I thought, “Helping someone meant kissing another woman? Was that appropriate for a married man? With everyone watching and the whispers spreading, should I not have stepped in? Should I not be angry?”
I knew it was pointless to explain to her. She wouldn’t understand.
I tried to walk away, but Mindy blocked my path.
“You’re not leaving. You’re going back in there to apologize to Dad!”
I attempted to sidestep her, but she plopped down on the ground and began wailing.
Just then, Marvin and Lindsay came out.
Seeing Mindy sobbing, Marvin rushed over and scooped her up, glaring at me. “What did you do to her? How can you hurt your own daughter?”
He didn’t even ask for context.
He just accused me.
The explanation caught in my throat, silencing me.
Lindsay seized the moment, her voice trembling with pitiful guilt. “Ariadne, I know you’re upset about earlier. But it was an emergency. Marvin meant well. Don’t blame him. If you have to blame someone, blame me. If you’re angry, take it out on me, not the child. Mindy’s just a little girl. You… Ah!”
Seeing her feigned innocence, 1 felt my anger flare.
I slapped her with all my strength.
She staggered, stunned, and collapsed to the ground.
Before she could react, I grabbed her hair and struck her other cheek.
The twin handprints on her face looked ridiculous, almost comical.
I felt a surge of satisfaction.
Behind me, Marvin’s eyes widened in shock. He shoved me away and crouched down to cradle Lindsay’s face.
Mindy rushed to her side, gently blowing on her cheeks like a worried little nurse.
“I’m sorry, Ariadne. It’s all my fault. You were right to hit me. Please don’t stay mad… If it can me you feel better, I’ll never show up again…” Lindsay clutched her face, tears streaming down her cheeks.
Mindy glared at me with blazing anger, then lunged forward, pounding her small fists against my stomach. “You’re awful! Just die! Don’t you dare bully
Ms. Fowler!”
Every word, every accusation felt like a dagger piercing my heart.
I could hardly believe my daughter would take someone else’s side while my husband comforted another woman.
Marvin snapped, “Ariadne, are you crazy? How can you hit someone?”
I let out a bitter laugh. “So what if I did? Does it hurt you?”
His mouth opened, but no words came out. “I…”
“You’re disgusting, Marvin. Let’s get divorced. You’re tainted. I don’t want you anymore.”
I turned my icy gaze to my furious daughter.
“And you, Mindy. Since you love Ms. Fowler so much, why don’t you go be her daughter?”
Mindy wrapped her arms around Lindsay’s neck, her chin lifting defiantly. “Fine! I don’t like you anyway! You’re a wrinkly, ugly old hag. Ms. Fowler is my favorite! Just leave already!”
How absurd.
The child I carried for nine months, who I raised and loved, now called me an old hag.
The man I’d loved for a decade had pushed me away for someone else.
For a moment, I felt like the punchline of a cruel joke.
Everything was utterly ridiculous.
By now, the other classmates had filed outside, throwing in their two cents.
They all sided with Lindsay, scolding me for “bullying” her and calling me dramatic.
It was funny how no one had spoken up when they were gleefully watching the spectacle earlier.
Marvin stepped closer, his tone filled with righteous indignation. “You know how pitiful Lindsay’s life has been. How can you treat her like this? Don’t
you have a conscience?”
D
2:14 PM
you have a conscience?”
I refused to back down. “No, I don’t. But you do, don’t you? Why don’t you go rescue her properly?”
Everyone knew Lindsay was divorced now.
No wonder Marvin was so eager to play the hero.
“Fine,” I thought. “Let me officially hand over my spot to her.”
“Ariadne! You’re crossing the line!”
