Chapter 4 Bad Mommy
The car door opened.
Ethan held a hand over the roof to shield Nancy, then offered his palm to help her out.
The second their fingers laced together, Emily turned away.
This scene should’ve torn her apart, but she felt surprisingly calm.
Maybe she’d finally woken up.
Why else would her chest feel so light, so empty?
Once, she would’ve sobbed until her lungs hurt. Now, she just needed answers.
A better mom? That cut deep.
“Ethan, what did you mean?” Her lips trembled, voice shaky.
Nancy stepped out, her hand resting on Ethan’s arm. Under the moonlight, their shadows merged into one long, tangled shape on the pavement.
Ethan acted like he hadn’t heard Emily. He guided Nancy toward the house, his focus entirely on the woman beside him.
Emily lost count of how many times he ignored her. Her heart was already beaten down. But when it came to Sophie? She couldn’t back down.
She stepped forward, summoning every last bit of strength to grab his wrist.
“Ethan, answer me!” she shouted.
He stopped at last, turning to face her. His eyes were cold, no trace of warmth.
He twisted his wrist to yank free, then said flatly, “You’re always at work. Sophie’s too young, she needs someone to take care of her. And when you get pregnant with the second kid, she’ll stay with Nancy too.”
Ethan was always like this. He never asked for her opinion. He just announced his decisions as if she were his employee, not his wife.
But this time, she wouldn’t let him steamroll her.
She’d already hired a nanny for Sophie before leaving for training. It wasn’t until last month that she found out Ethan fired her long ago.
For six months while she was gone, Nancy had moved into Joy Gardens—acting like Sophie’s mom, like she was part of some perfect little family with Ethan.
Emily kept quiet back then, holding onto this stupid hope that he still saw her as Mrs. Wilson. But now? He was trying to take her daughter too. How could she just walk away quietly?
When it came to Sophie, Emily lost it.
Her voice shot up, sharp with panic. “I can take care of my own kid. I don’t need some stranger.”
Ethan didn’t even blink. He just said, “It’s decided.”
Emily snapped. The calm she’d held onto shattered. “I said I can take care of her!”
The air turned thick with tension.
Nancy, standing behind Ethan, sensed the fight.
She spoke up softly, her voice sweet and innocent. “Ethan, you and Ms. Carter should talk. I’ll go check on Sophie.”
Ethan nodded, and Nancy turned to head inside.
But Emily’s voice rang out, loud and clear. “Nancy Thompson, stop right there.”
Nancy froze. Before she could respond, Emily’s hand cracked across her cheek in a sharp, resounding slap.
Ethan’s eyes went wide. He lunged forward, shoving Emily back with enough force to make her stumble, then pulled Nancy into his arms.
“Are you okay?” he asked, his voice tight with concern.
Nancy covered her face, tears spilling down her cheeks. She looked so small, so wronged.
Ethan’s thumb brushed her skin gently, like he was handling something fragile. He blew on her cheek, as if that could take the pain away.
Emily stared at them. She didn’t feel guilty, not even a little.
What normal woman inserted herself into a married man’s life, into his family?
Of course, Ethan was just as bad. He’d let it happen.
Before Emily could say another word, a small figure came rushing out of the house—barefoot, hair wild. It was Sophia.
She sprinted over, throwing herself at Nancy’s legs.
“Nancy! Does it hurt? Sophie can blow it better!” she said, tilting her head up.
Sophia was about to sleep when she saw Ethan’s car through the window. She knew he brought Nancy, so she bolted downstairs, even forgot her shoes. She made it to the door just in time to see Emily slap Nancy.
Emily stood off to the side, watching.
Her husband, her daughter… They were both all over some woman who didn’t belong.
In that moment, she swore she could hear her heart shatter. A loud, nasty crack.
But she still couldn’t believe it.
Her little girl, the one she’d held in her arms every night, the one she’d fed and rocked and kissed… How could she choose a stranger over her?
Emily reached out, her hands shaking. “Sophie…”
Before she could finish, Sophia spun around. Her face was red with anger. She ran up to Emily and started hitting her legs.
Small fists, but they hit hard.
“Bad mommy! Bad mommy! You hit Nancy! I hate you! I don’t want a bad mommy!”
Emily froze. Her face went pale, blood draining from her cheeks.
The custody she’d been so determined to fight for? It was just a fantasy. Her husband didn’t need her. Her daughter didn’t want her either.
She was just… a joke.
And the worst part? She’d gotten pregnant again. For a man who didn’t love her. For a family that didn’t want her.
She didn’t care how long Sophie hit her. She didn’t hear the words Ethan said, or Nancy’s soft attempts to “calm” Sophie down.
All she heard was “bad mommy”, over and over, like a knife in her chest.
Emily stood there, dazed. Then she laughed, a bitter, hollow sound.
She didn’t look at Ethan or Sophie again. She turned and walked away.
Behind her, she could hear their voices: Ethan asking Nancy if she was okay, Sophie begging to stay with Nancy that night.
No one called out to her. No one cared that she was gone.
When she turned the corner, she glanced back. Just once.
Ethan and Sophie were on either side of Nancy, each holding one of her hands. They walked toward the house, slow and happy, like they were the real family.
Emily smiled, though it was bitter. She wanted to cry, but not a single tear would fall. These five years had drained her dry.
She’d given them everything. Her time, her love, her body. Now, she had nothing left to give.
She wouldn’t put them first anymore.
Leaving Joy Gardens, Emily walked alone for a long stretch, her thoughts heavy.
As she replayed the moments of the last five years, she realized she had known for a long time that she shouldn’t keep pouring herself into a relationship like this. She just didn’t want to face the truth.
But now, it was clear. From now on, she’d love herself properly.
Taking a taxi back to Brocade Estates, Emily went straight to the study.
There, she began drafting a new divorce agreement.
Half the assets each. And as for Sophie—she was giving up custody.
She signed her name neatly, then placed the papers on the desk.
That night, she drove back to the city where her training was.
The next morning, Emily showed up at the hospital early.
The obstetrician on duty that day was Melissa Martinez, her college roommate, someone who knew bits of her marriage.
When Emily said she wanted an abortion, Melissa’s eyes widened. “This baby was hard to get. Are you sure? Even if things with Ethan are bad, you could keep it… for yourself.”
Emily sat across from her, calm as still water. “Melissa, I’m a woman. The smartest thing I can do is not bring a kid into this mess. And my life matters too.
“I’m sure about this. Just schedule the surgery for this morning.”
The old Emily was gone.
The one who’d begged for love, who’d ignored her own pain to make everyone else happy? She’d died last night.
From this point on, she’d love the people who loved her. And the rest? She was done with them.
