Coming Second to That Woman

Vincent only noticed the gift box in my hands after I spoke. A flicker of relief crossed his eyes, but it vanished when Christine broke the silence.

"Since it's such a rare coincidence for all of us to be in the same place, why don't we have a meal together?" she suggested.

I was about to decline, but then I saw the longing in Lorelei's eyes. In the end, I agreed. It had been a long time since Vincent and Lorelei shared a meal.

Once we were at the restaurant, Vincent ordered several dishes. I couldn't help but ask him to add a serving of cheese-baked broccoli.

"Why are you so demanding?" Vincent said, clearly annoyed. "I've already ordered about eight dishes. Why do you want another one?"

"Everything you ordered is either seafood or spicy," I explained. "Lorelei is allergic to seafood and can't eat spicy food."

Vincent was momentarily stunned by my words.

Sitting beside me, Lorelei murmured, "It's okay, Daddy. I can eat the omelet."

"At least you're mature enough to know how to conduct yourself," Vincent huffily replied.

His eyes were filled with disdain as he looked at me, but when Christine served him the food, only adoration shone in his gaze. The two of them were in their own bubble, chatting and laughing.

Anyone unfamiliar with our situation would have assumed Vincent and Christine were husband and wife.

"Charlie, have more shrimp. It's high in calcium."

As Vincent peeled shrimp for Charlie, Lorelei watched enviously. My heart sank, and I quickly served Lorelei some omelet.

Suddenly, Charlie threw his spoon into the soup pot and shrieked, "Who said you could eat the omelet? I want to be the first one to eat it! Stop touching my omelet! You're ruining it!"

I hastily pulled Lorelei close. Hot soup had splashed onto the back of her hand, and the skin was rapidly turning an angry red.

Vincent said unhappily, "This is on you. Why would you scramble with a kid for food when you're an adult?"

I couldn't hold back my anger any longer. "Are you blind?" I yelled. "Lorelei can only eat the omelet out of all the dishes on the table. Why does she have to go along with everything you want? You're her father, for crying out loud!"

"She's so scary!" Charlie wailed. "I don't want to eat with her anymore! I don't wanna eat with her anymore!"

As Charlie threw his temper tantrum, he began to grab fistfuls of food from the table and hurl them at us. A few seconds later, he overturned the entire pot of soup.

I grabbed Lorelei and tried to move her out of harm's way, but I was too late. The soup drenched her skirt, and the skin on her legs was already turning red.

"Look at what you've done!" Vincent hollered at me. He then turned to Charlie and murmured, "Don't cry, Charlie. I'll bring you to get dessert later. We can order more food and don't have to eat with them, okay?"

A smile broke across Charlie's face upon hearing Vincent's words. He shot a gleeful glance in Lorelei's direction before sticking his tongue out at us. He then grabbed Vincent's hand and tugged him along, leaving us behind.

When Vincent turned to look at me, his eyes were filled with loathing. Meanwhile, Christine stood to the side and pretended to be the good guy in the entire fiasco. "I'm so sorry. We spoiled Charlie too much. Are you alright?"

"Why wouldn't they be alright?" Vincent shot back before I could open my mouth. "Even if you're bored, you shouldn't take Lorelei out just to feel important. Remember your place!"

I took a deep breath before leaving, taking Lorelei to see a doctor.

When we arrived at the hospital, the doctor frowned deeply when he examined Lorelei's injuries. "The burns are quite serious. How could you be so careless?"

I didn't say a word, but Lorelei exclaimed with bloodshot eyes, "It's not Mommy's fault! She didn't do this! I can endure the pain!"

Tears welled up in Lorelei's eyes, but she refused to let them fall even when the doctor applied ointment to the burns. I hugged her tightly and only breathed a sigh of relief when the doctor finished treating her wounds.

On the way home, I asked, "Lorelei, if there comes a day when I leave your father…"

Before I could finish my sentence, Lorelei grabbed my hand tightly. "I'm willing to leave with you, Mommy!"

"You don't want Daddy?"

"He doesn't like me anyway." Lorelei hung her head and fisted her hands into the hem of her skirt. A long moment passed before she mumbled with reddened eyes. "He has another child whom he likes better."