The Price They Paid

I thought I would never see him again.
But I never expected that the next time our paths crossed, he would be standing there with his arms crossed, watching his wife beat my son.

1
I received a frantic call from the kindergarten teacher. She told me Leo had gotten into a fight with another classmate and urged me to get there immediately. She mentioned the other childs parents were already on their way and we needed to negotiate a resolution.
I dropped my work instantly and rushed over.
But the moment I reached the door of the principal's office, I heard a womans shrill, abusive screaming.
"You little mongrel! How dare you hit my son? You really are a bastard with no upbringing. Im going to teach you a lesson you won't forget!"
Smack. Smack.
Two sharp slaps rang out, followed immediately by a heart-wrenching wail.
That was my son, Leo.
She had slapped him across the face.
I heard the teachers voice, trembling but trying to intervene. "Mrs. Miller, you can't just hit a child! Leo's mother will be here any minute. We need to talk this out civilly. Please, stop!"
The woman hadn't vented enough anger yet. She turned and snapped at the teacher. "I pay a fortune to send my son here, and this is how you protect him? Letting him get beaten by trash? My son is precious royalty compared to these peasants. Today, Im not just going after this little bastards parents; Im coming after your school too!"
I couldn't listen to another second. I kicked the door open and stormed in.
Leo was sitting on the floor, clutching his face, sobbing uncontrollably. Standing over him was a chubby kid with a smug, malicious grin. Beside the fat kid was a woman dressed in gaudy, expensive clothes, waving her manicured claws and berating everyone in sight. The teacher stood to the side, looking awkward and helpless.
And then there was the man.
He stood against the wall, arms folded across his chest, watching the scene with a face devoid of emotion.
"Leo!" I shouted, scooping my son up from the floor.
Leo buried his face in my chest, his cries growing louder as he choked out, "Mommy, Mommy..."
I looked up, my eyes locking onto the woman.
She didn't back down. In fact, seeing me seemed to fuel her rage. She pointed a finger right at my nose. "So, youre the mother of this little animal? How exactly are you raising him? Look at my son's face! He scratched him! I demand an explanation right now, or I swear I won't let you leave this room."
I stared at her, my eyes burning with such intensity that she actually faltered and took a step back.
"Honey!" she shrieked, turning to the man. "Look at this bitch! Shes glaring at me! Get over here and beat her up for me!"
The man was staring at me. Intently. He hadn't said a word.
When I finally turned my gaze to him, I froze.
I hadn't recognized him in my rush to get to Leo. His hair was styled differently, he was wearing a suit Id never seen, but there was no mistaking him.
I instantly understood the dynamic in the room.
That was my ex-husband, Mark.

2
I had only glanced at him when I burst in, but now the reality settled in.
I stood up slowly, pulling Leo behind me, and looked straight at the woman. "Did you just hit my son?"
Emboldened by her husband's presence, she puffed out her chest. "That's right, I hit him. He dared to touch my son, so I touched him. A little bastard born to a slu"
Smack!
Before she could finish the word, my hand connected hard with her cheek.
The room went dead silent. Everyone froze. No one expected me to get physical.
The womans face twisted in shock, and she opened her mouth to scream a stream of profanities.
Smack!
I backhanded her across the other cheek before she could make a sound.
"You gave my son two slaps," I said, my voice shaking with adrenaline but icy calm. "Now I've returned them. Were even. Now, we can talk about what actually happened."
The woman hadn't expected me to be this ferocious. She was too scared to hit back, so she turned to her husband, screeching, "Mark! Kill her! Beat this bitch to death! She hit me! Even my mother has never hit me!"
But Mark didn't move. His expression was a storm of conflict, his eyes darting between me and the floor.
I ignored them both and turned to the teacher. "Ms. Hayes, what exactly happened?"
Ms. Hayes exhaled a long breath and explained the situation.
Leo and the womans son, Tyler, were playing separately. For no apparent reason, the chubby kid, Tyler, walked over and shoved Leo hard, knocking him to the ground.
Leo landed on his tailbone and started crying from the pain. Instead of apologizing, Tyler pointed and laughed, chanting that Leo was a "bastard with no daddy" and that he deserved to be bullied. He ran around the classroom clapping his hands and announcing to everyone that Leo didn't have a father.
Leo, pushed to his limit, chased him down and scratched Tylers face in retaliation.
It was a conflict between toddlers. But for a child that young to use such specific, hateful language meant he heard it at home. The parenting was clearly rotten to the core.
Because Tylers family was wealthy, this womanTiffanyhad stormed in with her nose in the air. She didn't ask questions; she just slapped my son.
After hearing the full story, I turned back to Tiffany.
Seeing the look in my eyes, she flinched and took another two steps back behind Mark, terrified I would strike again.
Finally, Mark stepped forward.

