“Get away from her!” I snapped.
“This is why I left! Seven needy children and no freedom!”
Rob grabbed her arm. “My business partners could be watching!”
“Rob, not now!”
“You’re ruining my reputation!”
I ended the livestream.
It was time to teach her a lesson.
“Leave, Vanessa.”
“You taught her this!”
“She’s twelve, and you’re furious because she told everyone you abandoned seven children.”
Rachel appeared behind us. “Go, Mom.”
Vanessa grabbed her handbag. “You’ll regret this!”
You’re ruining my reputation!
Rob headed for the door.
“Rob! Say something!”
He glanced back. “You’ve said enough for both of us.”
I thought the confrontation was finished.
I was wrong.
You’ll regret this!
***
After the guests left, I found Sophie crying beside her desk.
“Dad, I ruined everything.”
“No, sweetheart.”
“I wanted Mom to see what she’d missed. But she acted like everything you gave us was worthless. Then I saw her filming.”
“How long have you known about her account?”
Sophie crying beside her desk.
“Three months.”
“Why didn’t you tell me?”
“She looked so happy traveling everywhere. Why couldn’t she be happy with us?”
I hugged her. “That was never your responsibility. You shouldn’t have confronted her online, but her words were her choice.”
Sophie showed me another video.
Everything you gave us was worthless.
Vanessa was advertising luxury furniture. I recognized the brand.
“I restored furniture for that company. I still know their marketing director.”
“Is that important?”
“It might be.”
But before I could decide what to do, Vanessa made a mistake far worse than anything she’d said at the party.
Why couldn’t she be happy with us?
***
The next morning, Rachel called.
“Dad, have you seen Mom’s new video?”
“No. What happened?”
“She’s telling everyone you manipulated us into hating her.”
“What?”
Vanessa made a mistake far worse.
“And that you staged Sophie’s confrontation.”
“You’re kidding.”
“I wish. She’s even calling Sophie a liar!”
For ten years, I’d stayed silent to protect the children.
But silence wasn’t protecting them anymore. It was protecting Vanessa.
You manipulated us into hating her.
Then my son, Nathan, called.
“Are you going to let her say that?”
“No. I’m showing people the truth.”
“You’re going after Mom?”
“I’m standing up for Sophie. There’s a difference.”
I’d stayed silent to protect the children.
“Oh, okay…”
“Will you help me make a video?”
“Absolutely. I’ll call Rachel and the others.”
Later, we discussed the plan together.
“What about Sophie?” Rachel asked.
I’m standing up for Sophie.
