- “To visit my daughter. Surely that’s allowed.”
-
“You haven’t visited her in ten years.”
- “Must we discuss that on her birthday?”
- She walked past me.
- “Goodness, you still have the same furniture!”
-
I thought it was time for a reunion.
- “Some of us like keeping things.”
-
“Rob, bring the presents.”
- Sophie appeared from the kitchen carrying cake.
- She froze. “Mom?”
- Vanessa smiled. “Hello, sweetheart!”
-
You still have the same furniture!
- For several seconds, Sophie couldn’t speak.
- Then Vanessa embraced her awkwardly. “Look how beautiful you’ve become! You have my eyes.”
- “You haven’t seen me since I was two.”
-
“Well, life gets complicated.”
- Sophie glanced at the shopping bags. “Are you staying for my birthday?”
-
Sophie couldn’t speak.
- “Of course, sweetheart!”
-
“For the whole party?”
- Vanessa smiled. “We’ll see.”
- Sophie nodded, trying to hide her disappointment.
- “Will you come back tomorrow?” Sophie asked.
-
You haven’t seen me since I was two.
- “Let’s not make plans yet, darling.”
- “But you know where we live now.”
-
“Of course I do.”
- Sophie glanced at me, then quietly stepped aside.
- Rob brought in a new bicycle while Vanessa handed Sophie a wrapped tablet.
-
Let’s not make plans yet.
- “Thank you,” Sophie whispered.
- “See? Mommy knows what you deserve. I can finally give you what your father couldn’t.”
- “Vanessa, enough,” I warned.
- Sophie glanced at her desk. “Dad made that for me.”
- “That’s sweet. But now you have something better.”
-
Vanessa handed Sophie a wrapped tablet.
- “Better?”
-
“Something you actually deserve.”
- Sophie’s smile vanished. She reached for her phone.
- “Mom, can I show you something I found online?”
- I thought Sophie was about to show her mother a birthday photograph. Instead, she opened a secret Vanessa had kept from all of us.
-
Now you have something better.
- “You have hundreds of thousands of followers?” Sophie asked, opening Vanessa’s Instagram.
- “People love my lifestyle, darling.”
- “Here you say children ruin women’s freedom.”
-
“I was speaking generally.”
- “And that avoiding responsibilities keeps you young.”
-
She opened a secret Vanessa had kept from all of us.
- “That’s advice for my audience.”
- “Do your followers know you have seven children?”
-
“My personal life is private.”
- “Then why are you livestreaming my birthday?”
- Vanessa hesitated. “I wanted to share our beautiful reunion.”
-
You say children ruin women’s freedom.
- “Did you tell them you abandoned me?”
- “They don’t need every detail!”
- “So you wanted them to think you were a good mom?”
-
“Sophie, don’t ruin this!”
- I turned.
- Vanessa’s phone was propped against a vase, its camera aimed at the presents.
-
I wanted to share our beautiful reunion.
- The red LIVE indicator was glowing.
- “You’ve been filming us?” I demanded.
-
“It’s for my followers!”
- Sophie picked up the phone. “Then they should meet us.”
- “Sophie, stop!”
-
They don’t need every detail!
- “Hi, everyone. I’m Sophie. Mom left when I was two. I have six brothers and sisters.”
- Comments flooded the screen.
- @Hel1n_ko: SEVEN CHILDREN?
- @Kozl10v.Lir1: She said she had no responsibilities!
- “How dare you, you little brat?!” Vanessa screamed.
- I’d stayed silent for ten years. But after she attacked Sophie, I knew it was time to teach her a lesson.
-
Mom left when I was two.
