Three days into a business trip a few states away, a new female parent unexpectedly joined my son Leo’s SnapChat group.
I tapped on the voice message. A sweet, unfamiliar female voice chimed through.
Hi everyone, I’m the new English teacher at school, and I’m also Leo’s mom. Please be gentle with me!
My entire body went rigid. I tapped on the group members, comparing them repeatedly.
My son’s name is Leo. She claimed to be Leo’s mother. So, who the hell am I?
I immediately called my husband, Mark.
“Did the wrong person join Leo’s parent group?”
On the other end, his voice faltered for a second before he smoothly laughed it off.
“Oh, it’s probably a mistake. So many kids at school, it’s normal for names to overlap. Why? Did something happen?”
I forced a smile and said, “Nothing,” then hung up. That night, I hopped on the first available flight directly to Leo’s school.
1
My plane landed, and I hailed a cab straight to Leo’s elementary school.
He was seven this year, in first grade.
It was 1:40 PM, and classes were in full swing.
Mr. Henderson, the security guard, was very diligent. As soon as he knew I was a parent, he called the homeroom teacher.
A few minutes later, a young woman, looking fresh out of college, rushed out. She wore a crisp white blouse and a black skirt.
She wasn’t striking, just conventionally pretty, in that sweet, innocent way. But her voice was soft and gentle.
My gut told me she was the woman I was looking for.
Sure enough, the moment she saw me, her composure shattered.
Her face went frighteningly pale, and her hands trembled uncontrollably, as if she’d just seen a demon.
“Th-this parent, are you… here for something at school?”
She was so scared she could barely string a sentence together.
Yet, she had the audacity to loudly declare herself Leo’s mother in the parent group.
“I saw the message in the group chat.”
Right in front of Mr. Henderson, I cut straight to the chase.
“You said you’re Leo’s mom? I’m curious.”
The hands she’d clasped in her lap instantly tightened. Then, she glanced frantically at the security guard.
She forced a shaky smile and explained:
“Oh, that? It’s because the parent-teacher conference is coming up soon. Leo’s dad said both he and his wife were too busy to attend.”
“So, to keep Leo from being sad, he specifically asked me to ‘play the role’ of his mother.”
“If I caused you any trouble, I’m truly sorry!”
It was a brilliant explanation, not only clearing her name but also subtly jabbed at me for being too busy with work and out of town.
If I hadn’t meticulously scrolled through her Instagram feed, I might have actually bought it.
Wednesday night at eight, Grand Theater.
She posted a photo of a man buying roses, his back to the camera.
Caption:
【The man I love isn’t a prince; he’s a king.】
The very next day, I ended up in the emergency room with a severe allergic reaction to pollen.
Friday afternoon at six, a torrential downpour hit the city.
She posted a selfie, sheltering under the school’s eaves.
Caption:
【When will my king come to take me home?】
Three minutes later, Mark texted me.
“Babe, I’m working late tonight. Can’t pick up Leo. You got this, right?”
I was hooked up to an IV at the hospital when I got the message, drifting in and out of sleep from the medication.
By the time I saw his text, two hours had passed.
Leo, unpicked up, had stood by the security booth, exposed to the cold for a full two hours.
That night, he spiked a fever of 102 degrees.
On the way to the hospital, Mark kept sighing. Every sigh, every comment, was a jab at me for not checking my phone.
I truly believed I was a terrible mother, stroking Leo’s flushed face, whispering “I’m sorry” all night long.
But it turned out, I wasn’t the one who should have been apologizing.
My hand clutched my bag, knuckles white. My gaze slowly swept over the girl’s guilt-ridden, helpless face.
It landed on the glaring blue earrings dangling from her lobes, and I smiled, a cold, humorless curve of my lips:
“Ms. Scarlett, your earrings are lovely. Did your boyfriend give them to you? They look expensive.”
Last month, for Valentine’s Day, I’d personally found Mark’s shopping receipts.
A solid gold bracelet, a pair of sapphire earrings.
The bracelet was five thousand dollars. It was on my wrist.
The earrings were thirty-eight thousand dollars. He’d given them to this girl standing before me.
Scarlett’s face instantly drained of color when she heard my words.
Her lips trembled for a long time, but no sound escaped them.
Useless.
That word suddenly popped into my head.
Without another glance at her, I turned and walked away.
On the drive home, I called my father, Mr. Sterling.
He was Mark’s direct boss, the head of Sterling Enterprises.
“Dad, I need a favor.”
I changed my phone wallpaper from our family photo to a picture of just Leo and me, my voice unnervingly calm.
