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Alex
Damn… what the hell did I say to Kate?
I still can’t believe myself. I unloaded an entire day’s worth of frustration on her, and she didn’t deserve a single word of it. Kate had every right to correct Emma—she’s her mother. But in the moment, I lost control. I let my paranoia convince me she was retaliating, using Emma the way I had once wronged Aria. The second that toxic thought crossed my mind, I exploded.
Then I saw Kate’s tears—and I knew. I’d f****d up.
I looked at the table. Both girls looked terrified. Aria was silently crying, clutching her blanket, and Emma said softly, “Daddy, I’m sorry. But Mama was right… it was bad manners. I should say sorry. Please don’t fight.” Aria whimpered, “I want Mama.”
I swallowed my guilt. “Okay, girls… I’m sorry for scaring you. I’ll t
