Chapter 2

Andy called me.

"Mom, I haven't seen you in forever. When are you coming home?" He sounded heartbroken. "The nanny said you don't want me anymore. Is that true? Did I do something wrong? Please tell me, Mom. I'll be good, I promise. Just don't leave me."

My jaw tightened. "Which nanny said that?"

"It was... Linda," he whispered.

"Sweetheart, I have to be away for a while, but that doesn't mean I don't love you. If anyone ever says something like that again, you tell Dad or me right away, okay? Even though I'm not home, I still love you more than anything."

"Oh, good. Mom, I just sent two million to your account. Take care of yourself, okay? Make sure you eat well.

"Grandma and Dad gave me lots of money, so I'm super rich now. I can take care of you, Mom. You don't have to work so hard anymore," he said earnestly.

I laughed and reassured him some more.

After we hung up, I called Lucas. He handled it fast—told Linda to pack her things and get out immediately.

He even warned that anyone else who talked like that in front of Andy would be fired on the spot.

On Friday afternoon, Lucas was too busy to pick up Andy, so he asked me to go.

At the school, I ran into Vivian, bundled up like she was hiding from the world.

When she saw me looking as good as ever, something in her face crumbled.

She shot me a venomous look. "You happy now? That video you posted made me public enemy number one.

"Chloe's innocent in all this. You're a mother too—how can you be so cruel? Aren't you afraid karma will come for your son?"

I glanced at her, casually examining my fresh manicure.

"Not even close," I said. "Honestly, you deserve way worse than this. And your daughter? She's no angel either. Her dad's family was right to cut her loose."

"You bitch! I won't let you get away with this!" she screamed.

I couldn't be bothered and just waved her off. "Try me."

Andy and I spent the whole day at the amusement park. Lucas finally showed up at dusk.

"Vivian called me earlier," Lucas said, looking at me.

I hummed noncommittally, then shot back, "What? Here to defend her?"

"You know that's not what I meant. Do you have to be so snarky all the time? You never used to be like this."

"Oh? What should I be like, then? Home cooking and cleaning all day? Following your orders like some kind of robot?"

He stared at me, speechless.

"People change. Before Vivian showed up, you were the perfect husband and the best dad. But since she came back, what have you become?"

I counted on my fingers. "Since Vivian came back two years ago, you've bailed on us 99 times.

"Every promise you made to Andy or me—all gone the second Vivian called."

I looked him dead in the eye. "You really going to tell me none of this is because of her?"

"We went to college together. She needed help, so I helped. I never crossed the line," Lucas insisted.

I smirked and turned to leave. "Cheating isn't just physical—emotional affairs count too. And I don't do second chances."

Vivian became a total pariah, keeping her head down with Chloe, trying to stay invisible.

Lucas couldn't stand seeing them struggle, so he set them up in a villa down the street.

Because of that, Vivian started coming by every other day, always with some excuse about bringing supplements for Andy.

Whenever Vivian tried to act all caring, Lucas would just smile and let it go.

When Andy told me, he looked annoyed. "I don't like the stuff Ms. Summers keeps bringing. It tastes terrible."

He whispered, "She comes over every night to apologize to Dad. She keeps asking if they can go back to how things used to be."

I just smiled, not surprised at all.

Vivian was notorious now—Lucas was her only lifeline.

No way she'd let that slip through her fingers.

I grinned at Andy. "What else do you know?"

"Dad doesn't want Ms. Summers around all the time. He told me to focus on school and ignore all the drama." Andy lifted his chin, looking smug.

I smiled softly, "Just listen to your dad while I'm not around. He'll always look out for you."