“That Head of Marketing position you promised Mark? Cancel it. And find me the best divorce lawyer. I’m divorcing Mark.”
“Yes, he cheated on me with Leo’s English teacher.”
2
My father’s actions were swift.
Within half an hour, the divorce lawyer had contacted me and sent me 3 GB of evidence and documents.
I clicked through. Besides Scarlett’s Instagram posts, which I’d already seen, there was a video account I’d never encountered.
Eighty-three posts, and Mark’s shadow was in every single one.
I discovered that last year, on Christmas, Mark had claimed to be working late, but he had actually flown to be with Scarlett.
He’d even drawn little stars with her in the snow.
I learned that for Leo’s seventh birthday, the gift Mark gave him was chosen by Scarlett.
A teddy bear.
In the video, Scarlett gleefully stuffed intimate photos of her and Mark into the bear’s belly, her smile practically oozing smug satisfaction.
“A surprise for Mr. Mark’s precious son.”
“Can’t wait for the day it’s discovered.”
In the comments section, a clueless stranger asked:
【Is the streamer’s boyfriend from a divorced family?】
Scarlett, her profile picture a cute kitten, replied:
【Oh yeah, but don’t worry, I’ll be stepping into his mom’s shoes real soon.】
followed by a string of coy emojis.
And the latest post, uploaded on the day I left for my business trip.
The background was our storage room. Scarlett, holding a selfie stick, leaned against the door, smiling innocently at the camera.
“Mr. Mark’s kid is being so naughty, I think I’ll lock him in the storage room as a little punishment.”
In the background, I heard Leo, my seven-year-old son, crying out in terror and begging for mercy.
My hand, gripping the mouse, clenched tight.
I shot up from my chair with a bang, recalling the night I landed in the other state.
I dialed home over a dozen times, my anxiety spiking with each unanswered ring. It wasn’t until the seventeenth call that someone finally picked up.
“Why did it take so long to answer? Where’s Leo?”
I was frantic, terrified something had happened at home.
On the other end, Mark’s breathing noticeably hitched, and it took him a long moment to stammer out an explanation:
“Leo… he just had a nightmare, and it took me ages to get him back to sleep. Can we talk tomorrow?”
At the time, I didn’t think much of it, brushed off by Mark.
Now, looking back, everything made sense…
A gaping hole tore through my chest, and a freezing gust seemed to blow right through it.
It wasn’t because Mark cheated that I was hurting, but because I could never have imagined he would let someone hurt *our child*.
I remembered the year Leo was born; he only had a touch of severe jaundice and needed phototherapy.
Mark was so anxious, he canceled all his work to be with him twenty-four hours a day.
The coldness in my heart grew heavier. I sat back down, continuing to browse the evidence of Mark’s infidelity.
Suddenly, Scarlett’s video account updated.
In the video, she wore the same clothes she had on when I met her, tears staining her face, looking utterly pitiful:
“Mr. Mark’s ex-wife is causing trouble again, saying I’m not fit to be his child’s mother. I’m so scared.”
She sniffled, then feigned nonchalance as she showed her SnapChat chat screen with Mark.
“But thankfully, Mr. Mark spoils me so much! He promised to attend the parent-teacher conference with me tomorrow. I’m finally going to be a mom to a child. I’m so nervous.”
She hadn’t told Mark I was back?
Looking at Mark’s generic blue profile picture, which hadn’t changed since Leo was born, I gave a soft chuckle.
Well, if it’s a parent-teacher conference, then it wouldn’t be strange for the *real* mother to attend, would it?
3
The next day, at Leo’s school’s parent-teacher conference.
I dressed subtly, blending effortlessly into the crowd, and found a seat in the furthest corner of Leo’s classroom.
No sooner had I settled than Mark texted me.
【Celeste, how’s work? When are you coming home?】
He was testing me.
【Just arrived. Gotta go, meeting’s about to start.】
I replied curtly.
The chat bubble instantly showed “typing…”, followed by a kitten emoji.
Identical to Scarlett’s profile picture.
A wave of nausea washed over me. I pocketed my phone, no longer bothering to reply.
Scarlett, the new homeroom teacher this semester, took the stage.
She had clearly made an effort today.
A simple beige dress, her hair styled in a delicate side braid, a meticulously applied layer of makeup on her face.
Unlike yesterday’s timid, fragile demeanor, she now exuded a carefully curated, almost performative, maternal warmth.
The sight of it made me sick.
“Good evening, parents. The theme of our parent-teacher conference today is ‘Family Harmony.’ Family has always been a child’s most important sanctuary. As parents, it’s crucial that we prioritize our children’s mental well-being and foster a happy, harmonious home environment…”
From the podium, she lectured the parents endlessly.
