THREE YEARS TOO LATE MR STANTON

Veronica’s POV “You are the best mommy ever,” Avery said with a huge smile on her face as she hugged Ava. “But I’m not your mommy, A,” Ava chuckled as she ruffled Avery’s head. “I don’t care, you’re way better than my actual mom.” Avery spat, as though the very thought of me was poison. “Daddy should have married you instead,” she pouted as she cuddled closer to Ava. I watched helplessly as my daughter cuddled with my twin sister, Ava. She hadn’t smiled at me like that in years. My chest tightened. “She’s still your mom, A,” Caleb said as he ruffled her hair. He didn’t shun her for the way she spoke about me, just gave a mild reminder. “No, she’s not.” Avery thrashed around in Ava’s lap. “Okay, okay. I can be your mom, but you have to keep it a secret from Veronica. You know how she gets.” Ava pinched Avery’s cheeks. “If she could be half as sensible as you, I really wouldn’t have to worry,” Caleb sighed. “She can never be half as good as Mommy,” Avery huffed. I laughed bitterly to myself. Here was the child I had almost died bringing into this world, who didn’t even think I was worth s**t compared to my twin sister. I remembered the night Avery was born. The blood. The screaming. The doctor’s frantic voice, shouting that I was crashing. I had hovered between life and death for hours, refusing to let go because I wanted to hold my baby. And now… That same child looked at me like I was filth. I was about to walk in and confront them, but Caleb’s voice stopped me. “Avery, go dress nicely. I’m taking us out to eat. Ava’s pregnant.” “Mom, you’re pregnant?” Avery gasped. “Yes, baby. Now listen to your dad and go.” Ava nodded, and Avery dashed out of the room. I narrowly hid behind a vase. As Avery left, I went toward the door to give Caleb the news. “Finally, I didn’t think she’d leave anytime soon,” Ava said as she straddled Caleb’s lap. What the hell? “I’ve been dying to touch you all night. You look amazing in this dress,” he said as he grabbed a boob in his hand. She gasped as she arched her back. Caleb was cheating on me with my twin sister? For the second time that night, I found myself choking back a sob. I wanted to go in there and confront Caleb and that snake, Ava, but I forced myself to listen. “You say you love me, but you don’t want to divorce Veronica.” She crossed her arms. “If I divorce her, it won’t do you any good. We still need her for now.” “God, she’s such a fool. How hasn’t she realized after so long?” Ava laughed as she rolled her eyes. “Even if she did, she wouldn’t dare question me because of her love for me.” He pulled Ava closer by the waist. “When we’re done with her, we’ll just get rid of her.” “Poor thing. She actually thought she could go up against me. Now she’s lost her ballerina career and her husband to me.” For years, I had thought that maybe if I were still the beautiful ballerina Caleb once loved, none of this would have happened. But now it dawned on me he had never loved me from the start. “Because you deserve everything good, not some riffraff your parents found in a drug house.” I couldn’t listen anymore. I turned to leave, but I ran into Avery instead. “Veronica, what are you doing here?” she asked with distaste as she crossed her arms. “A, I’ve told you not to talk to me like that,” I berated softly. “Don’t call me A. Only Daddy and Mommy get to call me that.” She stomped her feet as her fingers curled into fists. “But I’m your mommy,” I said softly as I tried to touch her face. “Don’t touch me, you druggie!” she yelled as she shoved me aside. I fell hard to the floor. I heard the door open as Avery ran straight into Ava’s arms. “Veronica, you just got back. Why are you already making things difficult for A?” Caleb said as he looked down at me condescendingly. “How am I making things difficult for her? She called her own mom a druggie.” “It isn’t that far off from the truth,” he muttered. “Avery, you shouldn’t talk to your mom like that. She had her issues in the past, but she’s better now,” Ava cooed softly into her ear. “No, she’s not my mom!” Avery yelled as she burst into tears. “Avery ” “Veronica, enough!” Caleb yelled. “Just leave the kid alone.” “Veronica, don’t take it to heart. Kids say anything at this age,” Ava said as she tried to help me up, a tiny smirk on her face. “Don’t touch me,” I said venomously as I withdrew my hand but she suddenly fell to the floor. “Ava!” Caleb yelled as he rushed to her side. He helped Avery up. Ava cried out as she cradled the hand she had fallen on to her chest. “Caleb, it hurts. I think it’s broken,” she said as she cried heavily. He turned to me angrily. “What the hell is wrong with you?” “I… I didn’t do anything,” I muttered. “Veronica, stop lying. You pushed Mommy,” Avery said as she glared at me. “I didn’t ” Caleb slapped me before I could finish. “Apologize.” I was dazed for a few seconds, the force of the slap disorienting. “Apologize!” he yelled louder this time. “No, I didn’t ” He slapped me again, harder this time. I fell to the floor. My eardrums rang as he kicked me in the stomach. I cried out in pain. From the corner of my eyes, I saw Ava smirk. “Caleb, stop. You’re hurting her,” she said in a broken voice. “Mommy, why are you begging for her? She deserves it,” Avery huffed. Caleb didn’t seem to listen as he kicked me in the head instead. “No, she’ll f*****g learn to listen,” he said as he breathed heavily. Just as he was about to land another blow, Ava let out a cry. “Mommy!” Avery called out helplessly. “Ava, what’s wrong?” he asked as he ran to her side. “It hurts so much,” she said as she laid her head weakly on his chest. “I’ll get you to a hospital,” he said frantically as he lifted her bridalstyle. “Caleb, please, wait,” I cal led weakly as I tried to grab his leg, but he kicked my hand away and walked past with Avery in tow. A tear slid down my cheek as darkness claimed me.