The Mistress Who Took Everything

ch3: Confrontation

Alina heard laughter coming from the living room. She slowed her pace slightly, then carried on. When she entered, Lily was already there sitting on the couch, her legs tucked under her, a bowl of fruit in her lap. Serena sat beside her holding a fork, and feeding her small bites one at a time.

“Open up,” Serena said playfully.

Lily giggled and leaned forward. Alina stopped right at the edge of the room, watching.

“Good?” Serena asked.

Lily nodded eagerly. “Yeah… Mom doesn’t do it like this.”

Serena chuckled softly. “Is that so?”

Alina stepped forward. “No,” she said calmly.

Both girls looked up. Alina walked closer, her gaze steady, not on Serena but on Lily. “Baby, you shouldn't compare people like that.” Then her eyes shifted to Serena. “And you shouldn’t encourage it.”

Serena straightened a bit, the softness in her smile fading. “I wasn’t encouraging anything,” she said lightly. “She’s just a child who is being honest.”

Their eyes locked. Serena smiled. “You’re over protective.”

Alina tilted her head slightly."She's my daughter. I have every reason to be."

Serena leaned back slightly, her smile still there but thinner now. “Of course,” she said.

Just then, the front door opened, and footsteps followed. It was Damian, right on time.

Lily perked up. “Daddy!”

She jumped off the couch and ran to him. He caught her effortlessly, lifting her slightly before gently setting her down. “How was your day?” he asked.

“It was good!” Lily replied, beaming. “Serena stayed with me.”

Damian glanced briefly at Serena. “I see.”

Alina stepped forward. “We need to talk.” Damian’s eyes turned to her. “About what?”

She didn’t look at Serena. “Alone.”

“No.”

Alina’s face remained unchanged. “Then I’ll say it here.”

Serena shifted slightly. Alina’s voice remained calm. “Your decision to bring this woman here is starting to impact Lily.”

Damian’s eyes turned to Serena a bit. “How?”

“She’s being influenced by her. She’s picking up behaviors that weren’t there before,” she continued. "She's now starting to compare me to Serena”

Serena spoke before Damian could say anything. “I would never...”

“I wasn’t speaking to you,” Alina interrupted.

Lily looked back and forth between them, confused. “I didn’t do anything,” she said softly.

Alina’s tone softened instantly. “This isn’t about you.”

But it was, and they all knew it.

Damian’s voice cut in. “You’re overthinking it.”

“No, am not,” Alina countered."Beside, you don’t spend enough time here to notice the difference.”

That hit hard.

Damian’s gaze sharpened. “Be careful.”

“About what?” Alina asked quietly. There was no fear in her voice. “You’re the one who brought a stranger into our home,” she continued. “I’m simply pointing out what she has been doing.”

Serena stood. “I think I should...”

“No,” Damian said without looking at her. She stopped.

“You’re making a problem out of nothing,” he said to Alina.

“No,” she insisted, her eyes locked onto his. “You just don’t want to see it.”

Then Lily spoke up. “I like her,” she admitted.

The room went still. Alina felt a sharp twist in her chest. But her face remained calm. “I didn’t say you couldn’t,” she whispered.

Lily looked down. Damian exhaled slowly, as if the conversation had already exhausted him. “This ends here,” he declared

Alina didn’t budge, argue or push further. Instead, she simply nodded. “Fine.”

It made him hesitate only for a moment. Then he turned away, signaling the conversation was over.

Later, the house was quiet again but not peaceful. Alina stood by the window in her room, staring out. Her reflection stared back at her. Behind her, the door creaked opened. She didn’t turn.

“I told you not to stir up unnecessary tension.” Damian’s voice.

Alina’s lips curled into a faint, bitter smile. “Unnecessary?” she repeated softly. She finally turned to face him. “What part of this feels unnecessary to you?” she asked.

He didn’t respond right away: Instead, he watched her then spoke. “You’re reacting differently,” he said.

"I am." She stepped closer. “You brought her into our home,” she said bitterly. “You allowed her into our child’s life, and you made all those decisions alone...without telling me.” Her eyes met his. “So don't make me out to be the bad person here.”