Severing Our Ties

The next morning, Will was up at the crack of dawn.

For the first time in eight years, a man who never even made a cup of coffee actually cooked a full breakfast spread.

Luna sat at the table, practically glowing as she took a bite. “Will, you’re amazing. This is delicious.”

He chuckled, his voice warm. “Of course, silly. Who else would I do this for? I made your favorite—cheddar and bacon omelet with a side of blueberry pancakes. You need to eat well and keep your strength up.”

“Yeah! Pretty Auntie, try this! It’s the best!”

The three of them sat there, laughing and chatting, like the perfect little family.

Like I was the outsider.

When I walked in, Will cleared his throat and glanced at me. “I made a cheddar and spinach quiche. You should have some.”

“Yeah, Will’s cooking is amazing! Try a bite!” Luna said sweetly, slicing a piece and placing it on my plate.

Expressionless, I picked up the slice and dumped it straight into the trash.

Luna’s eyes welled up instantly. “Susie, even if you don’t like me, you shouldn’t throw away Will’s effort like that…”

The second she teared up, Will’s expression hardened. His voice snapped with irritation.

“Susie Winters, I put up with your attitude last night, but you’re still acting like this? What is your problem?”

I met his glare, my voice calm. “I have a stomach illness. I can’t eat dairy. You didn’t know?”

Will froze.

When Caleb was little, he was a handful. I barely had time to eat properly, constantly skipping meals to keep up with him. Eventually, my stomach gave out.

He used to know.

He used to be the man who picked every last piece of cheese off my pizza so I could eat.

Luna blinked innocently. “Oh, a stomach illness? That’s nothing. Even if I had to take medicine after, I’d still eat every bite of a breakfast Will made just for me.”

Caleb smirked, his voice full of mockery. “Yeah! Pretty Auntie’s not picky like some people.”

Will snapped out of his daze and smiled at Luna, his voice dripping with affection. “Alright, alright, no need to force yourself. It’s enough that you appreciate it. Just take it easy.”

I was done watching their little soap opera. I tossed my fork onto the table and stood up.

“Then you’d better eat every bite. Wouldn’t want to waste any, now, would we?”

Back in my room, I focused on my work.

It had been eight years since I left the design industry, and I was rusty. I needed to catch up.

But the laughter outside my door made it impossible to concentrate.

Luna’s voice rang out, teasing, “So, what do you think of your mom?”

Caleb didn’t hesitate. “She’s so annoying! Always nagging me, dressed like a homeless person, and she never lets me eat snacks!”

Luna giggled. “And what about me?”

“You take me out to play, you buy me treats—you’re the best!”

She lowered her voice, almost conspiratorial. “Then… would you like to call me your godmother?”

Without missing a beat, Caleb’s voice turned sugar-sweet. “Godmother!”

Inside my room, my heart turned to ice.

Caleb had always been a fragile child, born with a weak constitution. He needed more care than most, and William had never lifted a finger to help. I had given up everything—my career, my independence—to raise him.

And yet, in his eyes, I was nothing compared to a woman who took him out for junk food and entertainment.

A sudden crack of thunder outside jolted me from my thoughts.

It had started to rain.

I rushed to the balcony to grab my potted flowers, but when I got there, I froze.

They had already been destroyed.

The delicate petals had been crushed, the stems snapped and bent beyond repair. Someone had stomped them into the ground.

Before I could even process the loss, I heard a sharp click behind me.

The lock.

I spun around and grabbed the handle. “Caleb, open the door!” I pounded on the glass, my voice urgent.

Through the window, I saw him grinning. “Godmother, come look! She’s a drowned rat!”

Luna laughed, tapping him playfully on the head. “You little rascal. Come on, let’s go buy some snacks.”

“Yay!”

Without a second thought, Caleb grabbed Luna’s hand and skipped away.

He didn’t even look back.

Lightning streaked across the sky as the rain poured down, soaking me to the bone. I curled up in the corner of the balcony, my entire body trembling from cold and something even worse.

I stayed there, watching as the last petal of my flowers was washed away.

Only then did William finally unlock the door.

Under the harsh glow of the overhead lights, I must’ve looked like a ghost—pale, drenched, hair plastered to my face.

Luna covered her mouth in mock surprise. “Oh dear, Susie, what happened to you?”

Caleb peeked out from behind her, sticking out his tongue and making a face at me.

William barely spared me a glance before sighing, exasperated. “Susie, you’re an adult. How do you even manage to get yourself locked out on the balcony? Be more careful next time.”

I didn’t say a word.

I just reached for Caleb, wanting to grab his wrist.

William’s expression darkened, and in an instant, he shoved me back. “What are you doing? He’s just a kid! Are you really picking a fight with a child?

“He doesn’t understand, but you should.”

The force of his shove knocked me off balance, and I fell hard onto the floor.

Luna gasped in fake concern. Caleb, on the other hand, burst into laughter.

And in this twisted little courtroom, I—the only victim—had somehow become the one on trial.