The Slap
1089 Words
It had been two days since Mark swept the apartment and confirmed there were no more bugs, but I still couldn’t relax. Every creak in the floor made me jump. Every car door slamming outside sent my heart racing. I tried to push past it for Ethan’s sake. Now that he was home again, I had to keep things as normal as possible. For him.
That morning, the sun was out and the air was warm, so I decided to take Ethan to the park. He needed to run around. I needed the fresh air and a few minutes to pretend everything was okay.
I packed snacks, water, and sunscreen, and let him wear his favorite Spider-Man t-shirt that was one wash away from falling apart. He clutched Mr. Tiger the whole ride there, talking nonstop about slides and sandboxes and how many ducks he planned to chase.
The park wasn’t too crowded. A few moms sat on benches chatting while their kids climbed over jungle gyms and chased bubbles. I chose a shaded spot near the swings and let Ethan loose while I watched him.
For a little while, everything was perfect.
I watched him laugh and run with a group of kids, his curls bouncing, his giggle echoing through the park like music. I took a few pictures on my phone, thinking how peaceful he looked. How peaceful I felt for the first time in weeks. I wanted to preserve this moment in time. This was how peaceful everything was before Liam came back into our lives and turned everything upside down.
I was still smiling when I turned around and saw her.
Victoria.
The smile immediately disappeared from my face.
She stood near the ice cream cart, sunglasses perched on her head, blonde hair pulled back into a sleek ponytail. She was dressed like she was going to brunch in Manhattan, not in a park, watching toddlers roll down a hill. A pale blue dress clung to her like it had been tailored to perfection, and a dainty gold chain glittered around her neck.
I blinked, thinking maybe my mind was playing tricks on me.
But no. Her eyes met mine, and she walked over like it was the most natural thing in the world.
“Well, isn’t he adorable?” she said with a smirk, eyes locked on Ethan.
I stood slowly. My entire body went on alert. “What are you doing here?”
“It’s a public park,” she said, tilting her head. “I was just in the neighborhood. Imagine my surprise.”
It didn’t seem like a surprise, just like her showing up during my meeting with Liam wasn't a surprise. It felt more like she had been stalking me. Didn’t she have anything better to do with her life?
I stepped in front of Ethan, who was now sitting in the sand, building a lopsided castle. “You’ve made your point. Leave.”
She smiled wider. “I’m just saying hi.”
“Victoria, I’m not in the mood for your games.”
“Relax, Isabel. I’m not here to cause trouble. Though I do have to say…” She crouched slightly, eyes on Ethan. “He really does look a lot like Liam, doesn’t he? He really is a son of his father.”
My blood started to boil, and I glared at her.
“Don’t talk to him. Don’t even look at him.”
She straightened again, brushing imaginary dust off her dress. “Touchy. I mean, I would be, too, if I had something to hide. Unstable single mom. No job anyone can verify. No solid home environment. A very… complicated romantic past.”
“You don’t know anything about me,” I shouted, feeling like my head was about to explode with anger. How dare she speak to me like that? Did she think I was still the 21-year-old girl she used to harass and bully?
She leaned in, her voice dropping. “But a court might be very interested in the things I do know. Like how you had a breakdown. How you disappeared. How you were found wandering the street once in your pajamas. Or how your own family had to lie to cover it up. Poor Ethan. He deserves better, don’t you think?”
My hands curled into fists. How did she know all this? Yes, I had a turbulent childhood and some mental health issues when I was younger, but that wasn’t me anymore.
“Walk away, Victoria.”
She smirked. “Or what? You’ll scream? Cry? Slap me like the unhinged woman you are?
I saw red.
Before I could even think, my palm cracked across her face with a sound that turned heads all around the park.
She gasped, staggering back a step, her hand flying to her cheek.
The world went still.
Ethan looked up from the sand, confused. I hated that my son just saw me get aggressive.
My chest rose and fell in heavy bursts.
“I told you to walk away,” I whispered. This felt like revenge for all the times she treated me badly when I was still with Liam. She had once slapped me because I wore her necklace and had my things thrown out of the mansion. She treated me like I was trash, and I was done taking her bullshit.
Victoria didn’t speak. She just reached into her handbag and pulled out a compact mirror, checking her reflection, as if to see if the slap had damaged her face. Then she smiled. A cold, dangerous smile.
“You just made everything so much easier,” she said.
That’s when I saw him.
A man, sitting on a bench not too far away. Holding his phone up. Pointed directly at us.
Recording.
My stomach dropped.
I spun toward Victoria. “You set me up.”
She shrugged. “Maybe. Or maybe I just knew you’d do what you always do, lose control.”
“Get out.”
“I will.” She turned to leave, then glanced back over her shoulder. “See you in court, Isabel.”
I scooped Ethan into my arms and held him tight as Victoria walked away, heels clicking on the pavement like punctuation.
“Mama, why did you hit that lady?”
I kissed his forehead. “She’s just… someone mean. Don’t worry, okay?”
But inside, I was shaking.
She had a video.
She had evidence.
And I had just handed it to her.
- Writer
