I had Liam at eighteen, with his father gone before he was born. It was just the two of us, and I worked every job I could to keep us afloat. Then I met Ethan, who accepted me and Liam without judgment. He even bonded with Liam, making him feel special. A few years later, we married, and I trusted Ethan’s mom, Angela, to care for Liam while we went on our honeymoon.
But when I called home, Liam was crying, terrified that I was abandoning him. Angela and Mrs. Kim had made him believe I was giving him up. I rushed back, furious, and confronted Angela, who dismissed Liam’s fear as a necessary lesson. Ethan was shocked, and in the end, I left with Liam, vowing never to trust Angela again.
Despite her apologies and pleas to see Liam, we agreed she could never be alone with him. But the damage was done. Liam was scared and clingy, and I blamed myself. Years later, as I tucked Liam into bed, he whispered, “You never left me. You kept your promise.” And that was enough for me.
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