No Love Lost Between Us

My daughter, Clara Williams, turned seven today. We played a simple game to celebrate. The rule was easy. I would start a sentence, and she would finish it. It was a popular trend designed to see if a child was being criticized. "First sentence," I said, leaning over the table. "Look at the other kids…" I waited, a warm smile on my face. I had never raised my voice at her. I spent years protecting her world, building her confidence brick by brick. I knew she was happy. Her soft voice shattered that illusion instantly. "They are so much better than you," she said, reciting the words by heart. "You aren't even worth a single hair on Lily's head." Lily. She was the daughter of Donald Williams’ ex-girlfriend, Valerie Thompson. My chest tightened. The air left my lungs all at once. It took everything I had to swallow the lump in my throat and move to the second prompt. "What do you have to complain about?" "Lily is younger than you," my daughter cut in, her voice small. "You have to give up everything for her." She looked up at me nervously. Her little hands twisted the hem of her shirt under the table. I squeezed my eyes shut, forcing down the sudden surge of nausea. I took a slow breath and tried sentence three. "You've grown up already…" "Go to parent-teacher conferences by yourself," she answered, looking at the floor. "I have to play family games with Lily." I stopped. I couldn't bring myself to ask another question. The cold truth was sitting right in front of me, but I was still clinging to a tiny shred of hope. "Sweetheart," I whispered. "Who told you those things?" "Daddy did." She caught the change in my tone and panicked. She quickly blew out the birthday candles, trying to lighten the mood. She closed her eyes tightly, making a wish out loud. "I wish I can be a better girl. Then Dad will be happy, and he will treat Mommy better." The last candle flickered and died. Darkness crept over the room. My illusion collapsed right along with it. I thought I was shielding my little girl from the monsters of the world. I never guessed her own father, Donald Williams, was the biggest among the monsters. Chapter 1 Nora's POV Tears pooled in my eyes, blurring my vision. Clara crept into my lap like a scared kitten. "Don't be sad, Mommy. I'll be good. I won't make Dad angry." I pulled her tight against my chest. My heart burned with a deep, throbbing ache. "This isn't your fault, baby..." The front door clicked open before I could finish. Donald Williams stepped into the house. He tossed his briefcase onto the floor. Kicking off his leather shoes, he left one sideways and the other one upside down near the mat. "Daddy!" Clara called out, her voice bright with hope. Donald barely gave a grunt in response. He sat at the dining table and dug right into his food. Clara's eyes lit up when his fork reached the hash browns. A second later, Donald spat the food into the trash can, his forehead creased in disgust. "Nora," he snapped, glaring at me. "You sit home all day doing nothing. Can't you even cook a decent meal?" My face went rigid. My heart sank into my stomach. He didn't notice my red, tear-stained eyes. He didn't see the birthday cake on the table. His very first words were harsh, cold critiques. He had completely forgotten the past. Years ago, he had begged on his knees for me to quit my high-paying job as a prime-time news reporter. He cried back then, swearing he would work hard to provide for me. I gave in to his tears. This was my reward. I saw the light fade from Clara's eyes. I forced a faint smile to protect her. "I didn't make those," I said quietly. "Clara knew you loved crispy potatoes, so she asked me to teach her how to cook them." I pushed the plate closer to him, giving him a clear cue to fix his mistake. "I think they taste great. Try another bite." Donald shoved the dish away, his face twisted in annoyance. "She wanted to learn, so you let her? It tastes like garbage. You're just wasting grocery money. "I don't print money in the backyard," he added coldly. "If you keep wasting it, I won't give you another dime." My nails dug into my palms until they trembled. Clara's face turned bright red. She picked at her fingers, whispering, "I'm sorry..." She couldn't understand it. Just yesterday, Valerie and her daughter Lily came over. Lily almost burned our kitchen down. But Donald Williams didn't say a single harsh