Chapter 4

Ava remembered all the times Mark had used Leo to keep her in line.

"Think of Leo, Ava."

"Do you want Leo to grow up in a broken home?"

"A good mother would sacrifice for her child's stability."

She had believed him. For too long.

She had sacrificed her own happiness, her own well-being, for that illusion of stability.

Regret was a bitter pill.

No more. This second chance, this impossible return, she wouldn't waste it.

She would leave. She would take Leo and build a life where he was cherished, not used as a pawn.

Her resolve was firm. A sense of relief, sharp and clean, cut through the pain.

Leo, despite his own tears, reached up and patted her cheek.

"It's okay, Mommy. Don't be sad. We can build robots at home."

His small hand, his attempt to comfort her.

Tenderness welled up, mixed with a fresh wave of guilt. He shouldn't have to be this strong.

Ava knelt and hugged him fiercely, tears finally escaping her.

"Oh, Leo. I'm so sorry. I'm so, so sorry. I should have protected you better."

She wasn't just apologizing for the camp, but for all the hurt Mark had inflicted, all the hurt she had allowed.

Leo hugged her back, his small arms tight around her neck.

"I love you, Mommy. You're the best mommy."

His pure, unconditional love was a balm to her wounded soul.

It was all the comfort she needed.

A few days later, a moving van pulled up to the house.

Chloe and her daughter, Maya (not Lily, Ava noted the name change, another layer of Chloe's casual deceit), began unloading boxes.

Chloe sauntered in, a triumphant smirk on her face.

"Well, hello there, Ava. Don't mind us. Just moving into the guest room. And Maya will take Leo's old playroom. Mark insisted."

Invasion. Discomfort.

Chloe walked right up to Ava, hands on her hips.

"Got a problem with that, Ava? Mark said it was fine. We're all one big happy... situation, right?"

Her tone was a challenge, daring Ava to react.

Ava looked at her, then at the boxes, then back at Chloe's smug face.

She felt a profound weariness.

"No problem at all, Chloe," Ava said, her voice flat, indifferent.

Let her have her small victory. It wouldn't last.

Mark rushed in, predictably, to Chloe's side.

"Ava, don't start. Chloe and Maya need a place to stay. Their apartment has 'black mold,' it's a disaster." He physically shielded Chloe.

"You know this is all because you insisted on that ridiculous divorce. If you hadn't, we wouldn't be in this mess."

The same old blame.

Ava just nodded. "You're right, Mark. My fault."

She was too tired to argue. Too focused on her escape plan.

Mark, puffing up with his perceived authority, gestured around.

"Alright. Chloe, you and Maya can take the master suite. It's bigger. Ava, you and Leo can move into the guest room downstairs. And Leo's playroom will be Maya's new room."

Dispossession. Injustice. He was giving away her space, their son's space, to these interlopers.

Ava shrugged. "Fine."

Peace, for now, was more important than fighting over rooms she was about to leave anyway.

She wanted to scream, to pack her bags and Leo's and walk out that very second.

But Leo had a slight fever, a summer cold. She couldn't drag him to a hotel like this.

Soon. Very soon.

Leo looked around his playroom, now filled with unfamiliar pink and purple boxes.

"Mommy, why is Maya taking my room? This is our house."

His confusion was heartbreaking.

Ava knelt beside him, her voice gentle.

"Sweetheart, sometimes things change. For now, we're like... guests in this part of the house. But we'll have our own special place soon, just you and me."

A sad, metaphorical explanation.

Later that evening, there was a knock on the guest room door. Mark.

Ava felt a wave of annoyance.

She opened it a crack. "What do you want, Mark?"

Why was he even here? She felt a strong, newfound aversion to his very presence.

The air around him felt tainted.

Mark tried to look casual, leaning against the doorframe.

"Just checking in. Everything okay down here? Not too cramped?"

His attempt at normalcy was awkward, almost laughable given the circumstances.

Ava just stared at him, silent.

She was exhausted. Emotionally drained. She had no energy for his games, his manipulations.

No more conflict. Just... disinterest.

Mark shifted uncomfortably under her silent gaze.

"Look, about Leo's camp... I know you're upset. But Chloe's sister, she really needed that favor. And Chloe's father... he did so much for me. It's a debt I have to repay."

The same tired excuse. His obligation to Chloe's family.

Ava finally spoke, her voice devoid of heat, just a cold, hard question.

"And why, Mark, do Leo and I always have to be the ones to pay your debts?"

The pain was still there, but now it was a catalyst for her resolve, not a source of weakness.