Paid in Full, Played for Fool: Now She Regrets It

My son just had surgery. I'm sitting by his bedside in the hospital when I come across a post online.

"What's the worst thing you've ever done?"

One anonymous comment stands out.

"I used the upperclassman who funded me as a stepping stone. My sponsor was rich but clueless. After she paid for my entire college, I slept with her husband and got pregnant.

"The craziest part? My son and her son were born on the same day, but my husband swapped the babies. Now, she treats my son like he's her whole world, working day and night to give him a better life.

"But her own son lives with me, wearing hand-me-downs and eating leftovers. Today, my son had surgery. I was worried sick, so I slapped her son hard a few times.

"Oh, and her family just got a three-million-dollar payout for relocation. My husband is going to the hospital later. He's going to use the excuse of buying a house near the schools to get the money.

"Once we have the money, I'm buying a villa. Then I'll get my son back and kick her out!"

The post includes a blurry photo of a boy begging on his knees.

My breath catches because the charm on his wrist is the same lucky charm I gave my son the day he was born.

Just then, my husband pushes open the door to the ward and walks in.

"Honey, Sean's starting elementary school soon. Let's use that relocation money your mom received to buy a house near the schools."

The eyes of my husband, Connor Crawford, landed on me. They were filled with greed.

As I looked at the man in front of me, I felt like I didn't know him.

Seeing me freeze, he stepped closer. "What's wrong? Feeling tired?"

"No," I said, swallowing the wave of nausea. I turned around and reached out to touch my son Sean Crawford's hair.

But the boy I had raised for six years jerked his head away from my touch and looked behind Connor instead. "Dad, where's Ms. Larsen? Didn't she say she'd come see me?"

His tone carried a blatant coldness toward me but an unabashed intimacy toward my underclassman in college, Willa Larsen.

It hit me like a stab to the heart.

"She'll be here soon," Connor said with a smile, trying to calm him down.

Then, he turned to me and went straight to the point. "Honey, a house near the school is necessary—"

My voice was hoarse as I cut him off, saying, "The houses near Ellwyn Elementary, even the older ones, cost 7,000 dollars per square foot. Three million dollars only covers the deposit. It's too much pressure—"

"Oh, honey, you need to think long term," Connor interrupted. "Investing in education for Sean is always worth it. What's a mortgage? Your company brings in steady income anyway."

"But—"

"Stop with the buts!" Connor frowned, his tone firm. "Janice Sutton, tell me, what's more important, our son or money? Are you really being stingy when it comes to Sean?"

His words stabbed like needles.

For six years, I'd done everything for this family and Sean. He knew better than anyone. Yet now, he was saying such things to shut me down.

I clenched the bedsheet. Just as I was about to answer, the door to the ward opened again.

Willa walked in carrying a fruit basket. "How's Sean doing? Oh, I was so worried!"

She headed straight to the other side of the bed and bent over to look at Sean. Her eyes showed a kind of worry that felt more sincere than mine as his mother.

Connor's expression immediately softened. "The doctor said the surgery went well, but it's just heartbreaking to see Sean suffering like this."

"Surgery really hurts."

Willa turned to me and said matter-of-factly, "Janice, you really need to get Sean some good food to help him recover."

When I didn't reply, she went on, "By the way, I think I overheard you guys talking about buying a house near the schools."

Connor jumped in, "Yeah, we were just discussing it. I'm thinking of using her mom's relocation money to buy a house near Ellwyn Elementary, but Janice has her doubts."