That night, I didn’t keep arguing with them. I didn’t want to scare Mia.
Ethan drove me home. Neither of us said much along the way. He knew better than to think he could fool me.
The second he pulled into the driveway, he rushed to explain, his voice deliberately soft and appeasing.
“Baby, I didn’t handle things well today. My parents are getting older. Please don’t take what they said to heart. They’re just softhearted. They can’t stand seeing a child suffer.”
“Okay.”
My calm response made Ethan hesitate.
He clearly hadn’t expected me to be so composed, but in the end, he seemed relieved.
What he didn’t know was that later that night, I checked the security footage.
I saw him sneaking off to send Renee a message.
[Don’t worry. She won’t find out. Leo is my son, and I won’t let him go without.]
He really thought he was clever.
A little before dawn, Mia told me something that made my heart twist.
“Mom, the last few times Dad dropped me off at Grandma and Grandpa’s, he went out with Leo and his family for hours afterward.”
“Did he?”
My chest tightened.
“Yeah. Leo just transferred to my school, and he keeps picking on me.”
Only then did I realize my daughter had been getting bullied at school.
Mia told me Leo had been telling the other kids that she stole his dad and that she was shameless.
She had tried desperately to explain, but nobody believed her.
She’d even told Ethan about it.
His response?
“Leo’s a good kid. He’d never bully you.”
After hearing that over and over, Mia had gradually become quieter and quieter.
I’d spent the past few months constantly traveling for business. With me overseas half the time and dealing with different time zones, Mia and I had barely had a chance to talk.
I pulled her into my arms, guilt crushing me.
“I’m sorry, sweetheart. I won’t overlook you again. I promise.”
I’d always thought that working hard and giving Mia every possible advantage was what a good mother was supposed to do.
I’d been so focused on giving her a head start that I’d forgotten something even more important.
Her emotional well-being.
Just then, a message from the private investigator came through.
[I found something. Renee Miller was Ethan Bennett’s wife. They had a wedding in their hometown ten years ago.]
My heart pounded harder with every word I read.
So I’d been the other woman all along?
The investigator sent another message.
[I also discovered that your husband has made several recent visits to banks and real estate firms. You should keep a close eye on what he’s doing.]
[Okay. Thank you for your help.]
I pulled Mia even closer.
In the darkness, my eyes narrowed.
I could accept that people changed.
What I couldn’t accept was someone deliberately plotting against me and my daughter.
Once Mia had fallen asleep, I quietly got out of bed and texted my attorney.
[I want a divorce from Ethan. I want him to walk away with nothing.]
Two days later, Mia’s school held a student talent show.
I asked the school to excuse her for the day and drove her to my parents’ house.
Ethan visibly relaxed.
“Mia should get some rest anyway. Oh, by the way, I’ve got something to take care of later. I’ll probably be home pretty late, so don’t wait up or save me dinner.”
“Sure.”
I gave him a long, knowing look.
The moment Ethan left, I followed him.
Just as I’d expected, he drove straight to the school.
A bitter wave of resentment surged through me.
Whenever Mia had an event at school, Ethan had always claimed he was too busy to attend.
Yet now he suddenly had plenty of time when it came to Leo.
The auditorium was packed with parents. I put on a mask, chose a random seat, and settled in.
It wasn’t long before I spotted Renee sitting diagonally across from me, holding Leo’s hand.
She stared intently at Ethan, who was standing onstage as the parent representative.
The principal smiled at Ethan.
“Since Leo just transferred here this semester and has made such incredible progress, perhaps Leo’s dad could share a few words about his approach to parenting. Mr. Bennett, would you like to tell everyone about it?”
I curled my lips into a sarcastic smile.
Leo’s dad.
What a joke.
Ethan smiled and lifted the microphone.
He started with a few polished words about how honored he was to be there. Then he looked down at Leo, his eyes full of pride.
“Honestly, I can’t take much credit. Leo is an incredibly bright kid. He’s just a little mischievous. I’m usually busy with work, but whenever I have the time, I make sure I’m there for him.”
The parents around me nodded along approvingly.
Then, suddenly, a kid shouted from somewhere in the audience.
“Wait! Whose dad are you?”