Disclaimer:
"I know some of you might be reading this and thinking, 'What is this trash this girl just published?' Honestly, I wouldn't blame you for feeling that way because, while writing this chapter, I was feeling really drowsy and lazy. So, I apologize for any shortcomings. I'll make sure to put more effort into the next chapter and improve upon this one. Keeping it PG is tougher than it seems, which is why I had to remove some spicy content from the story. Again, my apologies for any disappointment caused."

Backstory on why my mom doesn't trust my dad: they're high school sweethearts, but before they got together, he was the textbook definition of a player. She brushed it off, thinking he'd outgrown his wild ways and wanted to settle down with her. Newsflash: she was warned, but love makes you do crazy things, right? They got together in high school, but that's ancient history.

Fast forward to post-college: they both landed jobs and were expecting me. Now, I know this might sound like the usual family tale, but hold onto your seat because this tea is about to get piping hot. After I was born, everything seemed peachy until I hit five years old. That's when my dad's Houdini act started. Suddenly, he was never home. It was always, "Oh, my boss needs me to stay late," or "Oh, I have a meeting that just came up." You know, the usual lame excuses.

My mom, bless her heart, didn't think much of it at first. But let's be real: women have this knack for ignoring red flags, even when they're waving right in front of us like a matador's cape. We convince ourselves it's all good until the truth smacks us in the face, usually in the most public and humiliating way possible.

My dad was always home until he wasn't. With my mom working night shifts, she needed help caring for me during the day. Unsure about hiring a nanny, my mom discussed it with my dad. He suggested someone he knew, and they arranged to meet. As my mom left for work, my dad remained home, supposedly to meet the potential nanny. However, what happened next was far from what anyone expected.

Sofia the so called Nanny swaggered in, her presence filling the room like a storm cloud rolling in. She and my mom engaged in what seemed like polite banter, but I could sense an undercurrent of tension. As the clock ticked closer to my mom's departure for her late-night shift, my dad sauntered in, a mischievous glint in his eye. Little did I know, his arrival signaled the beginning of a twisted game of deception.

With my mom out of sight, Sofia's true colors emerged. Her kindness dissolved like sugar in hot tea, replaced by a sharp tongue and icy demeanor. My dad, usually the voice of reason, stood by idly, a smirk playing on his lips. Their interactions grew increasingly flirtatious, each stolen glance and whispered word a betrayal of trust.

Weeks passed, the charade continuing under the guise of innocence. Then, in a moment of courage fueled by frustration, I spilled the beans to my mom. Her shock was palpable, her disbelief echoing off the walls of our once-happy home. Accusations flew like fiery arrows, igniting a blaze of anger and hurt.

In the aftermath, the truth emerged like a phoenix rising from the ashes. Sofia, not a nanny but a catalyst for chaos, had orchestrated a web of deceit that tore at the fabric of our family. As we sifted through the wreckage, the scars of betrayal served as a sobering reminder that not all secrets stay buried.

Dad scrambled to remove Sofia from the equation, realizing the gravity of his actions as Mom's fury reached a boiling point. She demanded a divorce right then and there, unwilling to entertain any excuses. Dad, however, refused to let go without a fight, his pleas and apologies echoing through the tense silence of our shattered home.

After days of relentless begging and heartfelt apologies, Mom relented, granting Dad a second chance. But forgiveness didn't come without strings attached; the shadow of Dad's betrayal loomed over our family like a dark cloud, casting doubt and suspicion on every late arrival and unexplained absence.

Now, whenever Dad isn't home or returns late, Mom's suspicion flares up like a wildfire, fueled by the embers of past deceit. Our once-idyllic family now stands fractured, the cracks widening with each passing day.

And that, my friends, is the story of our perfect, broken, and utterly miserable family. But trust me, there's more beneath the surface, though I'm trying to keep it PG for your sake.

Now back to me Saturday morning came like a rude awakening, and there I was, dragging myself from the clutches of sleep, only to find my little bro, Amari, itching for some action. But I wasn't about to let him wade into the battlefield of our parents' morning quarrels. Nope, not on my watch. So, I diverted his attention with a morning ritual: the mandatory teeth-brushing drill. Can't let those morning breath monsters win, you know?