word. Instead, he ate the charred, blackened eggs with a grin. "You did amazing, Lily," he laughed and tossed her into the air. "Uncle Donald is taking you out for gelato ice cream!" "Yay! I love Uncle Donald. You are the best!" Lily cheered. Chapter 2 Valerie flared her eyes playfully and tapped his chest, shaking her head. "Donald Williams, you are going to spoil Lily rotten." "So what? I want to!" Donald laughed, lifting Lily onto his shoulders. He jogged around the living room, making airplane noises while she squealed with delight. Clara stood in the doorway, hiding in the shadows while clinging to my skirt. "Mommy," she whispered, "what's gelato?" My eyes burned with tears as I stroked her hair. "It's a fancy ice cream, sweetie." "If I cook for Daddy, will he be that happy too?" She didn't ask to go out for ice cream. She just wanted her father's smile. I couldn't bear to break her heart. So I lied. "Of course he will." Yet that simple dish, cooked with so much love, ended up tossed in the trash. A lump formed in my throat, choking me. I couldn't break down in front of her. "Clara Williams, Mommy is thirsty," I said, forcing a soft tone. "Could you get me a glass of water?" "Okay." She walked away, her head hanging low. Donald Williams ignored us both, staring at his phone screen. Valerie was texting him pictures of limited-edition designer dolls. Without hesitation, he tapped his screen and transferred three thousand dollars to her account. A cold, bitter laugh welled up in my chest. In this house, my daughter was criticized over a single potato. But his ex-girlfriend's child received blank checks with a tap of a finger. It wasn't about the money. He just despised us. "Do you know what today is?" I asked. He didn't look up. "What is it?" "It's Clara's birthday." His fork stopped mid-air. Still, his eyes remained glued to his phone. His voice remained casual. "Oh. Right. I forgot." Forgot. It was always a mistake. I smiled, completely numb. Leaving Clara stranded at school till dark because he had to pick up Valerie's daughter was a mistake. Using Clara's perfect report card as scratch paper while tutoring Valerie's daughter was a mistake. Taking Valerie's daughter to a steakhouse while forgetting to drop off Clara's lunch was a mistake. Deep down, I knew the truth. His heart was never with us. "You never forget Lily's birthday," I said, glancing toward the kitchen. My heart shattered as I saw Clara spill water on the floor, frantically using her little dress to wipe it off. "It's not just her birthday. Christmas, Halloween, school breaks, you spend every single holiday with Valerie's daughter. "Her first day of school, her first lost tooth, her first star sticker, you threw a party for every little thing." "Tell me, Donald Williams," I said, turning to glare at him. "Do you even know how old your own daughter is?" Silence settled heavy over the dining room. Donald Williams hesitated. "Five?" A harsh laugh escaped my lips. Five? That was Lily's age. "She is seven." A flash of discomfort crossed his face. Maybe he felt guilty. Maybe his pride was wounded. When Clara walked back carrying the glass of water, Donald suddenly pulled her into a hug. "We have time this afternoon," he said, forcing a smile. "How about Daddy taking you to the amusement park for your birthday?" Clara didn't cheer. She just froze. She carefully set the glass on the table, her tiny lips trembling as she turned to me. "Mommy... is it true? Is Dad really taking me to the park?" A tight squeeze gripped my chest, suffocating me. "Yes, baby. It's true." "Yay! Dad is celebrating my birthday!" She darted into her bedroom to find the pink dress Donald bought her last year. She smoothed down every fold, treating it like a precious treasure. I never had the heart to tell her the truth. He hadn't bought it for her. Valerie’s daughter was simply too small for the size, and the store wouldn't take back return. Chapter 3 "Daddy! Mommy! I'm ready!" Clara ran out of her room, practically glowing with excitement. Her tiny backpack was stuffed to the brim. "I brought your favorite juice and some cupcakes," she chortled. "We can eat them when we get tired!" Donald didn't move from the couch. He remained hunched over his phone, thumbs flying across the screen. "Let me finish this match," he muttered. "Okay!" Clara said instantly. She dragged a tiny stool next to him, cheering every time he scored a