Abandoned by Husband and Son

My five-year-old son Walker made his birthday wish after blowing out the candles, his innocent words cutting deep: "Daddy, Aurelia is old-fashioned and ugly. I want Aunt Louisa to be my mom."

Fletcher didn’t stand up for me. He simply smiled and wished that Walker’s dream would come true. That night, I drove away from the estate, and Rodrigo, the security guard, greeted me politely, "Ma'am, heading out to get medicine for Mr. Stevens and the little one again? When will you be back?"

I glanced at the home I'd lived in for a decade, and without a hint of regret, I replied, "I won't be coming back."

When Walker made his birthday wish, the room seemed to freeze. My smile faltered, and I instinctively turned to Fletcher, expecting him to back me up as he always had, but he didn’t correct Walker. Instead, he gently told him, "Then I hope your wish comes true."

Walker, thrilled by Fletcher’s response, clapped his hands excitedly. "I'm going to have a new mommy!" Even though I knew kids speak without filter, Walker’s words cut me deeply. He used to love me as his mother, but everything changed with Louisa's arrival. Both Walker and Fletcher seemed enchanted by her.

Unaware of my pain, Walker happily swung Fletcher's arm. "Daddy, I don’t want the spiced honey cake Aurelia made. Come and help me open presents."

Fletcher calmly stood up, "Alright, let's see what your Aunt Louisa has prepared for you." The two of them completely disregarded me, retreating to Walker’s bedroom, locking the door to open gifts.

I was left alone, staring at the table covered with healthy, carefully prepared dishes. I sat immobile until I finally forced my stiff limbs to rise. Walker's laughter drifted through the closed door as he video-called Louisa. "Aunt Louisa, can you throw me another birthday party tomorrow? I've got a present for you too."

"Aurelia is such a drag. She won't let me eat what I want and makes me practice writing." Fletcher occasionally chimed in, his voice as gentle as it was when he loved me.

I stopped torturing myself by eavesdropping and knocked on Walker's door. It took five long minutes for him to open it, a little scowl on his face. "Aurelia, are you here to make me drink that nasty tonic again? I won't drink it!"

Fletcher walked over and lifted Walker into his arms. "Do you have to make a scene on Walker’s birthday?"