“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.
