The noise finally drew the monsters from their lair. Jake appeared at the top of the stairs, hastily buttoning a shirt, his face flushed. Behind him, Linda leaned against the doorframe, wrapped in a silk robe that was far too familiar. She didn't look afraid, she looked content.

“What is she doing in my bedroom?” I asked, staring at Jake.

“Linda came to visit you, Stacy. She stained her dress with the cake she brought for Leo. So, I gave her your nighties.” He explained, not a single curve of hesitation appeared on his forehead, a sign how good he was at lying that I could never see before.

“Mama Linda…” Leo threw himself in Linda’s arms, kissing her cheeks affectionately he said, “I miss you, Mama Linda. Why don't you stay with us anymore?”

“It seems like you have been visiting Jake and Leo more oftenly, Linda. He is closer to you than I, as if you are his biological mother.” I said, the word sounded so bitter that I almost bit my tongue.

“While you were away, Linda used to take care of Leo. It's natural he will be close to her. Don't overthink too much, Stacy. Leo is your child.” Jake answered, his voice ever so convincing to believe.

Linda walked into the kitchen and came back with a papaya cake in her hand.

“Look, What I have brought for you!” She said, showing the cake in front of Leo. Leo’s eyes lit up. He quickly grabbed the spoon and was about to dig in.

My mother’s instincts worked ahead as I held his hand and looked at Linda, “Do you know how much sugar this cake contains? Is this how you have been taking care of my child while I was away?”

“Stacy… I-I made this with my own hands. What's wrong in letting him feed a little sugar? It's not like he is diabetic or something.”

“Diabetic or not! This much sugar is not suitable for children.” I said, “And I won't allow anyone to poison my son!”

I intentionally emphasised ‘my son’ and Linda went on crying. “Why do you hate me so much, Stacy? I just love Leo because he is Taylor's nephew. I consider him as my own child. Is it wrong?”

“Stacy! You are going too far.” Jake snapped. “Linda didn't mean to hurt Leo. She has been taking care of him for the past two years when you were gone.”

“But, I have returned, haven't I?” I began, “Do you think she loves him more than I? If that is so, why don't you just announce her as Leo’s mother just like you mentioned it in his school?”

Jake's eyes widened in surprise. The realization made him flinch for a moment before he regained his calm as he said, “There must be a technical error, Stacy. Linda accompanied Leo in the school for his admission. So, they must have misunderstood her relationship with him.”

“Stacy, why do you hate me so much?” Linda sobbed, her face as pitiful as if she had been continuously bullied by me. “If you want I will stop visiting Leo and Jake. But, please don't put fake allegations on me. As Taylor's widow, I feel deeply hurt.”

Seeing tears in Linda’s eyes, Jake rushed to her side. He immediately pulled her in his arms as if deeply hurt to see her crying. He then looked at me, his eyes instantly darkened.

“That's enough, Stacy. Apologize to Linda right now!”

“Apologize for what, Jake? Speaking facts?” I asked, my eyes wet despite trying hard not to cry.

To say I was not hurt seeing him comforting Linda, would be a lie.

Even when I hated the man who stained our marriage and the morals by having physical intimacy with his brother's woman and decided to leave him for good, my heart bled seeing him holding her.

The man I chased for a decade had hugged another woman right before my eyes, wiping her tears off and kissing her gently yet he had the audacity to call me out for slandering her.

“I thought you were more mature than this!” He spat, “But, I can now see what kind of a woman you are, Stacy.”

While we were arguing, Leo’s small face twisted into pure rage. He grabbed the heavy Lalique paperweight from the console table—a gift Jake had given me for our third anniversary—and hurled it with a strength born of pure spite.

It caught me square on the temple.

The world didn't go black; it turned a searing, electric white. I felt the warm, sticky slide of blood beginning to mat my hair, dripping down my cheek and onto the cream silk of my blouse. I staggered, my vision fracturing into a kaleidoscope of pain.

"Leo! What have you done?" I gasped, clutching the banister as my knees buckled.

“You are not my Mommy, Mama Linda is!” He yelled, “Stay away from us.”

His whole body was trembling, not in fear but rage. Linda jumped to his side. Looking at Jake, she said, “Jake, Leo is shivering! We should get him to the hospital.”

