Chapter 3

The next day, at Leo's school's parent-teacher conference.

I dressed subtly, blending effortlessly into the crowd, and found a seat in the furthest corner of Leo's classroom.

No sooner had I settled than Mark texted me.

【Celeste, how's work? When are you coming home?】

He was testing me.

【Just arrived. Gotta go, meeting's about to start.】

I replied curtly.

The chat bubble instantly showed "typing...", followed by a kitten emoji.

Identical to Scarlett's profile picture.

A wave of nausea washed over me. I pocketed my phone, no longer bothering to reply.

Scarlett, the new homeroom teacher this semester, took the stage.

She had clearly made an effort today.

A simple beige dress, her hair styled in a delicate side braid, a meticulously applied layer of makeup on her face.

Unlike yesterday's timid, fragile demeanor, she now exuded a carefully curated, almost performative, maternal warmth.

The sight of it made me sick.

"Good evening, parents. The theme of our parent-teacher conference today is 'Family Harmony.' Family has always been a child's most important sanctuary. As parents, it's crucial that we prioritize our children's mental well-being and foster a happy, harmonious home environment..."

From the podium, she lectured the parents endlessly.

She even told several short stories, stressing the importance of parental responsibility for the family.

Yet, she was the very person who was destroying my family.

What was even more ironic was that after saying all this, she suddenly tapped the whiteboard, looking at the parents below with a bashful smile.

"Actually, I have something else to announce today. My son, Leo, is also in this class."

Scarlett turned and waved towards the door.

"Mark, Leo, come on in!"

A ripple of murmurs spread through the classroom.

Mark walked slowly into the classroom, holding Leo's hand.

He'd clearly made an effort, in a sharp black suit, his hair meticulously slicked back.

On his wrist, he wore the expensive watch I had given him.

Our son, however, was dressed in wrinkled clothes, his hair damp and matted to his forehead, as if he had a fever.

My heart clenched. I almost couldn't stop myself from rushing forward to snatch my son back.

But my rational mind told me: not yet.

I needed to wait for Scarlett to openly admit her intimate relationship with Mark, to completely ruin her.

"Hello everyone, I'm Scarlett's husband, Mark."

He nudged Leo, who looked dazed.

His lips curved into the gentle smile I knew so well, but the words that followed sent a chill through me.

"Leo, say hello to Mommy."

Leo shook his head, hiding behind him, and whispered:

"She's not my mom."

Some parents in the audience began to question it.

"I remember Leo's mom is Celeste? I saw her before school started, what happened?"

"Yeah, I remember too. What's going on?"

Scarlett's face instantly went white. She looked at Mark for help.

Sure enough, after only two seconds of hesitation, he calmly stepped onto the stage, cleared his throat, and began:

"There's been a misunderstanding."

"Celeste is not my son's mother. She's just..."

He paused, his gaze softening as it fell on Scarlett.

"She's just a nanny I hired for my son. Ms. Scarlett is my son's real mother."

A nanny?

I froze, the emotions in my eyes turning to ice.

Mark and I had been together since college, through ten years of ups and downs.

When his startup failed and he accumulated massive debt, I fought with my father for him.

When his frequent business dinners caused stomach problems, I woke up at five every morning to make him nourishing porridge.

He said he wanted children, and on the operating table, I even thought about prioritizing the baby over myself.

Now, in front of my son, in front of all his classmates' parents, he was calling me a nanny.

The icy chill in my heart ignited into a furious blaze.

The parents in the classroom seemed convinced, a light of understanding dawning on their faces.

"So that's it! Then Celeste is too much. She's just a nanny, and she let the child call her mom."

Some even advised Scarlett.

"Ms. Scarlett, you're too soft-hearted, you need to be careful. Don't let the nanny bully you. If she leads the child astray, it could be a big problem."

"Exactly, these nannies are the worst."

Scarlett was overjoyed, smiling sweetly and virtuously:

"Mmm-hmm, you're right."

"I'll be careful."

Leo, his eyes red, retorted:

"No, you're wrong. She's not my mom. My mom is Celeste."

A parent clicked their tongue, their face scornful:

"See? I knew it. He’s already acting out, not even recognizing his own mom. He’ll grow up to be disrespectful and ungrateful. Ms. Scarlett, Mr. Mark, you really need to teach this child properly."

"That's right, my daughter would never act like this. Ms. Scarlett, you're just too soft on him."

"If you ask me, just take him over your knee and teach him a lesson he won't forget, that'll make him behave."

"Oh, that's too violent! I say, just lock him in a closet. Only let him out when he learns to call her Mom."

The parents chimed in, one after another, offering their suggestions.

Scarlett couldn't hide the delight in her eyes, but on the surface, she feigned reluctance, looking at Mark hesitantly:

"Mark, what they're saying makes some sense, maybe..."

"Wait!"

I stood up, pulling down my concealing mask, and held up my phone, which had been recording the entire time. My voice resonated clearly.

"Mark, I'm asking you again, in front of everyone: If Scarlett is Leo's mother, then who am I?"

The smiles on Mark's and Scarlett's faces froze.