She even told several short stories, stressing the importance of parental responsibility for the family.
Yet, she was the very person who was destroying my family.
What was even more ironic was that after saying all this, she suddenly tapped the whiteboard, looking at the parents below with a bashful smile.
“Actually, I have something else to announce today. My son, Leo, is also in this class.”
Scarlett turned and waved towards the door.
“Mark, Leo, come on in!”
A ripple of murmurs spread through the classroom.
Mark walked slowly into the classroom, holding Leo’s hand.
He’d clearly made an effort, in a sharp black suit, his hair meticulously slicked back.
On his wrist, he wore the expensive watch I had given him.
Our son, however, was dressed in wrinkled clothes, his hair damp and matted to his forehead, as if he had a fever.
My heart clenched. I almost couldn’t stop myself from rushing forward to snatch my son back.
But my rational mind told me: not yet.
I needed to wait for Scarlett to openly admit her intimate relationship with Mark, to completely ruin her.
“Hello everyone, I’m Scarlett’s husband, Mark.”
He nudged Leo, who looked dazed.
His lips curved into the gentle smile I knew so well, but the words that followed sent a chill through me.
“Leo, say hello to Mommy.”
Leo shook his head, hiding behind him, and whispered:
“She’s not my mom.”
Some parents in the audience began to question it.
“I remember Leo’s mom is Celeste? I saw her before school started, what happened?”
“Yeah, I remember too. What’s going on?”
Scarlett’s face instantly went white. She looked at Mark for help.
Sure enough, after only two seconds of hesitation, he calmly stepped onto the stage, cleared his throat, and began:
“There’s been a misunderstanding.”
“Celeste is not my son’s mother. She’s just…”
He paused, his gaze softening as it fell on Scarlett.
“She’s just a nanny I hired for my son. Ms. Scarlett is my son’s real mother.”
A nanny?
I froze, the emotions in my eyes turning to ice.
Mark and I had been together since college, through ten years of ups and downs.
When his startup failed and he accumulated massive debt, I fought with my father for him.
When his frequent business dinners caused stomach problems, I woke up at five every morning to make him nourishing porridge.
He said he wanted children, and on the operating table, I even thought about prioritizing the baby over myself.
Now, in front of my son, in front of all his classmates’ parents, he was calling me a nanny.
The icy chill in my heart ignited into a furious blaze.
The parents in the classroom seemed convinced, a light of understanding dawning on their faces.
“So that’s it! Then Celeste is too much. She’s just a nanny, and she let the child call her mom.”
Some even advised Scarlett.
“Ms. Scarlett, you’re too soft-hearted, you need to be careful. Don’t let the nanny bully you. If she leads the child astray, it could be a big problem.”
“Exactly, these nannies are the worst.”
Scarlett was overjoyed, smiling sweetly and virtuously:
“Mmm-hmm, you’re right.”
“I’ll be careful.”
Leo, his eyes red, retorted:
“No, you’re wrong. She’s not my mom. My mom is Celeste.”
A parent clicked their tongue, their face scornful:
“See? I knew it. He’s already acting out, not even recognizing his own mom. He’ll grow up to be disrespectful and ungrateful. Ms. Scarlett, Mr. Mark, you really need to teach this child properly.”
“That’s right, my daughter would never act like this. Ms. Scarlett, you’re just too soft on him.”
“If you ask me, just take him over your knee and teach him a lesson he won’t forget, that’ll make him behave.”
“Oh, that’s too violent! I say, just lock him in a closet. Only let him out when he learns to call her Mom.”
The parents chimed in, one after another, offering their suggestions.
Scarlett couldn’t hide the delight in her eyes, but on the surface, she feigned reluctance, looking at Mark hesitantly:
“Mark, what they’re saying makes some sense, maybe…”
“Wait!”
I stood up, pulling down my concealing mask, and held up my phone, which had been recording the entire time. My voice resonated clearly.
“Mark, I’m asking you again, in front of everyone: If Scarlett is Leo’s mother, then who am I?”
The smiles on Mark’s and Scarlett’s faces froze.
4
Leo, seeing me, cried out in surprise:
“Mom!”
He tried to break free from Scarlett’s grip but was held firmly.
“Let me go! I want my mom! You bad woman!”
In front of so many people, Scarlett refused to release him.
The hand that had been clutching Leo changed direction.
By the time I realized what she was about to do, Leo had already cried out.
“Mom, help me!”
“She’s pinching my hand, it hurts!”
