Five years. I never once heard him call me Mom. Audrey got that title without lifting a finger.
And last night wasn't the first time she'd stayed over at my house.
Otherwise, Felix wouldn't have been so desperate to push me away.
Maybe the bond of blood really did triumph over the bond of raising a child.
It felt like there was a hole in my chest, cold wind howling straight through it.
I spoke softly.
"Relax. You don't need to kick me out. I quit."
With that, I turned and left without sparing a glance at the shift in Felix's expression.
When I reached the staircase landing, Audrey called out to me.
She walked up with a smile on her lips, then raised her hand and slapped me hard across the face.
"Who do you think you are, coming here to stake your claim? You actually think you're Mrs. Mason?"
"You heard what Felix said, didn't you? You're nothing but a free nanny Edmund hired because he didn't want me wearing myself out taking care of the kid. That marriage certificate was fake. I'm his legal wife now."
"Edmund and I have known each other for over a decade. Felix is my older sister's child. We share a blood bond that can never be broken, and he's naturally drawn to me."