Chapter 3
Zoey excitedly grabbed candy and stuffed it into her mouth.
She mumbled with puffed cheeks,
"I always knew you were the best, Mom, not like her.
"Mom, when will you be back? I misses you!"
Joya smiled knowingly.
"Mommy wants to return, but someone else is in her place, so I can't come home."
Max glared at me.
"Hey, don't you have your own place? Why are you always here?
"Now that Mom's back, just go away!"
Then he hugged Joya and planted a kiss on her cheek.
"Mommy, I missed you! That lady is mean and hit me."
Joya gently patted his head, then looked at me.
"Only a real mother feels that heartache. Mommy would never hit you."
Seeing their happy family made me feel out of place.
I went back to my room and locked the door.
Joya stayed with them until evening, then went home.
Zoey woke at night with a toothache.
"Daddy, my tooth hurts!"
"Daddy, my tooth hurts so much!"
Crying, she banged on our door.
Thomas quickly dressed and opened the door.
Zoey clutched her face, tears streaming from pain.
Thomas grabbed her and yelled, "Yvonne, get up! We must take her to the hospital."
I got out of bed, staring blankly at Zoey as she cried.
"I told her not to eat candy today.
"Serves her right."
Thomas frowned. "Yvonne, how old are you? Why be petty with a kid?
"You're always the one taking her to the hospital. You know her situation best. Get up."
Zoey sobbed.
"Auntie Yvonne, you took me to the hospital last time. Daddy doesn't know which doctor to see."
She knows I've always been there for her.
Zoey was three when I joined their lives.
I spoon-fed her every meal.
I helped her dress.
At night, I'd rock her to sleep with stories.
I watched her grow up.
Like Max, she never called me "Mom," only "Auntie."
Joya hardly ever acted like a real mom.
But Zoey still adored her.
That's the natural bond between mother and child.
At the end of the day, they were the real family after all.
I was an outsider from start to finish.
I hid under the covers, ignoring them.
When Thomas saw I didn't move, he slammed the door and stormed out, carrying Zoey to the hospital.
I sighed, grabbed my phone, and sent Zoey's hospital records to Thomas.
Thomas got home early the next morning.
He looked exhausted as he tossed his jacket on the couch and pressed his fingers to his temples.
"Rosie told me what happened yesterday. I won't let it happen again.
"Joya only wants money and doesn't care about the kids. I'll give her the money but keep her away from them.
"Yvonne, you're my wife and kids' mother."
He pulled me into a tired hug, resting his chin on my shoulder.
"They're still little and don't understand who loves them.
"Yvonne, just for me, could you give them one more chance?"
I sighed, hugged Thomas, and nodded.
I love Thomas.
He's handsome, rich, and everything I want in a man.
Girls often try to get close to him, but he keeps them at a distance.
He's fully cut Joya out, no drama or mess.
Without the kids issue, Thomas would be flawless.
Zoey was six, and Max was eight.
I told myself not to get upset with children.
I truly wanted to make this family work.
Joya took her money and disappeared.
Even after Joya left, the Howard house was still restless.
Zoey and Max cried for their mom daily, causing constant scenes.
Whatever I cooked, the food always ended on the floor.
Max glared at me like I was the villain in his story.
"You're why mom left!" he shouted.
"Bad auntie! We don't want you!
"Homewrecker! Return our mom!"
Zoey started crying too, joining in the commotion.
"I want my mom, not you!" she sobbed.
"Mommy, Mommy."