point. One match turned into two. Two matches turned into two hours. Donald Williams showed no sign of stopping. The spark in Clara's eyes slowly died out. I couldn't stay quiet anymore. "Stop playing. The park will be closed if we leave any later." "Stop nagging!" Donald snapped. "I work hard all week. My friends asked me to play, so leave me alone." Before I could reply, his phone chimed. It was the soft ringtone he set exclusively for Valerie. Donald Williams bolted upright as if an electric current hit him. He abandoned his game without a second thought. "Valerie, what's wrong?" His voice instantly softened with deep concern. Sobs came through the speaker. "I'm so sorry to bother you again, Donald. But Lily had a bad reaction to peanuts. She's crying for you. She refuses to go to the hospital unless you hold her. "I don't know what to do..." Clara froze when she heard that voice. She reached out and grabbed her father's sleeve. She knew the pattern. Every time that woman called, her father vanished. "Daddy," Clara whispered, looking up at him with pleading eyes. "You promised to take me to the park..." Donald shoved her hand away without looking at her. He scrambled for his shoes while talking into the phone. "Don't panic, Valerie. I'm on my way." "Wait!" I yelled, taking a step forward. The heavy oak front door slammed shut right in my face, cutting off my words. The loud bang echoed through the silent house. I grabbed my car keys, determined to chase him down. Clara tugged on my skirt, holding me back. "Mommy, Dad is busy," she said, squeezing a tight smile onto her face. It looked far worse than crying. "Can you take me to the park instead?" I turned my head to hide the fresh tears springing to my eyes. "Of course, baby. Mommy will take you." I shouldered her heavy little backpack and drove us to the park. We scanned our tickets at the front gate. The very first thing we saw near the carousel was Donald Williams and Valerie Thompson. The little girl who was supposedly dying from a peanut allergy was riding a wooden horse, waving happily at them. Clara pointed a trembling finger across the crowd. "Mommy... is that Dad?" I pulled her tight against my side, the truth bitter in my mouth. "Yes, sweetie. That's your dad." "Donald Williams!" I called out, my voice laced with venom as I marched over. Before I could reach them, Clara pulled my hand, dragging me toward the exit. "Dad is busy," she mumbled, her small back stiff and straight as she forced her tiny legs forward. "I want to be a good girl. I won't disturb him." She walked fast, as if speed could keep the sound of another family's laughter from reaching her ears. Valerie spotted us anyway. "Nora!" Valerie called out, waving us over. "You guys came to the park too? Come join us!" "Donald can watch both of them! One kid or two kids, it makes no difference to him!" She wrapped her arm intimately around Donald's elbow, acting like the lady of the house inviting guests. She made me, his lawful wife, and Clara Williams, his real daughter, look like total strangers. "No, thanks," I said coldly. "We'll stick to ourselves." Donald strode over, holding Lily on his shoulders, his face dark with annoyance. "Nora Williams, stop making a scene! She invited you, so just come along." "Donald Williams, don't you dare, " Clara tugged my hand gently. "Mommy, please don't fight. We can all play together." To protect her feelings, I swallowed my rage and agreed. So-called "playing together" simply meant the two of us walking steps behind them like ghosts. Chapter 4 Donald Williams towered over the crowd. Holding Valerie’s hand with one arm and balancing Lily on his shoulders, he cut through the surging theme park crowds with ease. Clara and I weren't so lucky. We got shoved into the back of a parade formation, nearly losing each other twice in the stampede. By the time we made it to the front of the line, Donald Williams had already used VIP fast-passes to breeze through the ride with Valerie and her daughter. "Can you speed it up?" Valerie drawled, fake-laughing to hide her smug grin. "Nora, I know you love to pamper Clara, but you can't spoil her. Lily is only five, and she's way more independent." Snap! The chubby little girl sneered from Donald's shoulders and hurled her plastic magic wand directly at Clara's head. I gasped, rushing to check Clara for injuries. She gently pushed my hands away. "I'm okay, Mommy," she