Homewrecker

Chapter 1

"Sad that the loving cheerful girl I knew was now forever silent."

It was Asterias fifth birthday and she couldn’t wait to see her father again. She missed him so much. He wasn’t around too much. She didn’t know why but her mommy told her that he was busy.

She could barely sleep the night before her birthday because she was so excited. She even woke up before her mother and prepared a sandwich for her daddy.

The sandwich wasn’t a fancy one like the ones her father ate but she made it with what she could find. She made a jam sandwich. Because that’s what they had in the fridge besides some milk and eggs.

The last time he came she couldn’t see him because her mommy didn’t let her, saying that he was upset and tired. The next day he was gone before she could see him.

She squealed when she was lifted in the air. Asteria smiled sheepishly when she saw her mommy’s face watching her with a raised brow.

“What are you doing up so early? You should be sleeping...”

“I made a sandwich for daddy! I bet he’ll be hungry when he’ll arrive and I want to surprise him!” She said happily as she turned in her mothers thin arms to face her.

“Is that so?” Asked her mother while combing her daughter’s hair with her bony fingers.

"Uh-huh.”

“Hmm, I guess he’ll be happy.” said her mommy thoughtfully. “But now you should sleep, your father will arrive much later.”

“Only if he comes.” Murmured her mother as she watched her daughter go to her room happily.

Asteria woke up hours later and looked at the window after her father’s car. Time passed and he didn’t come. So she decided to ask her mother where he is. When she opened her bedroom door she squealed happily when she saw who was in there.

“Aunty!”

“Hey pipsqueak! I noticed your mother has more gray hairs than the last time. What did you do this time?” Asked Georgia, her aunt while ruffling her hair.

Georgia was her mothers little sister. She was only 17 but she was the best aunt a kid could ask for. Sometimes, when she didn’t want to go to the daycare because the kids didn’t like her and were always pushing her in the dirt, she stayed with her aunt. They were drawing together, going to park together or playing together.

With other words, they were inseparable.

“I didn’t do anything.” She said. “I’ve been good.”

“Wrong!” She heard her mommy’s voice from the kitchen. “This little devil stepped over my favorite flowers, painted on the walls, cracked my phone and if she doesn’t like what I cook for dinner she throws it in the toilet!”

“Is that true?” Asked Georgia narrowing her eyes.

“Yes aunty.” Mumbled Asteria looking at the ground.

“Well kid... Good job!” Said Georgia. “Now karma is biting you in the butt sis!”

“Hey!”

Suddenly the door opened and her father appeared. Asteria shouted in happiness and threw herself in her fathers arms. Or more exactly, he didn’t catch her so she wrapped her arms and legs around her fathers legs.

“Daddy! You finally came! I missed you!”

“Yeah...” muttered her father freeing himself from her grasp.

“Daddy! Do you know what day is today?” Asked Asteria excited.

“Uh...Thursday?” Asked her father. Asteria’s smile faltered and a frown was set on her lips. Just before she could say something her mother came and glared at him hatefully.

“What kind of father are you?! How dare you forget your only child’s birthday! Tell me this isn’t a joke!” Shouted her mother.

“Uh...I’m sorry. Look, take this.” Said her father crouching in front of her and giving her a bag of chips and an apple. Asteria looked at what he gave her confused but smiled nonetheless.

“Thank you daddy!” Said Asteria happily as Georgia was taking her to her room, letting the couple talk. After the door was closed, Elena slapped Daniel.

“How can you not remember your only child’s birthday? Or do you have children with other mistresses I don’t know about?” Daniel froze.

"W-What are you talking about?”

“Don’t act like you don’t know anything!” Shouted Elena. “What about that redhead, what’s her name...Ah, Yulia! Or that blonde Enid? The list can go on for some time...”

“How do you know about them?” Asked the man who paled when he heard their names.

“Your sister decided to pay me a visit a few weeks back...Let’s be honest... I’ve waited for you 5 years to ask me to marry you because you promised that you will make your parents agree with our relationship. They don’t even know that Asteria exists. I’m tired of waiting for you Daniel. Do you want to take the role of a father or not?”

"Uhh...there is a problem. My parents arranged me with a girl that they like. I am to marry her in a month.” Said the man, rubbing the back of his neck.

“What?!” Yelled Elena. “You said you loved me, you promised that you will marry me, that we will grow old together! You promised me that you will be a great father for Asteria! Now what? Asteria will grow without her father. Asteria will always be a secret for your family. Why? Are you ashamed of her?! Just because she can’t see without her glasses that doesn’t mean that she is handicapped!”

“I’m sorry Elena. I have no other choice! My parents will disown me if I won’t marry a girl of their liking! And I can’t take Asteria with me because they will surely disown me!”

“So money is more important than family...” Murmured Elena brokenly. “Get out of my house and never contact me again. I don’t want to see you again.”

“I’m sorry Elena.” Said the man as he got out of his ex-lover’s house."

Asteria, who heard the shouts ran at the window and she saw her father leaving. She ran down the stairs and outside shouting.

“Daddy, don’t leave!” Shouted Asteria wrapping herself around his leg like a vine.

“I’m sorry Asteria.” Said the man trying to free himself.

“I understand that you’re busy but when will you come back? Oh, and I made you a sandwich! Now you won’t be hungry on the road.” Said Asteria hopefully.

“I won’t come back.” Muttered the man annoyed.

“But why?” Whined Asteria. “Is it because I upset mommy sometimes? I promise I will be good. But don’t leave! I promise I will be the best!”

“I’m sorry.” He said and turned his back."

“I won’t forgive you if you leave me!” Shouted Asteria furious.

The man was shocked. His Asteria was happy most of the time but never angry. He heard Elena complaining that the kids from the daycare were mean and sometimes were hitting her. But she was never angry. He regained his composure and got in the car. Then he started the car and left, watching Asteria crying and giving him a look that sent chills on his spine through the rearview mirror.

He was aware that a 5 year old kid wouldn’t know what revenge was but Asteria had always been smarter than the other kids. And he knew what that look meant.

Revenge.

Asteria didn’t know how long she stood in the road looking at nothing in particular. Georgia picked her up and put her on a kitchen stool and gave her a cupcake with pink frosting and sprinkles. Because her mother couldn’t afford to buy her a big cake, she bought the most beautiful cupcake. Asteria looked at it with distaste while her mother’s cries were heard through the thin walls.

Her mother always cried when she was very stressed with the bills and work and Asteria always felt sorry for her mother.

But now, she felt nothing.