Chapter 2

Kiana Valenzuela POV:

The next morning, Greg tried to touch me. His hand reached for my shoulder as I sat at the kitchen table, staring blankly at a cold cup of coffee. I flinched away, as if his touch burned. He pulled back, his face a mixture of confusion and annoyance.

Hours later, the phone rang. It was the hospital. Josh. An allergic reaction. My heart leaped into my throat, a sick, familiar terror. I drove there like a madwoman, the image of his swollen face already flashing in my mind.

He was in a bed, hooked up to monitors. Greg was there, looking harried. A nurse was adjusting an IV. As I approached, Josh stirred, his eyes fluttering open.

"Mommy?" he mumbled, his voice hoarse. Relief flooded me, so potent it made my knees weak.

"I'm here, baby," I whispered, reaching for his hand. He looked past me.

"Where's Brittany?" he asked, a small, childish whimper. "She promised me ice cream if I was brave."

The words hit me like a physical blow. My breath hitched. Ice cream. A reward for bravery. He was asking for her, even here, even now. My own son. I felt the last sliver of my heart crack.

A hot, stinging sensation burned behind my eyes. I blinked furiously, forcing the tears back. This was not the time. I was his mother. He needed me.

"Greg," I said, my voice tight and strained. I handed him a small, worn notebook. "This has all of Josh's medical history. All the specific triggers, his dosages, every little detail." My hand trembled slightly as I passed it over.

He looked at me, bewildered. "What are you doing?"

"I'm done," I stated, the words flat and final. "We're done. This marriage, whatever it was, is over."

He scoffed, a dismissive sound. "Kiana, don't be dramatic. You're overwrought. We can talk about this later, in private." He dismissed my pain, my devastation, as mere theatrics.

Just then, the door swung open. Brittany. She walked in, carrying a ridiculously oversized teddy bear and a bright pink balloon. Her eyes went straight to Josh.

"Oh, my poor little superhero!" she cooed, rushing to his side. She pushed me gently aside, her presence radiating a possessive warmth. "Brittany's here! You were so brave!" She kissed his forehead, pushing his hair back.

A chilling feeling washed over me. She was playing the mother. In front of me. In front of everyone.

She then noticed my presence. Her smile faltered, replaced by a sugary, condescending smirk. "Oh, Kiana. I'm so sorry. I know this must be hard for you. Greg told me you've been a little... sensitive lately." She patted my arm, a gesture of false sympathy.

My hands clenched into fists. I could feel the eyes of the nurse, the doctor, even Greg, on me. They saw the 'unstable' wife, the 'sensitive' Kiana. They saw her as the caring, nurturing presence.

"I'm so sorry if I overstepped," Brittany said, her voice dripping with insincerity. "But Josh just loves me so much. He practically begs me to come. And I just can't say no to his sweet face, can I?" She glanced at Greg, a sly triumph in her eyes.

I couldn't respond. The air felt thick, suffocating. I needed to escape, just for a moment. I turned and walked out of the room, my legs feeling like lead.

Outside, in the sterile hallway, I leaned against the wall, trying to catch my breath. The past years flashed before my eyes. The endless winters alone, the crushing depression, the careful monitoring of Josh's every bite. All of it a stage for their secret life. My sacrifice, their convenience.

I heard the door open again. I didn't turn. It was Greg and Brittany. Their voices were low, hushed.

"Josh is stable," Greg said. "He wants you to stay tonight, Brittany."

"Oh, baby," Brittany purred. "You know I'd love to, but Kiana looked pretty upset. She might make a scene."

My son. My sweet boy. He was asking for her. Not me.

"Please, Brittany," Josh's small voice floated out. "Stay with me. Mommy's always sad."

Greg sighed. "She'll be fine. She always is." He sounded annoyed. Not worried. Annoyed.

I was an outsider. A ghost haunting my own life.

Later, a doctor came out to speak with Greg. She asked about Josh's specific triggers, his past reactions, any recent changes in medication. Greg fumbled, stammering. "I... I'm not sure. Kiana handles all of that." He looked helpless, incompetent.

I stepped forward. "His primary trigger is peanuts, specifically refined peanut oils. He's on a daily antihistamine, Fexofenadine, 180mg, and we carry two EpiPens. His last serious reaction was two years ago, to cross-contamination at a school fair." My voice was steady, factual. The doctor nodded, grateful. Greg looked surprised, almost embarrassed.

A bitter laugh bubbled up. They needed me for the messy, real stuff. But they wanted her for the fun.

Brittany emerged, her arms crossed. "Well," she huffed, looking at Greg. "I guess I'll go then. Josh needs his real mother, after all." She started to walk away, a dramatic exit.

"Brittany, no!" Josh cried out from inside the room. His voice was raw, heartbroken. "Don't go! Don't leave me! I want you!"

My heart shattered, a thousand tiny shards piercing me. He didn't want me. He wanted her.

I walked back into the room. Josh was crying, reaching for Brittany. My eyes met hers. A triumphant, vicious smirk.

"Don't worry, Josh," I said, my voice barely a whisper. It was almost steady. "She can stay. I'll go." I looked at Greg. His face was unreadable. "I won't be here. You won't have to worry about me making a 'scene' anymore." I turned and walked out, each step a deliberate release, leaving behind the wreckage of my family.