12
“Addy, can you cook for us?” Wes asked.
“But it’s already late. Chelsea will make you breakfast in the morning, won’t she? Can’t you wait till then?”
Addison didn’t move at all
“But we’re so hungry, Addy. Do you even love us? We’ll tell Dad!”
Nolan clutched Wes’ shirt, voice wavering.
All they’d wanted was another meal she’d cooked.
But Addison’s expression shifted instantly. She sat up, strode over to the boys.
Nolan, thinking his threat had worked, started to smile, until Addison raised her hand and slapped him across the face.
Wes yelped, Addy! Why’d you hit him?”
But the next second, Addison slapped Wes, too.
Kids’ skin was tender, their pain tolerance low.
Even with Addison’s strength, the blows left their cheeks bright red and swollen.
Tears pooled in their eyes.
Addison spoke coldly, “If you dare blab to Reuben, it won’t just be no food next time. Got it?”
In Wes and Nolan’s eyes, Addison suddenly turned into a terrifying demon.
They didn’t dare fight back, just nodded frantically.
At that moment, a voice echoed from downstairs.
“Addy? Wes? Nolan? I’m home.”
Reuben pushed open the door, stepping in.
Addison panicked briefly, then shot the boys a sharp glare.
“Remember what I said. Don’t say a word out of line in front of Reuben.”
Wes and Nolan nodded, trailing behind Addison as she left the room.
They prayed their dad would notice something was off, but Reuben’s gaze stayed fixed on Addison the entire time.
He didn’t even glance at their hands, which were clamped over their faces.
It wasn’t until Reuben retreated to his study that Wes and Nolan’s last hope crumbled.
They trundled back to their room, but neither was one to give up easily.
Wes’ voice trembled with anger.
“Let’s go to Dad’s study and tell him straight. He has to believe us!”
Nolan chimed in,”And we’ll do it when Addy’s not around. She’s not our mom. She’s a bad person!”
“Exactly. We’ll wait till that mean lady’s nowhere near Dad, then in.”
go
Wes and Nolan kept watch, and as soon as they confirmed Reuben was alone, they darted in and shut the door.
“Dad!” Wes burst into tears.
Reuben finally noticed the red, swollen marks on both boys’ faces, and his expression tightened with concern.
“What happened to your faces? Did someone bully you at school?”
Nolan shook his head vigorously.
“No, it was Addy! She’s a bad woman! She hit us and threatened us not to tell you!”
Reuben looked up in surprise.
How could it be Addy? She’d never hurt you. She’s always been so kind to you both.”
Wes and Nolan immediately launched into recounting recent events,
After the first few days, Addison had stopped picking them up from school, skimped on their meals, and even fed them leftovers on afternoons when Reuben didn’t come home.
As they spoke, their tears fell.
‘Dad, I really miss Mom. Addy’s not a good mom. I want my real mom back.” Wes sniffled.
They remembered no matter how busy Evelyn had been, she’d always fetched them from school, cooked thoughtfully, and never let them go hungry.
Those healthy meals” hadn’t been so bad after all.
The more Reuben listened, the darker his expression grew.
He couldn’t fathom two kids that young lying, yet he struggled to believe Addison capable of such things.
He turned toward the balcony, his voice steady but sharp.
“Addy. What’s going on here?”
The balcony curtains were drawn back.
Addison, who’d been watering flowers there, froze.
Her face had gone pale.
