She Already Knows Her Place

Evelyn’s POV

The morning air was quiet, but my heart wasn’t.

I barely slept through the night. My pillow was soaked with silent tears, and my eyes were sore. I

had made up my mind. I would collect the divorce papers today. My lawyer had called earlier

and said everything was ready. All I had to do was show up and take them.

I stood in front of the mirror, brushing my hair slowly. I didn’t even recognize the woman staring

back. My skin was pale. My lips were dry. The scar on my cheek… I used to hide it with

makeup. Now I didn’t bother. What was the point?

As I slipped into a plain dress and picked up my bag, I took one last deep breath. Today,

something in me had changed. I wasn’t going to beg anymore.

I walked towards the living room, ready to leave the house, when I heard laughter.

Jason and Liam were there — father and son — sitting on the couch, getting ready for work and

school. Liam was holding his little backpack while Jason helped him fix his tie.

I paused.

I used to be the one to tie that little knot around his neck every morning. I used to be the one to

kiss his forehead and say, “Do your best today, my boy.” But today… I walked past them.

I didn’t greet them. I didn’t smile. I just walked like I didn’t even know them.

The silence hit harder than words.

Liam looked up at me, confused. Jason too.

“Is she okay?” Liam asked in a small voice.

I kept walking.

Then Jason stood and said coldly, “There’s a dinner tonight. For the company. You need to be

there.”

I stopped but didn’t look at him.

“It’s important,” he added. “We need to look like… a happy couple. Just pretend. You’re good at

that.”

My lips trembled, but I nodded and left the house. I didn’t say a word.

As I stepped outside, the sun hit my face, but I felt no warmth. Only pain.

I was about to start the car when I realized I had forgotten something. I turned back and quietly

stepped into the house to grab my file. That’s when I heard them again.

Liam’s voice.

“She’s acting different today, Dad.”

Jason’s voice followed, colder than ice.

“Isn’t it better this way? She finally knows her place.”

I froze.

My legs couldn’t move. My hands shook.

Liam replied with a little laugh. “Yeah… now I can spend more time with Ivy.”

I didn’t breathe.

I couldn’t.

Something inside me shattered completely.

They didn’t know I was listening. They didn’t know that the woman who carried Liam for nine

months… who gave her kidney to Jason… was standing there, dying inside.

Knows her place?

What place, Jason? The place where I stay quiet, concealed, unwelcome?

What place, Liam? The place where your biological mother becomes a specter as you are

swept up into the arms of another woman who showers you with gifts and calls herself mum?

I clamped my jaws together, biting back a scream and stopping myself from sobbing helplessly

I cried quietly, tears streaming down my face.

I screamed inside my head.

But I didn't.

Instead, I dried my tears, picked up the file, and slipped quietly out of the house.

As I walked back to the car, something hardened inside me.

Maybe I did know where my place was now.

And maybe.

It wasn't here anymore