Chapter 4

Natalie’s POV

Julian opened his mouth, but before he could speak, Chloe stood up and grabbed her designer bag.

"Maybe I really should leave. I'm clearly not welcome here," she said, making a show of walking toward the door, though her feet barely moved.

Leo burst into tears instantly. He lunged forward and began slapping my arm with all his little might. "Bad Mommy! You're bullying Chloe! You're a bad person!"

"Leo!" I caught his wrists, my voice dropping. "Stop it."

"Why are you yelling at him?" Julian pulled the boy behind him, glaring at me with disgust. "It’s just running a bath! Chloe is a guest in this house. Can't you show a little basic courtesy?"

"I don't feel well. I have no energy." I touched my forehead; my skin was indeed burning up. Between the sleepless nights and the frantic morning errands, a fever had set in.

Leo blinked, then recoiled from me as if I were carrying the plague. "Mommy, you're sick? Are you going to infect Chloe?"

He tugged furiously at Julian’s sleeve. "Daddy, take Chloe to the doctor! Get her medicine so she doesn't catch Mommy's germs!"

"Let's go," Julian said without hesitation, taking Chloe’s hand.

Chloe grabbed Leo’s hand with her other, and the three of them walked out the door, laughing and chatting. Not one of them looked back at me.

I sat alone at the empty table. The breakfast in front of me had gone cold again, the pastries hard as rocks.

I tossed the food into the trash and sat by the island, mindlessly rubbing the ceramic mug between my palms.

My phone chimed. A text from Julian: [Bring the car to the amusement park. Pick us up.]

I grabbed my coat and drove over.

When I arrived at the park entrance, only Chloe and Leo were waiting by the gates. Julian was nowhere in sight, probably off buying drinks.

"I want to ride the mega coaster!" Leo cheered, pointing at the towering steel tracks in the distance. "The highest one!"

"Sure, let's go!" Chloe smiled, pulling out her phone to take a selfie.

"No," I stepped in, grabbing Leo’s arm. "You're too young for that coaster. The doctor said your heart can't handle extreme shocks."

Leo’s face instantly twisted in fury. He yanked his arm out of my grip. "I want to ride it! Chloe said yes! You're not the boss of me!"

"Oh, come on, Natalie, don't be such a buzzkill," Chloe said dismissively. "One ride won't kill him. Stop being dramatic."

"This is Vance family business. It has nothing to do with you," I said coldly, fixing my eyes on her.

Chloe’s smile vanished.

Just then, Julian returned holding iced coffees. Chloe immediately hurried over, tears welling up in her eyes. "Julian... I just wanted to take Leo on a ride, but Natalie snapped at me. She told me to stay out of family business..."

"The cardiologist warned us about his heart condition," I explained calmly.

"Natalie!" Julian handed the drinks to Chloe and turned on me with a dark scowl. "We're trying to have a nice day, and you ruin it every single time. Just stand over there and wait. Stop micromanaging everything."

I stood frozen in the crowd. Around us, other parents were chatting and laughing. A few cast curious glances our way before whispering to one another.

Standing among the crowd, one truth became crystal clear.

From the second Chloe stepped foot into Julian's world, there was no longer any room for me.

Even caring for my own biological child was now labeled as meddling.

I walked over to a nearby bench and sat down. I watched Leo hold Chloe’s hand as they joined the line, and I watched Julian leaning against the railing, snapping photos of them with a broad, radiant smile.

The afternoon sun was blinding. I squinted, slipping my cold hands into my coat pockets, where my fingers brushed against the printed flight confirmation.

The edge of the paper was slightly crumpled. I stroked it gently with my thumb.

It was my ticket out of this hell.