Chapter 2
Edward tugged at his collar and slid the pink diamond necklace across the table toward me.
"Today is our wedding anniversary. Do you have to make a scene like this?" he said. "Lucas is just a kid, and you've upset him so much. He's probably bawling his eyes out in his room."
"Aren't you going to apologize to him?" Edward pressed.
I looked up at him, my gaze cool and indifferent.
"Me? I'm the one who made him cry? Did you not see him come storming down, kicking and hitting me?" I said.
I pointed to the bite mark on my arm that was still oozing blood.
"I didn't even slap him, and you want me to apologize? Seriously, I think I've spoiled him rotten," I snapped.
"Charlotte, when did you get so difficult?" Edward snapped. "Lucas is only five. How could he understand any of this? You're going to break his heart."
Edward's face was flushed with anger.
I almost blurted out an apology, but I forced myself to hold back.
"So I'm not allowed to feel hurt when my son bites me like this?" I shot back.
I glanced over and saw Lucas's door was open just a crack.
Sure enough, he was trying to listen in.
As soon as he caught me looking, he slammed the door shut.
[What's up with Charlotte now? She acts like a whole different person. Can she chill out and stop being so dramatic? She's driving me nuts.]
[Seriously, their love story is nearly done.]
[Crap! Charlotte's affection score dropped. Now both of their affection scores are stuck at 90. How did that happen?]
[Probably because Lucas bit her. He got too worked up and bit too hard.]
[It's all on Charlotte. She should have comforted him the first time he cried. She gets mad just because her kid bit her? Is she cut out to be a Mom?]
The comments were almost all roasting me.
But seriously, what did I do wrong?
Just because I was the supporting character, was I supposed to step aside and sacrifice myself so Edward and Emily could get their happy ending?
That night, Edward said he was going to tuck Lucas in and headed to his room.
I lingered at the doorway, eavesdropping on their conversation.
"Dad, Mom's affection score dropped so much. What do we do now?" Lucas sobbed.
"I don't want to live with her anymore," Lucas shouted. "I want Emily. I don't want this bitch."
Edward felt bad for Lucas and hugged him tightly.
"Don't cry, kiddo. My affection score also dropped," Edward said softly.
"It's alright. We'll figure this out together. Maybe you should apologize to Charlotte tomorrow. I think that bite is what did it," Edward suggested.
Lucas was fuming.
"Why should I have to apologize to that woman? I didn't do anything wrong," Lucas snapped.
"She was the one who refused your gift. We were almost about to be with Emily already!" Lucas grumbled. "She's the one coming between us. I hate her."
I bit my lip, telling myself I'd braced for this.
Hearing their words still felt like a knife twisting in my chest. I thought I was ready, but the pain was unbearable.
After a bit of complaining, Lucas suddenly blurted out, "Dad, did you get Emily a present? Tomorrow is her birthday."
"Of course I did. What do you think of this necklace?" Edward replied, holding it up.
Lucas gasped, "Wait, this necklace looks just like the one that woman has. I knew it. Dad, you gave her a fake, didn't you?"
Through the crack in the door, I saw Lucas clumsily pull a handmade plush toy out from under his blanket.
The stitches were all crooked and uneven.
He looked a little embarrassed.
"Dad, I made this plush toy for Emily all by myself. Will she not like it?" Lucas asked.
I gripped my skirt so hard that my knuckles went pale.
Lucas started making that plush toy a month ago.
Whenever he saw me, he'd hide it and say it was a school project.
His fingers were covered in tiny holes from all the times he'd pricked himself with the needle.
Seeing that made my heart ache.
When I offered to help, Lucas snatched the plush toy away from me with an impatient glare.
He slapped the spot where I'd touched it, almost like he was trying to wipe away my presence.
"Mom, just stop, okay? You're so annoying. All the other kids make theirs by themselves. If you do it for me, that'd be so embarrassing," Lucas grumbled.
Back then, I felt proud, thinking he was finally starting to grow up.
It was a gift for Emily, so he insisted on making the whole thing himself from start to finish.
I had no idea how I ended up back in my room.
It felt like someone was squeezing my heart so tight that I could barely breathe.
When I came to, my pillow was already drenched in tears.
[LOL, watching Charlotte get wrecked like this is hilarious. Serves her right! That's what she gets for trying to mess with Edward and Emily.]
[I'm cracking up. Hope she cries herself silly. She looks so pathetic right now.]
[Honestly, Charlotte is tragic. Her own husband and kid don't care about her at all.]
The chat was savage. Everyone was roasting me nonstop.
Once in a while, a few people tried to stick up for me, but their words got instantly buried under all the hate.
[Wait, hold up. Charlotte just overheard Edward and Lucas talking. How are they supposed to finish the task now?]
[Relax, Charlotte is so hung up on those two, she'll end up blaming herself and feeling guilty for not doing enough.]
[Plus, don't forget Edward's got that item. If the affection score drops below 50, he can flip her guilt into love. With both tricks going, how could they not clear the task?]
[Ugh, Charlotte is such a bitch. Why does she have to make everything so messy? We were about to get all the cute romance and family scenes with Edward and Emily.]
[For real. Charlotte should drop dead.]
[Charlotte should die already.]
Suddenly, all I could see were comments telling me to die.
I shut my eyes and pressed the pillow over my head, trying to block it all out.
But tomorrow was my birthday, too.
The next morning, I dragged myself out of bed with puffy, swollen eyes.
As soon as I stepped out of my room, the sweet aroma of cake filled the air. On the dining table sat a beautifully decorated birthday cake.
Edward dashed out of the kitchen, still wearing his apron.
When Edward saw me, he grinned, all soft and doting.
"Hey, sleepyhead. Finally awake? Here's your birthday cake. Happy birthday," he said.
Every year on my birthday, Edward would personally cook me a cake.
He'd always say it was to wish me happiness and many more birthdays to come.
Lucas was sitting at the table, swinging his legs back and forth.
He tilted his head and gave me a sweet smile. Then, he hopped down and grabbed my hand.
"Mom, happy birthday. I put the cream on myself," Lucas said.
Edward said, "Go on, try it. Don't you think it tastes better?"
Sunlight streamed across the dining table.
Edward and Lucas were laughing and messing around together.
I felt a little out of it, as if everything was back to normal.
It was almost like yesterday's drama had never happened.
[Edward and Lucas totally nailed it.]
[LOL, what a dumb bitch! Give her a tiny bit of sweetness, and she's instantly hooked.]
[Let's go! Both their affection scores hit 95. Victory is so close. Just push through!]
The chat yanked me back to reality.
I pinched my palm hard.
This was real, not just some dream.
I noticed the plush toy, all wrapped up, sitting at my spot at the table.
Before I realized it, I blurted out, "Lucas, is this for me? Did you make this for my birthday?"
Lucas's expression changed in a flash, turning defensive.
He stuffed the plush toy behind his back, trying to hide it.
"No, this is for my friend," Lucas blurted out.
"Mom, why are you like this? Why do you always want stuff that isn't yours?" Lucas complained.
Lucas dug a crumpled drawing out of his pocket.
"Here, this is your present," he said.