Chapter 4: When I Am Easy to Bully
The tone in his voice made me feel indignant. I frowned, "What's that supposed to mean? I'm the child's mother. If you can't go, why can't I?"
Tyler in front of me seemed to realize his poor choice of words. His tone softened, "That's not what I meant. I'm saying you didn't tell me before you went."
"You didn't tell me you couldn't make it to the parent-teacher conference either, did you?"
That one sentence shut Tyler up. The look in his eyes was full of disbelief, as if he thought I had changed from before.
Of course I couldn't be the same as before. If I didn't fight back, my son would end up calling someone else "mom."
"How did you know I couldn't make it to the parent-teacher conference? Did you bug my room?"
I laughed out of anger and said sarcastically, "You're not important enough to me for that. Did Ava do that to you? Is that why bugging is the first thing you think of?"
After I said that, Tyler's expression looked a bit strange. I knew I might have guessed right, but what did that have to do with me anyway?
He frowned, "What's gotten into you today? I didn't want to trouble you, so I asked Ava to help. You humiliated her in front of so many people at the school gate, and she cried from feeling wronged. You know she's a renowned cellist both domestically and internationally. You should at least consider her status, right?"
After six years of marriage, this was the first time I felt such disgust toward Tyler, the man I once loved to my core.
My eyes were cold, without a trace of emotion, "Tyler, just how much of a pushover am I that you'd defend another woman right in front of me? What you and Ava have been doing these past few years has been pretty out in the open. Do you think that because I never called you out on it, I'm easy to bully?"
After I spoke, Tyler's brows knitted tightly together, his expression darkened, and a cold look flashed in his eyes, "Sophia, have you lost your mind today?"
"What? I speak one truth, call you out on it, and I've lost my mind? You'd rather I be like before, turn a blind eye to you and Ava, and continue being a housewife at home, right?"
"Sophia!" Tyler raised his voice.
Before, I would never have spoken to Tyler in this tone. Even when I knew he went out to eat and travel with Ava, I would only beg pitifully, humble to the extreme.
I knew Tyler was surprised and angry that I was no longer the pushover fool I used to be.
"Tyler, I don't care what your relationship with Ava is, but don't even think about dragging Jasper into it. Since you think Ava has been wronged, go keep her company. You can move all your stuff to her place and live with her, but don't bring Jasper!" I warned him sternly.
My attitude left Tyler looking shocked and suspicious. He said sharply, "What's wrong with you today? All this over a parent-teacher conference? Jasper really likes Ava. What's wrong with having Ava go to the parent-teacher conference? And..."
Tyler didn't finish his sentence, but I knew very well what he meant, so I finished it for him, "And all the previous kindergarten activities were attended by you and Ava together, right?"
Tyler's pupils contracted, "Did you really investigate me?"
I showed a mocking smile. Because of what happened between Ava and me at the gate, I'd heard some gossip at school today and pretty much figured it out.
"You two have been so 'open' about it in this circle, do I need to investigate?"
Hearing this, Tyler's face darkened. His eyes were icy, "Don't listen to those rumors. Tell me before you go to Jasper's school from now on."
I deliberately didn't want to listen to him, so I said bluntly, "You're afraid Ava will feel wronged, right? People who don't know better would think Ava is Jasper's mother. Let me tell you, Tyler, I gave birth to Jasper. I can go to Jasper's school whenever I want. As for you, keep Ava away from Jasper, or I can't guarantee what happened today won't happen a second time, or a third time, or even more."
After saying that, I didn't give Tyler a chance to continue talking and turned to go upstairs.
After washing up, I dug out a big pile of face masks I'd accumulated before and picked out a sleeping mask to apply on my face.
After having a child and being a housewife for so long, I hadn't done skincare in ages. Even wearing makeup was rare.
From now on, I was going to take good care of myself. No matter who it was for, I understood that loving yourself is what matters most.
After twenty minutes, I washed my face and planned to check on Jasper's room. I'd promised Jasper today that I would tell him a story every night. I just didn't know if Tyler was there.
When I reached Jasper's bedroom door, it was slightly ajar. I gently pushed it open. Jasper on the bed was already asleep. I looked toward the sofa on the right side, where Tyler was sitting sideways, talking on the phone.
From his angle, he couldn't see me at all.
I was about to leave when I heard him say, "Ava, you've been wronged. It's my fault. She didn't tell me before going to the school, otherwise I definitely wouldn't have let her go."
My body stiffened, and I stopped in my tracks.
What deep, undying love. He had to call and comfort Ava late at night. People who didn't know better would think I'd done something utterly heinous.
Because the phone volume was quite loud, I could faintly hear Ava's voice.
"Tyler, I've been crying all evening. Do you know how embarrassed I was? People who don't know better would think I'm the other woman."
I pulled at the corner of my mouth, thinking to myself, "Aren't you the other woman? Just because you don't want to admit it doesn't mean you're not. Deceiving yourself?"
Tyler's tone was gentle, "How could you possibly be the other woman? Who said that? I'll make them pay!"
"Because of Sophia today, so many people were talking. I was so mortified. I really care about Jasper. I understand Jasper's situation at school too. Sophia misunderstood me. She thought I was trying to compete with her to attend the parent-teacher conference. She is indeed the child's mother, that's a fact, but she usually doesn't care about Jasper at all. Jasper has never felt her motherly love. I feel bad for Jasper. I never expected to be humiliated by Sophia like this today."
To describe such shamelessness while sounding so wronged - Ava really had some talent.
"Ava, you've been wronged. I'll talk to Ella from now on. For any future activities, either I'll go, or you'll go, or we'll attend together. No third person besides us will be allowed into the kindergarten."
Hearing this, the anger in my heart began to burn. I clenched my fists, my nails digging deep into my palms without even noticing.
I couldn't help but speak up, "Tyler, Ava, you two really are shameless beyond measure."