Chapter 2
I grabbed onto Lucas’s arm like my life depended on it, not letting him move an inch.]
“Maya! Are you trying to drive everyone completely insane? Is that what you want?“]
He took this deep breath, trying to keep it together.[]
Then he just exploded like a bomb going off.[]
He kicked the coffee table so hard the glass top shattered everywhere.[]
“Ah!“]]
Sarah screamed and cowered back, too scared to move.[]
That scream snapped Lucas right back to reality.[]
He rushed over to help Sarah up, pulling her behind him like she was made of glass.[]
“Hey, hey, it’s okay. I’m so sorry. I didn’t mean to scare you.“]
That apology? Yeah, that was for Sarah.
Sarah’s eyes got all teary as she shook her head, tugging on his sleeve.[]
“I’m fine, don’t worry about me…“]
“What matters right now is calming Mrs. Hayes down.“]
Just like that, Lucas went back to being Mr. Cool and Collected.[]
He told Betty to go get Tommy.[]
A few minutes later, Tommy came downstairs, shaking like a leaf.]
He was just wearing this thin little cartoon bear pajama set – looked so small and cold.[]
He said “Daddy” first, then “Aunt Sarah.“[]
But he didn’t even glance my way.]
I grabbed my jacket without thinking, wanting to wrap it around him.[]
But he jerked away like I was toxic waste.[]
“You smell weird. It makes me sick.“]
“I’m never wearing your gross clothes.“]
Chapter 7
He shot me this disgusted look and stumbled over to Sarah.]
“Oh sweetie, why are you wearing so little?“]]
Sarah naturally slipped her jacket around his shoulders.
Then scooped him up in her arms like it was the most normal thing in the world.]
“Aunt Sarah, you’re so nice. Not like some people… who just fight with Daddy all the time…“]]
Tommy mumbled into her shoulder.
Lucas cleared his throat. “Tommy, say sorry to your mom.“[]
“Mommy’s upset she missed your school event. If you don’t apologize, she’s gonna leave us.“[]
Tommy’s eyes literally lit up.]
“The old witch is finally leaving?“]
“I’m not saying sorry! Just go away already! I want Aunt Sarah to be my mom!“]
It felt like someone was stabbing me in the chest over and over.[]
Is this really the kid I almost died giving birth to?]
Lucas’s face got all stern. “Don’t talk like that! Apologize to your mother right now!“]
Tommy got Lucas’s stubborn streak, that’s for sure.]]
He shook his head, eyes all red and defiant.]
“No way! I hate her!“]
Even Lucas couldn’t make him budge.]
But then Sarah used her sweet little voice. “Sweetie, just say sorry to make Aunt Sarah happy, okay?“[]
Tommy bit his lip, thinking it over for like forever, then actually gave in.[]
“Sorry. There, happy now?“]
Lucas looked relieved.
“See? He said sorry. Just drop it already.“}}
“Take the win and move on.“]]
That’s when Sarah’s phone buzzed twice.]
She opened it and started typing back.
Chapter 2
Then Tommy’s smartwatch started buzzing too.]]
For like two whole minutes, her phone and his watch kept going back and forth.[]
Tommy had this sneaky little smile on his face and kept peeking at me.]]
My stomach dropped.[]
I realized they were probably texting each other.[]
And maybe the text was about me.[]
I felt like someone was choking me – couldn’t breathe.]
Then I yanked Tommy’s watch right off his wrist!]]
And yeah, I was totally right.[]
Tommy, Lucas, and Sarah had this group chat called “Safe Haven.“[]
Tommy: [The old witch is so gross! Tommy hates her!]]
Sarah: [Tommy shouldn’t say mean things about mommy~ But auntie feels so bad seeing Tommy upset.][]
Tommy: [Why won’t she just die? Tommy could stay with Aunt Sarah forever!]]]
Sarah: [Tommy, keep those thoughts to yourself, okay? If mommy finds out she’ll hurt Tommy…]]
By the time I finished reading, I was shaking like crazy.
Tommy was flailing around, trying to grab his watch back.]
“Old witch! Don’t touch my stuff!“]
His chubby little fists kept hitting my face, my neck.
The watch slipped and crashed to the floor, screen cracking into pieces.[]
“Stupid witch!“]
Tommy’s face went bright red with rage.]
He picked up the broken watch and threw it right at my head.]]
The sharp pain hit first, then I felt the broken screen slice into my forehead.[]
Blood started dripping down. I flinched hard from the pain.
For a second there, my whole body went numb.]]
My heart felt like it was being squeezed in a vice.]]
+
Chapter 2
I pressed my hand to the cut and said calmly, “I’ll buy you a new watch.“[]
But Tommy wasn’t having it. He spit right in my face![]
“Get out! Get out!“]
He kept shoving me with his little hands.
Lucas saw the blood and looked kind of helpless.[]
“Tommy, that’s enough.“]
He handed me some tissues.]]
“Sometimes when kids don’t bond with you, you gotta look at yourself too.“]]
“Acting all crazy like this who’s gonna like that?“]
“Look, he said sorry. Isn’t that what you wanted?“]]
I blinked a couple times, trying not to cry.
“Just sign the papers. I’m getting this divorce no matter what.“]
