“Are you ready for today?”
“Yes, Mom!” Liam answered, chuckling sweetly.
It was another check-up day for my son and as usual my heart bleeds every single time we're in the clinic. Dr. Beltran wanted to monitor his breathing patterns again after last month’s mild asthma flare-up. I had called the school ahead—his absence was excused.
The pediatric ward was unusually quiet when we arrived. A soft hush blanketed the hallways, interrupted only by the muted squeak of nurses’ shoes and the distant beep of machines. The fluorescent lights overhead cast sterile halos along the tiled floor, and the smell of antiseptic clung to the air.
“Liam Josef Hatton,” the nurse called, smiling warmly. “Dr. Beltran will see you now.”
“Will you be okay without me inside?” I asked, smoothing the collar of his jacket.
“Yeah. See you in a bit, Mom.” He nodded confidently and kissed my cheek before heading into the consultation room.
The moment the door shut, a quiet ache pulsed in my chest. I knew it was routine—nothing to panic over. But lately, my fears have grown less about medicine and more about lawyers. Zach’s petition for full custody had arrived like a bombshell wrapped in civility. Every word in that document chipped away at the life I had fought to keep whole.
The thought of losing Liam… of handing him over to someone who had ripped our family apart? It made my blood run cold.
I turned to pace the hallway, trying to settle my nerves—when I saw her.
Celine.
She was striding toward me like she owned the damn place. That same flawless face, hair swept back into a sleek low bun, makeup pristine. A designer coat hugged her frame, and in her arms, an expensive purse I bet Zach bought for her. She smiled like this was brunch, not a confrontation.
“Hello, former Mrs. Hatton,” she jeered, giving me a once-over glance.
I stopped mid-step. “What are you doing here?”
Her heels clicked softly as she slowed. “I heard Liam had a check-up.”
I narrowed my eyes. “Are you stalking us now?”
She rolled her eyes with a slight chuckle. “Don’t be dramatic, Arianne. I just came to talk. Woman to woman.”
I should have walked away. Should have told her to stay out of my sight. But I didn’t. Maybe because the fire inside me wanted a closer look at the woman Zach had risked it all for.
I walked past her. “Fine. Five minutes. That’s all you get.”
We ended up at the hospital coffee shop, tucked in a quiet corner booth. Celine sat across from me, perfectly poised. “You look tired,” she said, stirring her tea.
“I am tired,” I replied, not bothering with fake smiles. “Because I’m raising my son while cleaning up after your affair.”
Her expression didn’t falter. “You should stop looking at me like I’m the villain. Zach made a choice. I didn’t force him.”
A bitter laugh escaped me. “You seduced a married man and now you’re surprised he left?”
She smiled again, slower this time. “He didn’t just leave, Arianne. He left for me. He told me things he couldn’t say to you. That he was suffocating. That he wanted someone who truly saw him.”
I clenched my jaw, blinking away the sting behind my eyes. “Don’t sit here and pretend your relationship was built on anything but betrayal.”
“Call it what you want.” She shrugged, then slid the folder onto the table and flipped it open. “But it doesn’t change the facts. Zach filed for primary custody. He wants Liam to live with us.”
Us.
That word sliced deeper than it should have. “He is my son,” I said, my voice barely above a whisper. “You don’t get to take him and play house.”
She didn’t blink. “He’s our son now. At least, he will be.”
I frowned. “What the hell does that mean?”
Celine pulled something from her folder. A small photograph. She placed it in front of me. I bit my inner cheek, holding back my tears.
“I’m twelve weeks,” she said, her tone light, almost smug. “A little surprise. Zach is over the moon.”
My breath hitched. I didn’t want to look, but I did. A blurry little bean floating in a sea of static glossy paper. My hands trembled slightly as I pushed it back toward her.
“You’re delusional if you think this baby gives you a claim over Liam.”
She leaned forward, resting her elbows on the table. “It’s not about claiming him. It’s about building a family. Zach wants us to raise them together. Liam deserves stability. And frankly—he deserves better than watching his mother spiral every time I’m in the room.”
I stood abruptly, the chair scraping the floor. “You think I’m spiraling? I am fighting for my son. For everything you destroyed!”
Celine stood too, unbothered. “Just don’t be surprised when the court agrees with us. A happy home, two siblings, and two unified parents. That’s what judges like to see.”
She gathered her coat and folder, then offered one last, venom-laced smile. “You can keep hating me, Arianne. But soon… Liam won’t be calling you for goodnight kisses. He’ll be calling me Mommy, too.”
I stood up, slowly and deliberately. Celine remained seated, her smile fixed like stone.
“Congratulations,” I said, my voice calm but cold. “I hope you enjoy what you stole.”
She blinked, surprised by the restraint.
“But remember this,” I added, leaning slightly toward her. “A love built in a lie cannot survive. Trust me, he’ll eventually dismantle you. And no, you cannot take my son away from me!”
