chapter 3

The car finally pulled up in front of a hotel.

Daniel got out first and walked around to open the passenger door for Vivian.

Leo followed, carrying a big gift box. Before they went inside, he tilted his head back and beamed up at Vivian. "Happy birthday, Mom."

I sat in the back of the cab. It felt like an invisible hand was squeezing my throat. Even breathing hurt.

I paid the fare, opened the door, and got out.

The door to the third-floor banquet room was ajar.

Inside were an elegant cake and flowers. Several of Daniel's friends were there. Everything was so warm and easy, as if they were the real family.

Leo sat beside Vivian, carefully placing candles in the cake. Daniel was watching the two of them. The tenderness in his eyes pierced me like needles.

I pushed open the door and walked in.

The laughter in the room stopped dead. Someone recognized me, and their face filled with embarrassment.

Vivian looked up. She was still wearing an innocent smile, as if she had no idea who I was. "Daniel, who's this?"

She'd recognized me at the mall. Now she was pretending she didn't know me.

I didn't look at her. I kept my eyes on Daniel. "Why don't you tell her?"

Daniel stood frozen, his face white. "Claire, what are you doing here?"

I laughed coldly. "Right. I'm supposed to be waiting for you in the mountains."

Leo jumped to his feet. "You followed us?"

I looked at him. "Weren't you at the library?"

His face turned bright red.

Vivian stood and moved to Daniel's side. Her voice was soft enough to melt. "Claire, can we talk about this privately? It's my birthday."

I looked at her. "And who exactly are you?"

The smile faded from her face.

Suddenly, Leo spread his arms and planted himself in front of Vivian, as if he was afraid I'd hurt her. "Don't you bully her!"

I looked at the son I'd raised for ten years. My voice came out raw. "I'm bullying her?"

His eyes were red. He shouted at me. "She just helped me find a coach and came to my practices! Why do you have to make such a big deal out of it? She's a million times nicer to me than you are!"

"Nicer how?"

Leo bit his lip hard. And then, in the end, he threw the cruelest thing he could at me. "She plays with me! She listens to me! What do you even do at home besides cook and do laundry? How are you any different from a maid?"

The room went dead silent.

Daniel finally snapped at him. "Leo, shut up."

But it was too late.

I looked at my son, and it felt like someone had carved a piece out of my chest.

Vivian gently tugged Leo back. She turned to me, her voice full of fake pity. "Claire, I saw you at the mall the other day. I really didn't think you couldn't even afford one outfit. Daniel, you should give Claire more money for the house. After all, she takes care of you and your son."

I stared at her. "You think I'm your family's maid?"

I took a step toward her.

Daniel's face changed. "Claire, have you lost your mind?"

I didn't stop. I looked at Vivian and said, slowly and clearly, "I am Daniel's legal wife. And I am Leo's mother."

Vivian looked like she'd been struck by lightning. Tears spilled down her face instantly. She turned to Daniel. "Is that true?"

Daniel's face had gone gray.

The next second, he grabbed a glass of red wine off the table and threw it in my face.

The dark red wine ran down from my forehead and soaked into my collar.

"Claire, do you have to make this so ugly?"

Before I could say anything, Vivian pressed a hand to her chest and swayed on her feet.

The room fell into chaos. Someone rushed to hold her up. Someone shouted at me, "Why are you still standing here? She has a heart condition! If something happens to her, are you going to take responsibility?"

Leo ran at me and shoved me hard. "If something happens to Mom, I'll never forgive you!"

I slammed into the hard back of a chair. My arm went numb with pain.

But what hurt most was my husband with his arms around another woman, and my son glaring at me like I was his enemy.

I wiped the wine from my face. Without another word, I turned and walked out.