He didn't look at the blood gushing from my head. He didn't look at the jagged gash that would undoubtedly leave a scar. Instead, he gathered Leo into his arms, shielding him as if I were a rabid animal.

"Stacy, for god's sake," Jake snapped, his voice vibrating with disgust. "Look at what you’ve done. You’ve terrified the boy so much he felt he had to protect himself."

"He... he hit me, Jake," I whispered, the floor swaying beneath me. "He’s bleeding me out, and you’re worried about his feelings?"

"It’s just a scratch," He spat before he rushed towards the front door, “You will be alright. But, Leo… he is a child.”

He left me just like that, bleeding. Linda tugged by his side, he started his car and left.

I stared at my hand that was dyed red in blood because of pressing it on my temple to stop the bleeding.

Now, I let the blood stream down as I grabbed the phone and dialed a number I thought I would never.

“You were right! There are people who are worse than you. Help me leave Jake Vance and his whole estate just like you did, Taylor.”

“In return, I’ll give you what you always wanted. My body.”

As I hung up the call, I recalled the old memories with Leo. Two years ago, I used to be his whole world. He did not leave by my side even for a second and always called me mommy, making me feel like the luckiest person on the planet.

I stared at the blood. I said, “Three years of affection, three years of making me feel the mother I always wanted to be, Leo, I repaid you today with my blood. After today, there will be no ties between us.”

Later that night as Jake walked into our room, he was stunned to see the deep cut on my forehead.

“Stacy…” his voice trembled for a moment. If I had not seen him with his brother’s woman, making out in the same bed he shared with me for three years, I would assume his shock was genuine.

“Why didn't you tell me your wound was this deep?” he rushed to my side after picking the first-aid box I had tossed around.

“Let me clean it for you.” He reached out to clean the wound. But, I brushed his hands off, saying in an indifferent voice, “It's merely a scratch, Jake. No need to worry.”

After throwing out these words, I got up in my chair. Making my way to the door, I said. “I’m going to sleep in the guest room. I’m feeling suffocated here.”

“Stacy…” he whispered, “Is this about the morning?”

“If you want Leo and me not to see Linda-”

“It's alright.” I cut him off, “I have no problem with it. After all, she raised him while I was away.”

He reached out to me. Holding my hands, he pulled me in his arms. The same arms that had held Linda hours before. The smell of her perfume still lingered around him and made me feel like throwing up. My gaze swept under his collarbone, a lipstick mark printed on it. The shade of lipstick Linda had worn today.

I quietly broke our hug.

As if a burden getting released, he took a sigh of relief.

“I knew it.” He said, “You have always been mature and kind. Elder Brother died before giving a child to Linda. It's our responsibility to make her feel comfortable. After all, she is a family member.”

“Is this so?” I asked, raising my eyebrows. “Do you only see her as your sister-in-law?”

A moment of hesitation flickered through his eyes. I could feel his heart skipping a beat before he regained his composure as he replied, “Linda and I have a history, Stacy. But, that's all in the past. The day after she got married to my elder brother, I never had any bad thoughts about her.”

He was lying on my face!

But, I did not expose him. I simply smiled and walked away.

The memories of our first night abruptly played in my head. That night, he came drunk. Undressing me, he threw me on bed, deflowered me and told me I was the only woman he loved.

But, the last word coming out of his lips, drained all the blood from my body. He whispered, “I love you… Linda. Please, don't leave me.”

That day, I knew Linda was his first love. But, she was his sister-in-law, and as an adopted child of Vance family, I knew how much value they gave to blood relation. I knew it was impossible between Jake and Linda.

Being blinded in love and affection I had for him since childhood, I believed I would change his heart. So what if Linda was his first love, I would be his last.

But, I was wrong.

I failed to win his heart. Despite sharing a bed with him for three years, from learning new skills just to impress him during the night to cooking meals and taking care of his chores, I could not shake the desire he had for Linda in his heart.

Looking back at me, I had really been living in delusion.

The sound of my phone’s vibration pulled me back from the Abyss of darkness as I looked at my screen. It was Taylor, the man I expected would be the last I would seek help from.

[Everything is planned. In the next three days, you will be dead to the entire world.] He had texted.

