Chapter 2

𝘼𝘽𝘽𝙄𝙀

I arrived at the party with my mom, my heels clicking nervously against the polished marble floor.

My mom never associated with anyone below her status. She floated only among the rich… surgeons, investors, and hospital board members. And she made sure I followed the same path, like a shadow stitched to her back.

I have only one friend.

Daisy.

And that's only because her dad is a surgeon like my mom… and because Daisy dreams of becoming one too, Mom approved of her instantly. She believed Daisy was the kind of friend I should keep.

How she got married to my dad was still a mystery to me. He had nothing: no influence, no wealth, no title. Just a kind heart and tired hands from working too hard.

The party was loud and glittering, but inside me, everything felt dull. From the moment we stepped into the hall, Mom did nothing but parade me around like a prized possession.

"This is my daughter, Abigail. Future neurosurgeon," she would say to anyone she came across.

My cheekbones were already aching from the fake smile glued to my face. I felt like my skin would crack if I forced it any longer. I just wanted to go home. But Mom would never leave before the party ended. Never.

"These people I'm introducing you to are the best surgeons in California," she whispered through her polished smile. "You need to stay close to them. Connections are everything."

I didn't even nod. If it weren't for her, I wouldn't be here.

"Regina Summers," Daisy's dad called her full name with a smile as he approached us.

"Matteo Mayfield." She returned his smile with the same energy. She rarely smiles genuinely, but whenever she sees Daisy's dad, her entire face softens in a way that unsettles me.

"How are you doing, Regina?" he asked, his eyes lingering on her a little too long.

"I'm fine, as you can see," she replied, her tone almost playful.

Matteo laughed heartily and shifted his gaze to me. "How are you doing, Abbie?"

I forced a small smile and nodded. My full name is Abigail Summers, but everyone calls me Abbie.

"Daisy will be here soon, when she arrives, both of you should talk, okay?" he added.

Again, I nodded.

Then his eyes drifted back to my mom, something unreadable passing between them. "Can I have a word with you in... private?" he asked.

"Sure." My mom didn't hesitate to answer.

I watched as he took her hand, not just guiding her, but holding it and leading her toward the alley beside the hall.

A strange feeling stirred in my stomach, but I pushed it away.

I found an empty chair and sat down, scanning the hall. Everyone was laughing, drinking, and networking. I was the only one who felt like I was suffocating.

I didn't want to be here. I didn't want any of this.

"Abbie!"

I turned to see Daisy approaching.

She is a beautiful girl, a year younger than me, yet taller than me, with glasses perched on her nose… glasses that screamed "nerd" to anyone watching.

I smiled faintly when she sat beside me. "You came?" I whispered, even though I knew she would.

Daisy gave a small nod, sighing in a way that made my chest tighten. She was usually a chatterbox, the one who could speak a thousand words at once, filling a room with her presence. Seeing her like this… quiet and weighed down, meant something was wrong.

"Are you alright?" I murmured, my voice small, almost fragile.

She sighed, and her lips trembled. "I think my dad's cheating on my mom," she whispered, tears spilling down her cheeks.

My stomach lurched. "Your dad's… cheating?" My voice cracked.

Daisy wiped her tears with trembling hands. "It's not confirmed yet, but my mom thinks he is. She saw a text from a number saved as Miss K. She asked him if he could meet her tonight. When my mom pressed for who Miss K was, he… he got angry. He even slapped her."

My eyes widened. Matteo slapped his wife, and he smiled at me and my mom as if nothing had happened.

"What should I do, Abbie? I don't want my dad and mom to fight… what should I do?" she whimpered, her voice barely audible.

I wanted to console her, but I was the last person capable of offering comfort. I couldn't even manage my own voice, let alone guide someone else's. Still, I tried, telling her she shouldn't jump to conclusions yet.

Daisy's mom is a good woman… better than my mom if you ask me. When I was younger, she always baked sweet pies for Daisy and me. She would also tell us lots of bedtime stories until we fell asleep.

That's something my mom would never do. All she was good at was controlling my life like I was some robot she purchased from a technology company.

I just hoped Matteo isn't cheating on Daisy's mom. Stella is a rare gem. A wife any reasonable man would always pray to have.

The time was ticking, and yet my mom hadn't returned after she left with Matteo. Daisy was trying to console herself with some cakes, so I left her in search of my mom.

"Mom!" I called as I dashed toward the alley where I'd last seen her with Matteo. But the alley was empty.

Where could she and Matteo have gone?

I started to turn back to the hall, but I heard soft sounds coming from one of the rooms.

I should've walked away. I should've minded my business. But the sound… it sounded like her.

The sound grew louder when I got closer to the door. With a trembling hand, I creaked the door open.

And my world shattered.

My mom... the woman who spoke as if she was the most righteous woman on earth was in bed with Matteo.

He was thrusting into her from behind. Tears rushed down my eyes immediately. I couldn't hold back my surprise, so I screamed.

"Mom!"