The wife he gave away

Chapter 4

Rude? I ignored him and dropped to my knees in front of my son, reaching for his hand. “Sweetheart, tell Mommy what happened. What’s going on? Why didn’t you say anything about this?”
 He yanked his hand away like my touch burned. His eyes, those familiar bright eyes I’d kissed goodnight a thousand times were cold. Distant. Like he was looking at a stranger.
 I felt the ground tilt beneath me.

“Baby…” My voice rose slightly as panic clawed up my throat. “Talk to me…”
 “Can’t you stop being so aggressive in front of the child?!” Dominic barked, his face twisted with disapproval.
 I froze.

This was my home. My kitchen. My son.
 Yet here I stood, husband shouting at me, child pulling away, while Luna watched with that perfect, saintly expression. I felt like an intruder who had overstayed her welcome in her own family.

Before I could find words, my son’s lower lip trembled. Tears spilled down his cheeks, fast and dramatic.
 “I’ve always wanted to go to that amusement park,” he sniffled, voice thick and aggrieved. “But I know Mommy’s too poor to take me. And you won’t let me change schools either… It’s because you don’t have money, right?”
 The color drained from my face so fast the room spun. Who had taught him to say those things? Those exact words?

I opened my mouth to explain….about money, about choices, about how much I sacrificed, but Luna stepped forward smoothly, stroking my son’s hair with gentle fingers.
 “Oh, sweetie, don’t cry,” she cooed, her voice soft and soothing, almost motherly. “I’m not blaming your mommy. I’m sure she’s done her best… It’s just, if a child feels this way, maybe it means he’s really lacking a sense of security?” Her gaze lifted to me, kind on the surface but laced with venom.

“If you don’t have the ability to give him the best, maybe… you parents should seriously reflect on why you brought him into the world in the first place.”
 The words sliced deep.

I took a slow, shaky breath, forcing my wolf down before she could snarl out loud. My voice came out polite but steel-edged. “Luna, please leave. This is my home. My husband and I will handle this. My son is my child. I’m willing, for now, not to pursue how you took him without my permission, but I need you to stop getting involved with my family.”

Luna’s flawless smile stiffened. For the first time, a flicker of something colder flashed behind her eyes.

Then my son blurted out, voice cracking through his tears, “I want to go with Luna! I don’t want to see Mommy!”
 His eyes flickered the moment the words left his mouth. His lips pressed into a tight line… not full defiance, but something heavier. Guilt. Hesitation. Like part of him already regretted it. Still, he’d said it. Out loud. In front of everyone.

The silence that followed felt like a blade twisting in my chest.

I stared at my little boy, my baby who used to crawl into my bed during thunderstorms, who once told me I was his favorite person in the whole world. Now he stood between his father and another woman, choosing her over me.

Dominic placed a protective hand on our son’s shoulder. Luna offered a gentle, understanding smile, as if she were the victim here.
 And I… I just stood there, package still clutched in my hands, the silver bow mocking me.

My family was slipping through my fingers, one careful, calculated move at a time.
 And the worst part? They were all smiling while it happened.

My chest tightened so hard I couldn’t breathe. Fury and heartbreak slammed into me at once, locking my throat. I couldn’t speak. Couldn’t even move.
 Dominic jumped in quickly, smoothing the air like nothing had shattered. “Luna, just take him out for a bit. Let him relax. Come back later… I’ll talk to her.”

Luna gave that soft, understanding smile…. the one that said she pitied me but was too gracious to say it out loud. She took my son’s hand. “Of course. We’ll have fun, won’t we, sweetie?”
 The door clicked shut behind them.

I sank into the nearest chair, legs shaking. What had just happened? When had my little boy started looking at me like I was the enemy?

Had he really been skipping school for days just to run off to an amusement park? How had I missed every single sign?

Dominic paced the living room, agitation rolling off him in waves. “Can you at least try not to let Luna see us like this? Don’t make us a joke.”
 I whipped my head toward him. “Excuse me? She came here uninvited. She interfered in our private family matters. And I haven’t even asked you… how exactly did you meet Luna?”

He faltered, caught completely off guard. My stomach dropped. A sickening premonition crawled up my spine.
 “You knew about our son skipping school… didn’t you?”

Dominic rubbed the back of his neck, uncomfortable. “A few days ago, I went to pick him up and saw him with Luna. That’s how I found out.”
 Stunned silence rang in my ears. “You knew, and you didn’t tell me? You let him keep skipping class?”

“I didn’t tell you because I didn’t want to upset you!” His tone turned defensive, almost righteous. “You heard what he said… he just wants to have fun. And he’s changing schools soon anyway, so it’s not like it matters if he slacks a little now. We’re tight on money. Luna was kind enough to take him out and treat him… what was I supposed to do?

We can’t even give our kid a simple day out. Aren’t we just… complete failures as parents?”

I cut him off, voice cold. “I’m not. I can meet every reasonable wish our son has. If I say yes, I follow through. But sneaking out and skipping school for an entire week? That’s lying. That’s irresponsible. I won’t allow it. And you said it yourself… he’s transferring to that elite school soon. What if he can’t keep up because of this?”

Dominic’s face flushed with anger. “You keep talking like that every damn day! Luna’s right. You don’t really love our son! You’re not even fit to be his mother!”