[There is no turning point after faking your death, Stacy. You still don't. Because no matter what I’m coming to get you even if it costs me everything I have built for years]

I quickly texted him before I threw my phone aside. [My decision is final. I’m leaving Jake and Leo for good. Never coming back.]

After I texted Taylor, I threw myself on the bed laid on the guest room. A small luggage was placed in the corner. I did not need to pack anything. I hadn't unpacked my stuff yet after arriving from Switzerland.

As I stared at the plane ceiling of the guest room, I told myself. Just three more days, hang on. After that, I’ll be free.

The next morning, Jake left for the office early. He seemed pissed at the time of leaving because I did not prepare his breakfast. However, he chose to be quiet.

Later, as I was taking my coffee, Linda walked into our home. As soon as Leo saw her, he threw himself in her arms.

Giving her morning kiss, he said, “Mama Linda! I missed you so much.”

Linda gave me a side glance, expecting to see jealousy and hurt on my expression. But, I showed none.

I continued taking the sip of my coffee while scrolling my phone, completely unaffected by their little depiction of affection.

“Mama Linda, please drop me at school. I don't like to go with Mommy. She is not as pretty as you.” Leo said, “And, she doesn't take me to eat ice-cream like you do.”

If it was in the past, I would have argued with Linda for hours about taking Leo to eat ice-creams as early as morning. But, the present me, didn't care at all.

However, Linda could not tolerate my silence. She walked on her high heels and stopped just before me.

“Leo is used to calling me Mamma, Stacy. Hope you don't mind.” She said, trying to provoke me.

“It's alright! When he was one year old, he used to call our toilet cleaner ‘Mamma’ and then the maid and one day he saw a bartender and called her ‘Mamma’, I don't mind at all.” I said. “He can call Mamma whoever he wants, I don't mind.”

“He wants you to take him to school, then please do it. He has been a trouble to me, anyways.” I added, “You have saved me a day, Linda. Now, I can happily do shopping with the card Jake gave me last night.”

“You-” she hissed. But soon a smugful smile appeared on her lips as she added, “You are so sweet, Stacy. I guess you definitely wouldn't have minded Jake for taking me on a date yesterday because he thought I was sad.”

“He even gave me a full body massage with his own hands and helped me relieve stress by… ah, let's not talk about that.”

She leaned closer to my ears as she whispered, “Thanks for letting him practice on you for three years. So, he could make me feel good in bed afterwards!”

“He used to be clueless before. But now, he has grown into a really dashing man who knows how to do it. All thanks to you.”

My hands clenched into the Coffee Mug. So, I had really been a substitute for Jake to have practiced until his true love finally came to him.

But, I didn't want to entertain Linda by letting her see through me. I simply smiled as I stood up.

“You are right. I don't mind.” I said, “You want Jake? You can have him. You want Leo? You can have him too. I’m done with both of them.”

Having said that, I walked out of the house. I just couldn't tolerate her anymore.

I was in the driveway, intending to drive far away. I was seconds away from turning the key and never looking back when a piercing scream ripped through the quiet of the estate.

"Stacy! No! Please!"

I spun around. Linda was standing ten feet behind my car, her clothes torn, her face smeared with dirt. She threw herself onto the gravel, rolling and sobbing as if she’d been struck.

"Help! Jake! She’s trying to kill me!"

Jake charged out from his car, his face contorted. Leo was right behind him, his small face pale, clutching a toy soldier.

"What happened?" Jake roared, rushing to Linda’s side.

"Leo asked me to drop him at school!" Linda wailed, pointing a trembling finger at me. "She got angry... She said I was snatching her son. So, she’d make sure I never walked again! She put the car in reverse and floored it, Jake! If I hadn't jumped..."

"I saw it!" Leo shouted, his voice high and shrill, perfectly rehearsed. "I was looking out the window! Mommy aimed right for Mama Linda. She was smiling, Daddy. She looked like a monster!"

I stood paralyzed, the keys heavy in my hand. "I haven't even started the engine, Jake. The car is in park. Look at the gravel—there are no tire marks!"

Jake didn't look at the gravel. He looked at Leo, whose testimony was the only truth that mattered in this twisted house.

"You tried to run her over," Jake said, his voice dropping to a terrifying, calm register. "In front of our son.”