Chapter 2

Esther's arrival was like dumping cold water into boiling oil, instantly making the tense atmosphere even more unsettling.

She cradled her son in one arm, gently stroking her daughter's hair with the other, but her gaze was like a venomous needle, piercing me over and over.

"Cora, long time no see. I didn't expect you to be throwing a party today, too. What a small world, huh?" Esther flashed a gentle, captivating smile, as if we were friends who hadn't seen each other in ages.

"Ms. Hunt, you're here. Please, have a seat." Before I could say a word, my mom, Mabel, rushed over to greet her. She acted like Esther was her own flesh and blood.

"Timothy, Cora said she's got kids now. Is that true?" Esther nodded at Mabel, then looked over at Timothy. Her voice sounded sweet and innocent, but the provocation in her eyes was obvious.

Timothy's face was dark as a thundercloud. He didn't answer Esther. Instead, he stared at me, eyes blazing like a cornered beast ready to lash out.

His daughter, Dahlia Sanders, suddenly jabbed her finger at me. "Daddy, who's that lady? Why does she keep looking at you?"

Kids could be brutally honest, and sometimes their words stung the most.

Timothy jerked, his whole body stiffening in an instant.

I crossed my arms, watching him with a calm, almost amused expression, waiting for his answer.

How was he going to introduce me to his beloved daughter? Would he say I was his ex-wife or a nobody?

Mabel, seeing the tension, quickly jumped in to smooth things over. "Dahlia, this is Cora. She's one of your daddy's good friends."

After that, she shot me a look and whispered, "Cora, say something. Don't let Dahlia think we're making fools of ourselves."

I ignored her completely, my eyes skipping right over Timothy and settling on Dahlia. "Little girl, I'm not your dad's good friend."

My voice was soft, but it carried enough for everyone to hear. "In the eyes of the law, I'm your dad's first wife."

The atmosphere seemed to freeze. Shock was written all over everyone's face.

Esther's face turned pale as a sheet, and she instinctively clutched her son tighter. "That's nonsense."

Timothy finally lost it, snapping at me, his eyes wild and bloodshot. "Cora, what the hell do you want?"

"I'm not up to anything," I said, shrugging with an innocent expression. "I'm telling it like it is."

I paused, letting my smile grow a little sharper. "I mean, it's only been five years since we split. But your daughter looks older than four, doesn't she?"

My words dropped like a bomb, sending shockwaves through the crowd. All eyes turned to Esther and her daughter.

I remember it crystal clear that five years ago, Timothy told me Esther was pregnant, and he had to make her his wife. He swore he'd remarry me the moment the baby was born.

But now, his daughter looked older than the years since our divorce. What that implied was plain as day.

Esther looked like she was about to fall apart, her eyes darting to Timothy in a silent plea for help.

Timothy's expression was so twisted with shame and embarrassment that it was almost painful to look at.

He looked like someone had ripped his clothes off in public, leaving every ugly truth and lie exposed for everyone to gawk at.

Mabel was trembling with fury, pointing right at me. "You bitch, are you trying to kill me with anger?"

I smiled at her, "Mom, deep down, you know who's actually making you angry, don't you?"

I pulled out my phone, tapped on a photo, and showed it to her. It was a picture of my two kids, fast asleep and looking like little angels.

I said, "They're my real family. And you? Ever since you forced me to divorce and made me spend years alone for Timothy, you lost the right to call yourself my mother."