, trying to form a word but no words came out.

“Ge…nevieve,” I called, tears pooling at the corner of my eyes as I lay on the cold ground looking at her with disbelief. “You don’t mean that. I’m your…”

Ignoring the pain tearing through me, I forced myself up and reached for her again, but this time Flora quickly pulled her behind her.

“She said she’s not coming with you!”

“Stay the hell away from my daughter!” I snarled, fury blazing as I turned on Flora.

“I’m sorry, Charlotte,” she said, her voice innocently; almost pitiful, as if I was the bad one here, trying to separate them. “I know I promised to stay away, but… she wants to be with me. We have to respect her decision.”

She did this. She turned my daughter against me.

I stared at her, anger and pain twisting violently inside me. My hand flew into the air, rage consuming me, but Clyde caught my wrist mid-air and shoved me back to hard I nearly fell again.

“Now you have your answer, I suggest you leave quietly . Don’t even think of doing anything foolish.” With that, he turned away, one hand resting possessively on Flora’s back as he guided her and Genevieve toward the car, leaving me standing there like I didn’t exist.

“And oh,” he added without looking back, “we’re not coming home tonight. Don’t bother waiting.”

“No,” I whispered, shaking my head as tears finally streamed down my face.

“No… this isn’t possible.”

“Genevieve wouldn’t go with her. She wouldn’t…”

I looked up just in time to see Clyde opening the car door for them.

“Genevieve!” I screamed, running after them.

“Honey, wait. Mommy is really here” I banged on the car window as if to break it and pulled her out of the car. “Mommy is sorry. Please let us…!”

But then the engine roared to life and the car surged forward without warning, the sudden acceleration throwing me off balance. My left leg twisted violently beneath me as I hit the ground hard, a sharp, blinding pain shooting through my body.

I cried out, clutching my leg, but Clyde didn’t even slow down or stop the car to take a second glance at me.

The car disappeared down the road, leaving me sprawled on the pavement while people were even taking pictures, making comments that I was trying to seduce him and ruin his marriage.

*

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(TWO DAYS LATER)

“I can’t believe they did this to you.”

“Yeah, they did. And they even turned my daughter on me.”

Sitting in one of the biggest bars in Norland, I poured everything out to my best friend, Lucy, who just flew back in today and even lifted my trouser leg slightly, showing her my swollen, bruised ankle that still hadn’t healed.

Lucy’s eyes darkened. “This is sick.”

“I can’t go back home,” I said hoarsely. “It doesn’t feel like home anymore. I feel like a stranger in my own house.”

Tears slid down my cheeks as memories flooded back—how I was discharged from the hospital yesterday and went home, only to find Flora in an apron, serving breakfast for Clyde and Genevieve. And how Genevieve said if Flora leave the house, she would also follow her.

“I left because I can’t…” My voice broke completely. “I can’t stand seeing another woman in my home. Taking the affection of…” I couldn’t finish the sentence before my voice crumbled.

“Hey,” Lucy said softly, pulling me closer. “It’s okay.”

“No, it’s not okay,” I sobbed. “My entire life revolved around them, Lucy. Everything I was—everything I built—was for that family. I trusted him… and this is what I get?”

Lucy’s jaw tightened. “Eight years in that marriage and this is how he repays you?”

I cried uncontrollably in Lucy’s arms while she tried her best to console me. Heads turned in our direction, curious eyes watching, but I didn’t care. I had held everything in for too long. I had no one else to talk to as she wasn’t around. She had always been my comforter since orphanage days.

After a long while, when my sobs finally eased, I spoke up again.

“You know what?” I said quietly, wiping my tears with the back of my hand. “I want a divorce,” I said, every word sharpened by years of restraint. “Clyde crossed a line he never should have, and I swear this—to my last breath, I will fight him for everything, and get the full custody of my daughter.”

She nodded firmly. “Okay. I’ll call my team and we'll draft the papers immediately. But first, we need to lock down the evidence—his cheating, and the DNA test confirming you’re Genevieve’s mother, including the surrogacy agreement. With those in hand, there is a higher chance of success..”

“I have everything,” I said quickly. “And for the DNA test. I already did it yesterday. When the hospital called me back for additional tests, I used that opportunity to request it,” I reached for my phone, my fingers moving fast as I checked my notifications.

But my heart sank slightly when I saw nothing.

Maybe it’s not yet ready.

She frowned slightly. “But why were you called back in the first place?”

“I’m not sure,” I admitted. “They said something about a strange drug found in my system. They needed to run more tests.”

Lucy raised an eyebrow.

“Yeah I know,” I said quickly. “I was confused too. I don’t take drugs—only my vitamins. You know that.”

My heart began to race again just thinking about it.

Lucy reached across the table, squeezing my hand gently. “I’m here for you sweetheart. I always will be. No matter what.”

Gratitude washed over me and I felt so lucky to have her. She also offered to let me move out of the hotel and stay with her, but…

“No ‘but,’” she cut in. “We’re checking out of your suite right now and heading to my place. But first, I need to use the restroom.”

She stood and walked away telling me to give her a few minutes.

I sighed heavily, my head bowing under the weight of too many thoughts colliding at once.

Just then, I heard a soft clink of glass against wood. “I didn’t order this,” I said, lifting my gaze to the bartender.

“He did,” he replied, gesturing toward my left and I turned only to see a man that I didn’t even realize was here sitting next to me. Not really next to me, there was an empty seat in between us.

“Thanks, " I said, almost stuttering as I found it hard to believe what I was seeing.

He’s so handsome, especially his eyes; blue like deep water under sunlight. And when he gave me a light smile, that’s when I noticed a dimple carved into his left cheek.

“Oh my God! I really want to touch that,” I said inwardly.