Olivia was the old flame he had chased overseas for years.
Emily was her daughter from her divorce, about five or six years old—about the same age as me.
When I glanced longingly at the strawberries on the floor, she stomped them underfoot twice with cruelty.
She glared at me. “Street rat. Even crushed, you’re not allowed to eat them!”
I froze.
The next second, Emily smirked and hurled the mashed strawberries straight into my face.
Mom pulled me protectively into her arms, her eyes cold as she glared back. “Apologize.”
Emily scoffed, her nose practically pointing to the sky.
Mom tightened her grip on my hand and repeated firmly, “Apologize to my daughter.”
Emily suddenly shrieked, “Daddy! The mean woman bullied me!”
Richard’s brows furrowed as he bent down to scoop her up.
“Daddy won’t let anyone hurt you.”
Then he looked up coldly. “Linda, are you really picking fights with a child?”
“Emily is just a little mischievous. Kids love to play—it’s in their nature. Do you think everyone has to be like your daughter Sophie, some stiff block of wood?”
Mom’s whole body trembled. I felt miserable too.
Richard never liked me. Other kids had their dads at parent-teacher meetings, but he never once showed up for mine.
I always thought it was because I hadn’t done well enough—that I had upset him somehow.
By accident, I once overheard him say he liked obedient children.
So I tried my best to be quiet and cautious in front of him, but that only made me “a block of wood.”
No matter what I did, he and Mom both seemed doomed to be objects of his dislike.
“Richard, my daughter and I waited half the day for you. What does it mean that you’ve brought them back here?”
Mom, who had been silently holding back tears, finally burst out.
“Didn’t you once promise me you’d cut ties with Olivia Grant?”
“This is our home. Our daughter is still here. This isn’t some hotel!”
“Anyone who didn’t know better would think Olivia was just some woman you picked up outside.”
Her sarcasm made Richard’s face darken instantly.
“Say that again if you dare.”
It looked as if they were about to fight.
Olivia stepped forward, feigning gentleness.
“Richard, don’t fight with Linda. Don’t let me come between you two.”
“It’s my fault and Emily’s. We just returned to the States and had nowhere to stay. One night on your couch would have been enough.”
Richard’s face softened with pity.