Chapter 4

“I care about my child more than you ever will!” Unable to control my emotions, I spat out with my glare directed at the Luna.

“Have you lost your mind? Don’t you realise who you’re talking to?” Jonathan snapped at me for being rude.

Ignoring them both, I bent down to Jayden’s height, meeting his silent but questioning eyes. He’s clutching onto the Luna as though she were his lifeline. My tone grows soft when I speak with him.

“Jayden, tell Mommy what happened. What’s going on? Why didn’t you tell me anything about this?” I try to reach out for him but he yanks his hand away from me.

I pause, confused by his reaction. He stares at me but his eyes are cold and unfamiliar–almost like he didn’t recognize me. What have they done to my son?

“Answer me, Jayden!” I raise my voice slightly, frustrated at how everyone was against me like I’m the crazy one. 

“Can’t you stop being so aggressive in front of the child?!” Jonathan barked at me as Jayden hugged the Luna closely.

I freeze, my heart falling at the miserable situation. This is my home and Jayden is my son. Yet, at this moment–with Jonathan shouting at me and Jayden being so distant–I feel like an outsider. It’s like I’ve been pushed out ruthlessly by my own family.

I’m about to defend myself but Jayden begins to cry and I turn towards him with an ache in my chest.

Jayden sniffles before letting out. “I’ve always wanted to go to that amusement park. But I know Mommy’s too poor to take me. And you won’t let me change schools either…It’s because you don't have money, right?” 

Ashen, I stare at my son for a while, not knowing what to say. I have never in my life refused Jayden anything simply because I didn’t have enough money for it. Even if I had to borrow to get what he wants, I always made sure he never felt the impact of our financial situation. Who taught him to say those things?

I opened my mouth to say something but Luna Samira gently interrupted. “I’m not blaming you,” she said softly, stroking Jayden’s hair while sliding in barbed words with her pretentious saintly tone. “I’m sure you’ve done your best… It’s just, if a child feels this way, maybe it means he’s really lacking a sense of security? If you don’t have the ability to give him the best, maybe… you should seriously reflect on why you brought him into the world in the first place.”

Taking a deep breath in, I force myself to remain calm. “Luna, please leave. This is my home. My husband and I will handle this. Jayden is my child. I’m willing, for now, not to pursue how you took him out without my permission—but I need you to stop getting involved. Enough is enough.” I gritted out politely but firmly.

Her expression stiffened, clearly offended by my way of warning her to stop overstepping her boundaries. Then, out of nowhere, Jayden blurts out.  “I want to go with Luna! I don’t want to see Mommy!”  

His eyes flicker with his lips pressed together tightly—this isn’t defiance, not entirely. There is hesitation, even guilt, buried deep under what he said. But he still said it. And there is no way I can erase the pain from my heart.

My chest tightens with a rush of fury and heartbreak. I try to speak but my lips remain unmoving. 

“Luna, please just take him out for a bit.” Jonathan says quickly, trying to smooth things over. “Let him relax and come back later. I’ll talk to her.” 

Luna Samira shrugged, wearing an understanding smile which seemed like nothing but mockery to me. Taking Jayden’s hand, she leaves the house, shutting the door behind her. 

Exhausted, I sink into the sofa, my heart racing like I ran a marathon. I find it hard to understand what just happened or why Jayden is behaving like this towards me. When did he become like this? When did he start skipping school for several days just to go out and have fun with a stranger?

Have I been the one completely in the dark, not noticing the subtle changes?

“Can you at least try not to let Luna see us like this? Don’t make us a joke.” Jonathan snaps at me, clearly agitated.

Turning my head towards him sharply, I scoff at his audacity to talk to me like that.  “Excuse me? She came here uninvited. She interfered in our private family matters. And I haven’t even asked you—how exactly did you meet Luna?”

Jonathan falters at the sudden question, obviously caught off guard. My heart sinks as a sickening premonition rises in my head. “You knew about our son skipping school, didn’t you?”

He sighs before admitting. “A few days ago, I went to pick him up and saw him with Luna. That’s how I found out.”

Stunned by the news, I rise to my feet. “You knew, and you didn’t say a word to me? You let him keep skipping classes?” 

“I didn’t tell you because I didn’t want to upset you! You heard what he said—he just wants to have fun. And he’s changing schools soon anyway, so it’s not like it matters if he slacks a little now. We’re tight on money. Luna Samira was kind enough to take him out and treat him. What was I supposed to do? We can’t even give our kid a simple day out. Aren’t we just...complete failures as parents?”

I cut off his defensive tone coldly. “I’m not! I can meet every reasonable wish our son has. If I say yes, I’ll follow through. But sneaking out and skipping school for an entire week? That’s lying and being completely irresponsible. I won’t allow that. And you said it yourself—he’s transferring to a new, elite school soon. What if he can’t keep up because of this?”

“You keep talking like that—every damn day! The Luna was right. You don’t really love our son! You’re not even fit to be his mother!” Jonathan shouted.

My limbs go cold as his words ring across the room. The Luna said that about me? And Jonathan agreed to it?

His face shifts as soon as the words leave his mouth—he knows he’d gone too far. “I’m sorry—”  He tries to backtrack by apologizing but I interrupt quietly.

 “I’m going to make dinner. You calm down in the meantime.” I say coldly before leaving the room. 

In the kitchen, my tears finally break loose and I slide to the floor, my heart shattering into pieces. Forcing myself to my feet, I try to get busy so I can get this afternoon off my head.

I hear the front door opening and Jonathan steps out, leaving me all alone in the house. With the ache in my chest, I start preparing dinner. 

By the time I place the dishes on the table, the living room is still empty. I sit on the dining table, staring at the meal like it was poison. I wonder how everything fell apart in a matter of days. Just a week ago, we sat on this same table, chatting and laughing as we celebrated Jayden’s birthday with the chocolate cake he wanted from the bakery.

I shudder slightly as I remember the distant look in Jayden’s eyes. It was almost like I lost my son overnight. 

The door opens and I hear Jonathan walking into the house with Jayden. I get up, watching them by the doorway of the kitchen. Jayden trudges slowly towards me.

“Sorry, Mommy.” He mutters with a pout.

With a sigh, I crouch down and hold his shoulders gently.  “It’s okay, my love. I’m not mad. Let’s eat, okay? But next time, if there’s something you really want—can you tell Mommy first? You want to go to the amusement park? We can go on the weekend.”

He blinks and bites his lower lips. “So…I can’t go out with Auntie Luna anymore?”

“That’s right. You can’t.” I answer calmly but firmly.

His expression sours but he doesn’t argue. He walks past me to the dining room and I straighten up.

“What’s this?” Jonathan asks, gesturing to the birthday present delivered to our doorstep today.

“Oh, it’s for Jayden.” I mutter and grab the package before heading into the dining room.

Jayden’s eyes light up the moment he sees the gift. As soon as I place it in front of him, he tears it open and squeals with excitement. He pulls out a glittering crystal and gem crown that looks way too expensive for an eight-year old. 

I blink, not knowing what to say about the extravagant present. Is it really appropriate for a child to have a crown that looks like one for royals?

Jayden is thrilled and grinning from ear to ear. He places it on his head and jumps with delight. I can’t help but smile at his excitement. “This is way better than anything Mommy’s ever given me!” He declares.

I watch his joy silently while my smile falters gradually.