Chapter 3
The victory party was set for two days later.
Early that morning, my son was so excited he couldn’t sit still. He grabbed my hand and described how the house had been decorated. He told me he was wearing a little suit today, looking like a tiny grown-up.
“Mom... do you think Dad will come?” His voice was full of careful hope. “He promised me a year ago.”
I patted his head gently, forcing a smile, but I couldn’t give him a clear answer.
Harvey hadn’t come to see us in days.
Ever since he publicly announced Betty as his wife and announced her pregnancy, he’d completely ignored me and Ethan.
But listening to my son’s bright, hopeful voice, I couldn’t bring myself to crush him.
“Sweetheart, go play in the backyard for a little while,” I said. “Mom’s going to make your favorite stew.”
Once he left, I grabbed my phone and contacted Harvey.
“Skyler?” His voice sounded faintly surprised through the communication stone.
“Harvey. It’s your son’s victory party today. When are you coming over?” I asked, swallowing the bitterness.
After a brief silence, he answered slowly, “Skyler... I have a meeting to prepare for today. Celebrate without me. I’m not coming.”
Before I could say another word, he cut the connection.
“Dad’s not coming?” I turned and heard Ethan behind me.
I pulled him into a tight hug, blinking back my tears. “It’s okay. You still have me. I’m going to throw you the best party.”
He went quiet, then finally gave a soft, obedient “Okay.”
Just then, my phone buzzed again.
It was a message from Harvey: Skyler, bring Ethan to the estate hall. There’s a banquet tonight.
I froze.
Wasn’t he “busy” just now?
“Mom!” Ethan saw the message and lit up instantly. “Dad’s going to surprise me, right? Let’s go!”
He touched my cheek, begging. I couldn’t refuse.
“Okay,” I said softly. “Mom will take you.”
On the way, Ethan’s imagination ran wild, dreaming about the gift Dad would pick out for him with his own hands.
But in my chest, unease had already started crawling up.
When we reached the hall, the air was thick with incense and bay leaves.
“Mom, look!” Ethan squealed. “Dad and Auntie are waiting for us!”
I was about to stop him --
But Harvey’s voice rang through the entire hall:
“Thank you all for coming to witness my wedding with Betty.”
Wedding?
I went rigid.
This wasn’t a victory party at all.
It was Harvey and Betty’s wedding.
“Dad!” Ethan ran toward him, excited --
And Harvey shoved him away without hesitation. Ethan stumbled and fell back into me.
“Whose little mutt are you? Don’t stand here spouting nonsense.”
The guests whispered, confused by the child who had “ruined” the wedding.
“Dad, it’s me, Ethan -- your son!” His voice trembled.
Harvey’s voice turned heavy, crushing. “I’m telling you, you’ve got the wrong person.”
More whispers surged.
“Don Harvey has a child? Didn’t he always claim Betty was the only Donna?”
Betty walked over and let out a cold laugh. Her tone was syrupy and sharp at the same time.
“Well, well. Isn’t this Skyler? Still dreaming? Bringing your little bastard here to make a scene -- pathetic. Harvey, tell him. Make him give up.”
Rage burned through me.
“Harvey, this was all your plan, wasn’t it?” I snapped. “You lied to us and said it was Ethan’s party -- just so you could humiliate us!”
Betty leaned close, her breath sweet with victory. “You really think a blind woman with no family behind her -- and a bastard child -- can threaten my position as the Miller family’s Donna? Compared to the real Miller heir, that kid is nothing.”
The guests burst into laughter -- some mocking, some pitying.
I couldn’t take it anymore.
I drew my pistol and shoved Ethan behind me.
“Enough!” My voice shook with fury. “No one gets to insult my son. The blood in his veins is far nobler than you can ever imagine. Harvey, you don’t deserve to be his father!”
I grabbed Ethan’s hand and turned to leave --
And Betty slapped me hard across the face.
“We were kind enough to take in you orphans,” she hissed. “And this is how you repay us?”
I fell to the ground, my cheek burning.
“Mom!” Ethan threw himself down to hug me tight.
“What are you still standing there for?” Betty shrieked at the guards. “Throw them out!”
Security grabbed us roughly. Ethan struggled wildly.
“Let go of my mom!”
His voice cracked, hoarse and desperate. “Don Harvey... Donna Betty... please... don’t hurt my mom...”
“Ethan, don’t!” I gasped, reaching for him.
But he took a shaky breath and forced his voice into something small, humble, obedient.
“We were wrong. We shouldn’t have come. Please... please forgive us.”
Harvey asked softly, “What did you just call me?”
“Don Harvey,” Ethan said firmly. “We know our place. Please don’t hurt my mom anymore.”
Then he helped me up.
“Mom. Let’s go.”
Under everyone’s eyes, Ethan and I walked out of that hall.
My heart felt like it had been stabbed straight through.
That night, my son grew up.
When we got home, my phone rang again. It was Harvey.
“Skyler, don’t misunderstand. In that situation, I had to protect the Miller family’s reputation...”
I didn’t say a word.
Instead, I wrote a letter -- pouring every year of longing, betrayal, and heartbreak into it.
Then I packed my bags, took Ethan’s hand, and boarded a plane to my mother’s family.