3
"Sarah... Leo's mom," Mark stammered, correcting himself. "This... this was definitely Tyler's fault. I apologize on his behalf. Kids will be kids, they don't know any better. We adults shouldn't take it too personally. Look, you've hit her, she hit him... let's just call it even and move on, alright?"
Tiffany couldn't believe her ears. She grabbed Marks arm. "No way! She assaulted me! I'm calling the police. I want her arrested!"
Mark grabbed her wrist and yanked her down. "Enough! Stop making a scene. Haven't you embarrassed yourself enough today?"
Tiffany looked at her husband, then at me, her face contorting with jealousy. "Oh, I see. She's pretty, isn't she? You see a pretty face and suddenly you lose your spine? She slapped your wife right in front of you and you do nothing? Are you even a man?"
Mark shook her hand off his arm with disgust. He walked over and crouched down in front of my son. "Hey there, little guy. You're Leo, right? Does it still hurt?"
I grabbed Leo by the shoulders and yanked him back. "Don't touch my son."
Mark stood up, looking weary. "Sarah, let's just drop it. Dragging this out won't be good for anyone. The kids are watching."
I held Leos hand tight. "I hope this is the last time. If anything like this ever happens again, I won't let any of you off the hookadults or children."
I turned and walked out with Leo.
Behind me, I could hear Tiffanys wailing. "Mark, you coward! You can't protect your own wife! You're staring at her ass as she walks away, aren't you? You cheater!"
Then Marks voice, sharp and angry: "You are completely irrational. Hopeless. Get in the car before you humiliate us further."
I never imagined my son and Marks son would end up in the same preschool. I had cut all ties years ago. Running into him like this was a nightmare.
The next day, I pulled Leo out of that school and transferred him to a new one across town.
I thought that would be the end of it.
But ten days later, Mark found me.

4
I was at the gate of Leos new kindergarten when Mark appeared, stepping out of the shadows as if hed been waiting for me.
I frowned instantly. "What do you want?"
He sighed, a sound meant to evoke pity. "Sarah, why did you transfer him?"
"Were divorced," I snapped. "Don't call me Sarah like were friends. It makes me sick. If people hear you, they might misunderstand. Since we cut ties, stay out of my life. Where I send my son to school is none of your business."
"Sarah, are you still blaming me?" He stepped closer, his voice dropping to a whisper. "I know I wronged you back then, but I had no choice. It was the situation. But look at me now. Ive recovered. Everything is under my control. I can divorce Tiffany. We can get back together."
I laughed, harsh and dry. "Stop right there."
"I have self-respect. Once a traitor, always a traitor. We have no destiny together. I don't care how much money or control you have now. If you keep harassing me, Ill call the police."
"Sarah, do you really have to be this cruel?" He reached out to grab my arm.
I shook him off violently. "Mark, watch yourself! There are people everywhere. Don't make me beat you up right here on the sidewalk."
Mark sighed and stepped back, raising his hands in surrender. Then, he asked the question that had clearly been burning a hole in his mind.
"Is Leo my son?"
My heart skipped a beat, but I kept my face like stone. "You're delusional. Would I have a child for a man who betrayed me? Hes my son. Not yours."
"I don't believe you!" His eyes narrowed. "His age matches up perfectly with Tylers. You must have been pregnant when you left me. Leo is mine, isn't he?"
"Don't flatter yourself," I sneered. "I admit, I was heartbroken when we split. But that heartbreak didn't make me want your baby. It made me reckless. I went to a club that night and slept with a gigolo. Thats how I got Leo. So no, he isn't yours."
Mark shook his head frantically. "You're lying just to hurt me. You have emotional OCD. You wouldn't even date a guy who had too many ex-girlfriends, let alone sleep with a random hooker. You would never stoop that low."
I looked him dead in the eye. "People change. You changed into a cheater. Why couldn't I change into someone who enjoys a one-night stand?"
Mark looked at the resolve in my eyes. He realized he wasn't getting anywhere today. He slumped his shoulders. "I'll come see you and the boy again."
"If you dare show your face in front of me again," I warned, "I won't hold back. I'll knock your teeth out."
Mark didn't reply. He turned and walked away.
He left, but my mind was in chaos.

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