Chapter 3 I Saw My Son Call Her Mum

"Mommy, wait up!" Ava froze. The word hit her like a slap. She sat in her car across from Lincoln Park, hidden behind the tinted windows, watching the woman who used to be her best friend now her husband's mistress laughing on a picnic blanket. With her son. Noah. He ran toward Talia, arms flapping, face glowing with joy. Joy Ava hadn't seen in weeks. Talia turned, smiled wide, and lifted him up into her arms like she'd done it a thousand times. Like it was natural. Like he was hers. Ava's fingernails dug into her palms. Her breathing turned shallow as her hand hovered over the car door.

She didn't move yet. She needed to see it for herself. Talia gently set Noah down and brushed the hair from his face like a mother would. Then she opened a small lunchbox. Noah lit up. "You made the dinosaur sandwiches again!" Talia giggled. "I always do, remember? It's our thing." Our. Ava's grip tightened on the wheel. Last week, she made those same sandwiches. Noah said he was too old for them now. Had he lied? Or had he just found someone else's version better? Ava watched, stunned, as Talia pulled out a red toy truck. The one Noah had cried about losing. The one Ava searched the whole house for. Talia had it. And maybe she'd had Noah too piece by piece, moment by moment, while Ava stood in the dark, thinking she was still a mother, a wife, a friend. Her phone buzzed in her lap. Mia: Are you okay? I found the file. It's weird... Noah's birth certificate was altered. Mom's handwriting is on it. Call me. Ava's stomach dropped. She looked back across the street. Noah was now snuggled against Talia, watching something on her phone, completely at ease. A memory flashed: Noah falling asleep in her arms, calling her Mommy, clutching her shirt like it was his only anchor. Would he remember? Or would he forget Ava the same way Ethan had ? Suddenly, Talia kissed the top of his head. That was it. Ava flung open her car door and stormed across the street. "TALIA!" The name came out like thunder. Talia's head jerked up. Noah looked confused, his smile falling. Talia stood. "Ava" "Noah," Ava said, walking straight toward them, "get in the car. Now." Noah looked up, hesitated, then glanced at Talia. Talia kept her voice calm. "It's okay, sweetie. Go with Mommy. We don't want her upset, right?" Mommy. The word snapped inside Ava. "Don't you ever call yourself that in front of me," she growled. Talia lifted her hands like she was innocent. "I'm not trying to cause a scene." "Oh, honey," Ava said, stepping closer. "You are the scene." She dropped to her knees in front of Noah. "Baby, come on. Let's go home." He shifted uncomfortably. "Can she come too?" Ava's heart split down the middle. Before she could answer, Talia spoke fast. "Noah, go to the car. I need to talk to Ava." He obeyed without question. The second he was out of earshot, Ava spun to her. "What the hell are you doing?" Her voice was low and dangerous. "What kind of twisted game is this?" Talia didn't blink. "I give him what he needs love, attention, safety." "He gets all that from me," Ava snapped. "I'm his mother." Talia stepped closer, her voice dropping to a whisper. "Are you?" Ava's breath caught. "What?" Talia leaned in. "Are you sure he's even yours?" Silence. The kind that makes your heart race and your knees weaken. "What did you just say?" Ava whispered. Talia's smile was slow and cruel. "Maybe you should've asked Ethan before you built your little fantasy life." Ava couldn't move. Couldn't speak. Talia leaned in one last time, lips barely moving. "You always thought you were the main character, Ava. But you? You were just the placeholder."