When Dorothy sat herself down in the lobby of my office, making a scene like she was at a family barbecue, my staff didn’t even blink.
They calmly called security and had her escorted out–no drama, no fuss.
Two weeks went by. I never showed up. Never gave a single word in response.
But I heard rumors: the Reeds were on the run, dodging loan sharks left and right. The whole family was practically one step away from sleeping on the street.
I thought that would be the end of it.
Oh, I was wrong.
One afternoon, my assistant messaged me in a panic, [Ms. Lopez, turn on the TV–The Reeds are on the news!]
There they were. Dorothy, sobbing on camera, mascara running like a washed–up soap star.
Nelson was wearing a face full of sorrow and crocodile tears. He looked into the camera like he was the heartbroken hero of a prime–time drama.
“I know Ali’s still mad at me,” he said, voice cracking at all the right moments, “but I really can’t let her go.“}
“We’ve been together since college. She worked so hard building her company and I used to make her soup when she came home exhausted. We bought our first car and house together… I can’t imagine life without her–or our baby.“}
“The baby’s due in just over a month. I used to dream about holding them for the first time. Alisha, I love our family. Please don’t walk gway away from me.“>
The host was visibly moved, dabbing her eyes with a tissue. The live studio audience? Some of them were tearing up too.
The host turned to the camera and pleaded, [Ms. Alisha Lopez, if you’re watching, I hope you can understand a father’s pain. Come back to your family. Don’t let your child grow up without their dad.]
The show was live–broadcasted on both television and the internet. Naturally, the comment section got crowded.”
[This Alisha is too cold–hearted. I mean, unless it was something really unforgivable, why wouldn’t she let the dad be in the kid’s life?]} [Dorothy seems like a sweet mother–in–law too. She even remembers what her daughter–in–law likes to eat and wear. I wish mine was half as thoughtful!]
[Bet Alisha already has someone new. Probably already picked out a stepdad for the
kid!]
[No matter what happened, the child deserves their real dad. It’s always the kids who suffer the most.]}
That was how my day ended–watching my ex and his family perform a huge soap opera.
After the show aired, Nelson sent me a message.}
[Alisha, if you help us pay off the loan sharks, I’ll clear your name publicly–and I’ll never bother you again.]}]
I stared at that message for a long, long time.}
The truth was, most of what Nelson said on the show had been real. I had grown up without parents, which made me tough–maybe too tough. I never trusted anyone, never relied on anyone.
In college, I worked part–time jobs to support myself. Paid my own tuition, my own rent, my own life. My first real relationship after graduation was with Nelson.
He saw through my tough shell. Understood the sharp edges I used to protect myself. He was the first person who made me feel seen, made me feel safe.
He even convinced his parents to treat me like one of their own–or so I thought.
Unfortunately, I fell for it. Hard.
I was so desperate for the idea of “family,” so hungry for connection, that I lost myself in it. Even after we got married and his whole family turned on me overnight, I couldn’t figure out what went wrong. I kept blaming myself.
I’d lie awake at night, asking if I hadn’t been good enough. If I had failed them somehow.
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It wasn’t until I lost everything–until I died with my unborn child in a past life–that I finally woke up.”
I didn’t reply to Nelson’s message. Instead, I kept collecting everything they say about me.]
The Reeds‘ sob story stayed trending online.
They aired a second episode, milking it for all it was worth. With every new show, another wave of strangers came at me with their judgment and blame.}
The host announced they’d be doing a final segment. Said it was the family’s last hope. Said they wished I would appear. Said maybe, just maybe, the poor, heartbroken grandparents and father might finally get to meet their child.”
By then, I was heavily pregnant–due any day.
I showed up for that final episode. The second I walked in, Nelson lit up like he’d just won the lottery.”
“Ali, you came,” he said, eyes glistening. “I knew you couldn’t be that heartless.“}