I shot her a daggered look, and Scarlett also realized her slip-up.
Her grip loosened slightly, and Leo immediately stumbled towards my side.
I took out a tissue and gently wiped away Leo’s tears, a wave of guilt washing over me.
If I had only realized something was wrong sooner, my Leo wouldn’t have suffered so much.
Scarlett’s face was terrible, but under my fierce gaze, she couldn’t utter a single word of rebuttal.
I stood up, my expression serious.
“I’m talking to you, Mark. Can’t you hear me?”
“Answer me!”
“Who is Leo’s mother?!”
Mark chose to play dumb, refusing to answer. Scarlett followed suit.
Did they actually think I was some fragile little thing they could walk all over?
The parents behind me started murmuring, the previously one-sided situation beginning to shift.
【Celeste has such a strong presence, there’s no way she’s a nanny.】
【Exactly, and Ms. Scarlett just pinched Leo. I wouldn’t hurt my own child like that.】
【Leo’s eyes look a lot like Ms. Celeste’s, actually.】
【Someone’s got a guilty conscience and is afraid to speak. Can’t you see the truth here?】
I clapped my hands, and my bodyguards entered, moving swiftly.
They ‘escorted’ the pair off the stage, then, holding Leo, I slowly walked up.
“Leo, tell them who your mom is.”
Leo blinked his big eyes and spoke.
“Celeste is my mom.”
“Did Dad and Mom get a divorce?”
“No.”
“Has Mom ever taught you what someone like Ms. Scarlett is called?”
Leo tilted his head, feigning thought, then pointed sharply at Scarlett.
“The other woman! Ms. Scarlett is the homewrecker who ruined Dad and Mom’s relationship!”
Immediately, the commotion in the audience intensified.
Scarlett broke out in nervous cold sweat.
With that kind of weak resolve, she actually thought she could be my son’s mother? Pathetic.
“Ms. Scarlett, aren’t you going to explain yourself?”
Scarlett, suddenly targeted, flinched like a startled bird.
Perhaps to save face, she clutched her chest and began to sob dramatically.
Her pitiful appearance would make anyone feel sorry for her. Her acting was commendable. Even A-list actresses couldn’t conjure tears on cue like that.
Being a teacher truly was a waste of her “talent.”
“Leo, you can’t disown your mother just because she’s strict with you.”
“Mom only wants what’s best for you!”
“You don’t understand Mom’s good intentions, and I don’t blame you. But how can you acknowledge a nanny as your mother!”
Her tearful accusations quickly resonated with other parents.
When it came to problematic children, only parents could truly understand.
They would do everything they could to ensure their children had a good future and a place in society.
I sneered, walking step by step towards Scarlett.
The closer I got, the more terrified Mark and she became.
Uncertain of my intentions, they grew noticeably more agitated.
I extended my hand, but Scarlett instinctively flinched, shielding her face.
“What are you scared of, Ms. Scarlett? I’m just reaching for the projector remote.”
Scarlett lowered her hand, adjusted the unnatural expression on her face, and spoke calmly.
“Celeste, I was only doing you a favor by letting you be our family nanny. Don’t push your luck. Don’t forget your place.”
I thought to myself, the heiress of Sterling Enterprises, reduced to a nanny. What a joke.
After grabbing the remote, I turned on the projector.
I logged into SnapChat on the computer, then opened an official government records site to check our marriage status.
My official marriage certificate.
It popped up, clearly displaying my and Mark’s photos.
Bride: Celeste
Groom: Mark
Anyone with eyes could see who Mark’s wife was.
Oh, and she’d also spread rumors in videos that I was his ex-wife.
I clicked on the divorce certificate section, which showed “empty.”
Divorced?
Ex-wife?
Nanny?
My identity certainly was diverse.
I said nothing, but the blow to Scarlett’s face was undeniable.
Slowly, I pulled a green booklet from my bag.
The cover, emblazoned with the words ‘Birth Certificate’ in bold, unmistakable letters, made Scarlett falter.
Projected onto the screen, beneath my son’s full name, was the mother’s name.
“Celeste” in large letters, which I manually zoomed in on.
“Ms. Scarlett, when did you change your name to Celeste? You didn’t even inform everyone. As a teacher, deceit isn’t a good trait, is it?”
“Or perhaps, Mark took you for plastic surgery, and before that, you actually looked exactly like me?”
Every word was a blatant jab at Scarlett and a searing indictment of Mark’s infidelity.
↓ ↓ Download the Novel Master app, Search 【 285622 】reads the whole book. ↓ ↓
NovelShort
