After Prison I’m Done Playing Second

I walked down the stairs, papers in hand.

In the living room, Reginald and Felicia were on the couch. Leo was curled up in Felicia's lap.

They looked like a perfect family.

And I was the intruder.

"Rosabella?" Reginald froze when he saw me. "Why aren't you asleep?"

Felicia immediately clutched Leo tighter, as if I were some kind of monster.

"Sister... I'm sorry, I just needed Reginald to take me home, I didn't mean to wake you..." Her voice trembled, her eyes red-rimmed.

Still such a good actress.

"Are you angry with me?" Reginald stood, frowning at me. "Because I brought Felicia back?"

"No."

I held the papers out to him.

"What's this?" Reginald took them, confused, not opening them.

"Just some documents. They need your signature."

Reginald glanced at the cover, assuming it was a deed for the estate or some asset agreement.

His expression instantly softened.

He stepped closer, his voice dripping with condescending pity. "The villa on Lake Como. You always liked it there." He stroked my cheek, like I was a pet. "And the Swiss account. Is ten million enough to start?"

He thought I just wanted some financial security.

"And that Greek island, the one you said you wanted to photograph at sunset," Reginald went on, his tone growing softer. "It can all be yours."

In his eyes, I was just a wife feeling insecure because of Felicia's presence. A problem to be solved with money.

"Just sign," I said.

Reginald didn't even read the document. He just picked up a pen.

"Of course. It was all yours to begin with."

He was about to sign his name—

"Don't!"

A small body suddenly launched itself at me.

Leo, with all the force his three-year-old body could muster, slammed into me, knocking me to the ground.

"Bad woman!" he shrieked, standing over me, his little face contorted with rage. "Family traitor! You can't have our money!"

I fell backward, my knee hitting the sharp corner of the coffee table.

Blood seeped out.

But the physical pain was nothing compared to the feeling of my heart being ripped in two.

This was my son. The child I carried for nine months and fought to bring into this world. And he was calling me a traitor.

It was just like at his school. The memory flashed, sharp and painful. I’d gone to see him, just days after getting out. I found him bullying a smaller kid.

"My dad is the Don! You mess with me?"

"You're an orphan!" Leo had laughed, a cruel, vicious sound. "Orphans are meant to be stepped on!"

When I pulled him away, he pointed at me and screamed, "Liar! You're the bitch trying to ruin our family!"

The other teachers and parents all stared at me, their eyes filled with judgment. In that moment, I understood. Felicia had completely poisoned my son.

Blood dripped from my knee, staining the carpet.

Even though I knew my son wasn't the boy I dreamed he'd be, my heart still ached.

"Rosabella!" Reginald rushed over to help me up.

"Is this your idea of a good upbringing?" I looked at Reginald, my voice ice cold. "Is this what Felicia taught him?"

Reginald's face darkened. As if to appease me, he quickly signed the papers, then looked down at Leo.

"Leo, apologize to her! Now!"

"No!" Leo hid behind Felicia. "She's the bad woman! Mama, don't let her take our home!"

Mama.

He called Felicia Mama.

"I'm so sorry, sister..." Felicia held Leo, tears in her eyes. "It's my fault, I didn't raise him right..."

"Don't say sorry to her!" Leo yelled. "Mama, you can't bow to bad people!"

That one stung.

It was just like when we were kids. Father always accusing me of bullying Felicia, forbidding her from apologizing to her "vicious sister."

"Leo!" Reginald's voice grew sterner. "She is my wife! The Donna of this family! You will show her respect!"

Leo froze, clearly scared by Reginald's anger.

But I was done with this whole charade.

I stood up, dragging my injured leg, and started for the stairs.

Behind me, I heard Reginald's voice.

"Leo, you listen to me! Rosabella is the Donna of this family. Everything we have is hers! You will respect her!"

I stopped and glanced back.

Leo was looking at the floor, muttering, "I know," but his face was full of hate.