Chapter 2: The Truth Everyone Knew
1368 Words
Chapter 2: The Truth Everyone Knew
(Olivia's POV)
I walked toward the closet, ready to change out of my pajamas. Morning light filtered through the curtains, painting everything in deceptively peaceful gold. As if last night hadn't happened. As if my world hadn't shattered.
But as I reached for a dress, something caught my eye on the closet floor.
A pair of torn red lace panties lay crumpled in the corner, reeking of jasmine-Clara's signature scent-and stained with semen that unmistakably smelled of Theodore.
My stomach lurched. For a moment, I couldn't breathe. Couldn't think. Could only stare at this violation in
my closet.
Our bedroom.
How long? How many times had he brought her here?
Or had Clara thrown them here deliberately, marking her territory like some feral creature? The thought should have made me angrier, but instead, a cold numbness spread through my chest. Yesterday, this would have destroyed me. Today, after deciding to leave, it felt almost absurd. Like finding more water in a sinking ship.
I pulled on gloves with hands that barely trembled anymore. Funny how quickly grief could calcify into something harder. Colder. I picked up the soiled underwear and headed downstairs, my steps so light even the Omega servants didn't notice my approach.
They were gathered in the kitchen, voices carrying through the morning air.
"That slut was at it again last night," one whispered, scrubbing dishes with unnecessary force. "Whenever the Alpha's home, her moans echo through the entire villa."
The cook nodded. "I found her bodily fluids on the kitchen counter this morning. Had to scrub it clean before anyone saw."
"She's a natural-born w***e," another added with disgust. "Capable of luring the Alpha to her room every single night. Poor Luna has no idea what's happening under her own roof."
My blood turned to ice, then fire, then ice again.
They all knew.
Every single person in this house knew about Theodore's affair. They'd known while serving me breakfast with pitying smiles. While I'd thanked them for their service, oblivious to their mockery. While I'd been the only fool walking around in ignorant bliss, they'd been watching my humiliation like some tragic performance.
When they spotted me standing in the living room, holding the evidence of my shame, they froze. The kitchen fell silent except for running water that suddenly seemed deafening.
An Omega finally found her voice, trembling. "Luna Olivia, isn't today Parent-Child Day at the creche? We were wondering why you hadn't left yet."
Parent-Child Day.
Oh God, Leo.
In my haze of betrayal, I'd completely forgotten my son.
"I'm leaving now," I said quietly, dropping the panties on the counter. Let them gossip about that too. "Make sure these find their way back to their owner."
I rushed upstairs, threw on the first dress I could find, and drove to Crimson Pup Creche. My hands gripped the steering wheel so tightly my knuckles went white, but I forced myself to focus.
Leo needs you. Whatever's happening, your son comes first.
At the nursery entrance, a young teacher I didn't recognize stopped me with a bright smile.
"Excuse me, are you here for Parent-Child Day?"
"Yes, I'm here for Leo Redgrave. I'm his mother."
The teacher's smile faltered. "But hasn't the Luna already arrived?"
My heart stopped.
"I
am Luna Olivia," I said slowly, each word fighting through the tightness in my throat. "Leo's mother."
The teacher pointed toward the playground, uncertainty clouding her features. "Then who is that?"
I followed her gaze, and the world tilted.
Clara. Playing with
my son. Laughing as he chased her around the playground, her flowing sundress making her look innocent and motherly. She'd stolen my husband. Now she was playing pretend with my child.
How much more can one person take?
"Luna Olivia!" Linda, Leo's regular teacher, came rushing over with panic in her eyes. She shot the new teacher a warning look and quickly ushered her away. "I'm so glad you could make it. Please, come inside."
But I was already moving toward the playground, toward my son giggling in the arms of his father's mistress.
"Leo!" I called out, trying to keep the desperation from my voice.
My little boy turned, dark hair catching the sunlight. For one precious second, I thought he'd run to me. That this nightmare would end with his small arms around my neck.
Instead, his face scrunched into a scowl when he saw I was empty-handed.
"Where's the venison pie?" he demanded, small hands planted on his hips in a gesture painfully reminiscent of Theodore. "You promised yesterday you'd bring it from the neutral zone bakery!"
The venison pie. In all the chaos, I'd completely forgotten.
Of course you did. You can't even remember a simple promise to your own son.
"I'm sorry, honey. I forgot, but I can-"
"Go buy it now!" Leo shouted, his small face red with rage. "Clara's been talking about it for days! She really wants to try it!"
Clara stepped forward with practiced understanding. "Oh, Leo, it's okay. I can go buy it myself later."
Playing the martyr. The saint. While I stood there, the villain who'd forgotten a pie.
"No!" Leo cut her off imperiously. "Mom has time. The bakery has a three-hour wait, but Mom doesn't have anything important to do." He looked at me with casual cruelty that made my chest ache. "She loves doing things for me anyway. She'd be sad if she couldn't serve me-that's what she was born for."
The words hit me like a physical blow. My vision blurred, and for a moment, I couldn't tell if it was from tears or rage or the sheer impossibility of what I'd just heard.
That's what she was born for.
My own son. My precious boy that I'd nearly died bringing into this world. The premature pup I'd nursed back to health with sleepless nights and endless worry. He was speaking to me like I was a servant. Like I existed solely for his convenience.
I swallowed my anger, forced a smile that felt like broken glass in my mouth. "You're right, sweetheart. I'm sorry I forgot. I won't forget tomorrow."
Leo replied without even looking at me. "You'd better not forget."
Each word was a silver knife between my ribs. When he'd been born too early, too small, I'd barely left his side. I'd regulated every aspect of his life-no junk food, strict schedules for meals and sleep-sacrificing my own needs to ensure he grew strong and healthy.
Six months ago, I'd fallen gravely ill. That's when Theodore hired Clara. I never imagined that in only six months, she could turn my son against me so completely.
Or maybe she didn't have to try. Maybe he was always Theodore's son more than mine.
The coach's whistle blew across the playground. "Attention, parents and pups! It's time for our three-legged race. Each team needs one parent and one child."
Hope fluttered weakly in my chest. This was my chance. I could show Leo I was fun, playful, worthy of his love.
"Leo!" I said, moving toward him with forced brightness. "Let's be partners! This will be-"
But without even looking up from where he sat on the grass, Leo tied his own leg to Clara's with the provided rope.
"Clara is better suited for this game."
Something inside me cracked. Not broke-it had already been broken. This was the sound of the pieces shattering into dust.
I dropped to my knees beside him, grabbed his small hand. "Leo, I am your mother! I want to play with you!"
Please. Please see me. Please love me.
He violently shook me off, his face contorting with annoyance. "Mom, you're so annoying! I don't actually need you to be my mom!"
The world stopped.
I don't need you to be my mom.
There it was. The final rejection. Not from my cheating mate, but from the child I'd given everything to create and protect.
And as I knelt there in the dirt of that playground, watching my son run off with another woman, I realized something that made my earlier decision to leave feel almost merciful by comparison.
I had nothing left to lose.
- Writer