insisted stubbornly. Her sweat-streaked face remained entirely expressionless. The light in her bright eyes was completely gone. "Apologize to Clara!" I lost control and screamed. Donald didn't even turn around. He just walked off while laughing and chatting with Valerie and Lily. From a distance, they looked like a perfect family. I pulled out my phone and typed a message. [I want a divorce.] I hit send, then immediately remembered something bitter. Years ago, the man who swore to love me forever had put my number on Do Not Disturb. He said my calls disrupted his sleep while he was putting Valerie and her daughter to bed. To him, a text meant nothing. Divorce was just paperwork. I stopped trying to keep up with them. I took Clara to quieter lines, but Donald kept drifting back into my line of sight. He bought Lily gelato. He took purikura photo booth pictures with her. He bought her a brand-new princess dress. Not once did he look at our daughter. Seeing Clara's yearning eyes, I pointed to the parlor up ahead. "Mommy will get you some ice cream," I offered gently. "Stay with your father right here until I get back, okay?" Her eyes flickered with a tiny spark. "Is it the fancy kind?" "Yes, sweetie." "Okay! I'll wait right here!" When I returned with two cups, Donald and Clara were gone. Only Valerie stood nearby. "Where is Clara?" I demanded. Valerie smirked, tossing her hair. She pointed an arrogant chin toward the far side of the park. "Over there." I followed her gaze toward the giant steel loops of the megacoaster. A wave of ice crashed through my veins. Clara had severe acrophobia. High places triggered violent vomiting or fainting spells. She couldn't handle roller coasters. "Daddy, no! I don't want to!" Clara's screams echoed from the loading platform. "Please let me down! I'm scared!" She cried, clawing uselessly at the safety harness. Donald glared at her, shoving her shoulders down into the bucket seat with deep annoyance. "What is there to be scared of?" "I'm scared of heights! Daddy, I'm scared of heights!" She shrieked, hysterical. Donald lost his temper. "You asked to come to the park! Now you're ruining the mood for everyone, just like your mother! "If you're scared, ride it until you get used to it! Lily is younger than you and didn't throw a fit. You're useless!" The coaster mechanical engine roared to life. My heart felt shredded. I ran to the metal perimeter gate, waving wildly. "Clara Williams, close your eyes!" I screamed at the top of my lungs. "Mommy is right here! Don't move!" Then the nightmare happened. The coaster track overheated. After plunging down the first drop, the train locked up, dangling suspended over the high-altitude gap. Alarm sirens blasted across the park. Technicians rushed the track. "Evacuate the platform! The train could slide!" I tried to push past the blockade, but security guards pinned me back. I could only watch as Donald unbuckled Lily first. Clara sat trapped in her seat, frozen in a state of sheer panic. "Donald Williams! Get Clara down first!" I screamed through the chain-link fence. "She's losing consciousness!" "She's older than Lily!" he yelled back over the sirens. "Can't she handle a simple ride?!" The steel tracks groaned. The locked car jolted forward an inch, trembling violently. My chest caved in. I dropped to my knees, begging the guards to let me through. Donald Williams finally unbuckled his own belt and set Lily on the exit platform. As he turned to grab Clara, Valerie let out a bloodcurdling shriek. "Donald Williams! Lily fainted!" Donald whipped around. He scooped Lily into his arms to run, then froze, looking back at our daughter. I slammed my forehead against the concrete, sobbing uncontrollably. "Donald Williams, please... Clara is still up there..." He stood paralyzed for a second. "Donald Williams, hurry!" Valerie wailed, clutching her chest. "Lily has a heart condition! I never told you! If she doesn't get to a hospital, she could die!" Paramedics shoved past the gate, scrambling up the emergency ladders to unlatch the passengers one by one. Donald Williams set his jaw, abandoning the harness. "The rescue team has her! She'll be fine!" he shouted over his shoulder. He bolted past me like a phantom, chasing the ambulance crew. The heavy doors of the emergency vehicle slammed shut. At that exact second, a sickening, thunderous crash echoed from the top of the steel track.