4
680words
Noticing my stare,he asked,”What’s up?”
I smiled.”Nothing.You’re looking sharp,Dad.” Then I continued scrolling through my phone. When I refreshed the page again, the photos had been deleted—Dad must’ve seen it and told Sarah to delete it.
At night,I insisted on sleeping with Mom and told her everything.I wouldn’t hide it—she deserved the truth.
Her face stayed calm,like she already knew.I asked cautiously,”Mom,you okay?”
She sat up,smiling.”Claire,you’re all grown up now, and it’s time for you to know some things.”
I expected she would break down and cry,but she didn’t.
“Actually, I’ve known about your dad’s affairs for years.Sarah’s not the first.”
My eyes widened.”More than one?”
She pressed my shoulder.”In families like ours,love isn’t forced.Life’s not perfect.Your dad fell out of love long ago,but I don’t need a man to thrive.At first,I stayed for you,then because our families’interests were too entwined.But I’ve always had a plan.I won’t let my daughter lose out—we’ll take back what we’re entitled to.”
Relieved,I saw Mom wasn’t some clingy little woman like Sarah but a battle-hardened businesswoman.
I also told my mom about how I had awakened my consciousness and asked her to be on guard against my dad. It was possible that he was the one behind my mom’s unexpected car accident. She patted my head.”No wonder you knew about your dad’s affair. Don’t worry,I’ll protect myself.”
I waited for Mom to slap their faces.They treated us like fools,but the hunter might become the prey.
One day,Sarah marched into the dorm with her head held high and looking very proud, slapping a card on my desk,smug.”Here’s your$2 million.I told you,my boyfriend’s a CEO—he doesn’t skimp.He adores me. He gives me whatever I want and even bought me a villa.”
She sneered, looking my outfit.”You?No designer clothes,no rich family. Using such an expensive watch, you didn’t get it by sleeping with some old man behind our backs, did you?Do you need me to introduce you to some rich guys? Although they can’t compare to my boyfriend, they’re still better than your current sugar daddy.”
My clothes were Mom’s custom designs—Sarah wouldn’t know their worth.
I twirled the card,smirking.”Hold tight to that boyfriend.Don’t let the wife catch you.”
I splashed my half-eaten noodle soup on her.”Oops,I splashed your precious clothes. Need me to pay?”
Dad,every cent you gave Sarah, you’re going to have to take it back.
Sarah fumed.”Claire Harper,you’ll pay for this!”
While studying for my exam in the library,struggling with math,my phone rang.Chloe’s voice blared,”Claire,you’re being slandered! There’s a post on the school forum saying that you’re a mistress to an old man!”
I opened the post. Every photo was taken clearly, and it was obvious that it was me in the photos. The first photo was of the driver opening the car door for me as I got into the luxury car. The second photo was of me fastening my seatbelt. Due to the angle, it looked like a kissing photo. The caption was: Guess what the poster found? The campus beauty has hooked up with a wealthy man and become his mistress.
The poster said :Caught Claire Harper getting into a luxury car,dolled up,cozy with a man.Bet she’s jealous of Sarah Lane’s rich boyfriend,dumped poor Nathan Cole,and hooked an old guy.Nathan got played. Claire’s no heiress—she’s just banking on men for her luxe goods.
The comments below were really offensive.
[Claire is actually a mistress. So disgusting. No wonder she can afford a watch worth over $2M]
[Easy money for women—just spread your legs.]
[Nathan’s screwed.Good thing they’re not together.I shipped them once.]
[She’s not worthy of Nathan.]
Nathan messaged:”Claire,got the poster’s IP and info.Most hate comments are from one address.Tracked it.”
His link had all the evidence.I was about to ask Mom for help,but he beat me to it.
I sent him a piggy-kiss emojito express my love for him.
I sent the post to my mom and asked her to lend me the legal department. This time, I was going to make Sarah pay a heavy price..