With pearly whites all sorted, I left Amari to entertain himself in my lair while I took on the Herculean task of breakfast duty. As I descended the stairs, bracing for the usual symphony of Mom vs. Dad, I was met with eerie silence instead. But trust me, it wasn't the tranquil kind. Nah, this was more like the calm before the storm, thick with tension you could practically cut with a butter knife.

Mom perched on one end of the couch, radiating enough resentment to power a small country, while Dad lounged on the other end, looking like he'd checked out of the whole situation. Sensing the charged atmosphere, I tiptoed around, whipping up breakfast like a silent ninja, not daring to disturb the fragile peace.

As I flipped pancakes and scrambled eggs, the air buzzed with unspoken words, each bite of food tainted with the bitter flavor of unresolved drama. Just as I was about to retreat upstairs with our breakfast bounty, Mom erupted like a volcano, unleashing a torrent of accusations aimed squarely at Dad.

Well, enough was enough. I couldn't stand by and watch our family implode any longer. With a surge of rebellious spirit, I joined the fray, throwing my own fiery words into the mix, because sometimes, you just gotta fight fire with fire.

My outburst was like a flamethrower in a dry forest, scorching the room with raw truth. My parents stood there, stunned, their authority reduced to ashes by my words.

"What the hell do you think you're doing?" My mom's voice crackled with fury, her eyes shooting daggers at me.

But I wasn't about to back down. "I'm sick and tired of this circus," I declared, my tone dripping with defiance. "I didn't ask to be born into a family that thrives on drama, and I sure as hell didn't ask to be part of a cheating saga. So do us all a favor and keep your toxic secrets to yourselves."

The room fell into an uneasy silence, tension thick enough to cut with a knife as my parents exchanged guilty glances.

Then my dad, the master of deception, tried to salvage the wreckage. "It's all on me," he admitted, his voice heavy with false remorse.

But I wasn't buying his act. "No, it's not just you," I snapped back, my words slicing through his facade like a hot knife through butter. "I know you're still up to your old tricks, Dad. Don't insult my intelligence."

An awkward pause followed, shattered by my dad's reluctant confession. "Yeah, you're right," he muttered, unable to look me in the eye.

And just when I thought the bombshells were over, my mom decided to drop her own truth bomb. "Well, surprise, surprise, honey. I've been playing the game too."

My jaw practically hit the floor, the shock of her revelation sending sparks flying in my mind. Our family, once a picture-perfect facade, now resembled a crumbling mansion in flames. As I stormed upstairs, leaving my parents to stew in their own mess, I couldn't help but wonder if there was any chance of salvaging what remained of our once-tight-knit unit.

I couldn't believe what my mom and dad had just confessed to each other. It was like a slap in the face, a punch to the gut. I felt a mix of embarrassment, disgust, and disappointment swirling inside me as I shook my head in disbelief. How could they do this to us, to our family? They were supposed to be our role models, our guiding lights, but now they were nothing more than a shattered image of what a family should be.

I retreated to my room with Amari, shutting out the chaos and confusion that had taken over our home. I made sure we had enough snacks and food to last us the day, determined to avoid any further confrontation with my parents.

But as night fell, they called me downstairs, and against my better judgment, I went to see what they wanted. My dad's attempt at a lighthearted nickname fell flat, and I braced myself for whatever bombshell they were about to drop.

"We're taking a break," my mom announced, her voice tinged with sadness.

I couldn't help but scoff at their sudden decision. "That's rich, considering you both couldn't keep it in your pants," I retorted bitterly.

They tried to justify their actions, claiming they still loved each other and us, but I wasn't buying it. "If you truly loved each other and us, you wouldn't have betrayed our trust," I shot back, my words dripping with venom.

They called my name in unison, but I had had enough. Gathering my brother and our belongings, I made a swift decision. "I'm done with this circus," I declared, my voice firm. "We're going to stay with Grandma and Grandpa. At least they have some sense."

With that, I turned my back on my so-called parents and marched out the door, leaving behind the chaos and drama that had become our lives. It was time to seek refuge in the arms of family who actually deserved our respect and love.

I hope you enjoyed this chapter and I wanna say thank you to these persons who are constantly supporting my story it really means a lot and they are also phenomenal Writers too so please check them out tags below @Shadow_Celeste @ariia_50 @Adropoffireinmyblood