**The Price of Pride**
“Come home now!” Michael’s voice crackled through the phone, sharp with anger. “Do you even care about your daughter? I cant handle her anymore!”
Elena raised her champagne flute, smiling at Olivia. The café buzzed with laughter and music, friends gathered to celebrate Olivias birthday. For the first time in months, she felt like more than just little Emilys mothershe felt like a woman again.
“To your happiness!” she managed before her phones shrill ring cut through the noise.
“Elena, where are you?” Michaels voice was furious. “Shes been crying for over an hour!”
“I told you Id be late. Its Olivias birthdaywe agreed”
“Its been three hours, not two!”
Elena stepped away from the table, not wanting to spoil the mood.
“Give her some watermaybe shes thirsty.”
“I tried! Shes illshe needs *you*!”
“Michael, calm down. Check her nappy. If its rubbing, shell cry. Ill be home soon.”
“No! Come back *now*!” His voice rose to a shout. “Do you even care about your own child?”
“Fine. Ill leave early.”
The line went dead.
When she returned to the table, Olivia glanced up. “Everything alright?”
“Emilys crying, and Michaels panicking,” Elena sighed.
“Thats normal!” Tessa waved a hand. “My George was terrified to hold our baby at first.”
“Mine still calls me at the slightest whimper,” joked Marianne.
“Maybe I should go,” Elena said uncertainly.
“No,” Olivia said firmly. “This is the first time youve left the house in months. Let him learn to be a father.”
Elena tried to rejoin the conversationuntil the café door burst open. Michael stormed in, Emily wailing in his arms.
“Here she is!” he roared. “Mother of the Year! Our child is *dying*, and youre out celebrating!”
The laughter died instantly. Eyes turned to the couple, and Elena flushed with humiliation.
“Why are you doing this?” she whispered.
“What I shouldve done ages ago!” He shook Emily dramatically. “Bringing our devoted mother her dying child!”
“Enough of this spectacle,” Olivia snapped.
“None of your business!” Michael snarled. “If it werent for you, shed be at home where she belongs!”
“Sir, quiet down,” an elderly patron interrupted. “Were trying to enjoy our meal.”
“Stay out of it!” Michael barked. “My wife abandoned our sick child!”
Elena took Emily, who quieted instantly in her arms.
“Liv, Im sorry,” she murmured. “I have to go.”
“Of course,” Michael sneered. “Finally remembered you *have* a child!”
“Dont apologize,” Olivia said. “Youve done nothing wrong.”
“Shame on you!” Tessa spat. “A real man doesnt act like this!”
Before Michael could retort, the manager stepped in. “Sir, youll have to leave. Youre disturbing our guests.”
***
At home, Elena peeled off Emilys jumperand froze. A red welt marked her neck where the label had rubbed.
“Heres your crisis. Just a scratch from the tag.”
“How was I supposed to know?” Michael threw up his hands and slumped onto the sofa.
“By *undressing her* and looking!”
“Thats not my job. Childcare is *your* responsibility.”
Elena turned sharply. “What did you say?”
“The truth,” he said coldly. “I earn the money. The children are *your* concern.”
“You humiliated me in publicover a *tag*!”
“Maybe now youll learn: a mothers place is at home, not gallivanting with friends.”
“Are you *serious*?” Elena stared. “I work remotely, manage three projects, care for Emily, cook, cleanwhen do *I* get to live?”
“You call *this* living?” He scoffed. “Staying home with a child is a holiday. Try working ten-hour shifts*then* youd understand real work.”
“Try staying up night after night with a screaming baby!” she shot back.
“Oh, whats so hard about that? Feed them, change themdone.”
“Then why couldnt you even *find the tag*?”
He slammed his keys onto the table.
“Enough! Im going to Stevens. At least there, I can get some peace.”
“Run, then,” she said bitterly. “You always do.”
***
The door clicked shut. Emily dozed peacefully in Elenas arms. She packed a bag, grabbed the pram and blanket, and within half an hour stood at her mother-in-laws doorstep.
“Elena?” Mrs. Bennett raised her brows. “Whats happened?”
“Im leaving Michael. May we stay a few days?”
“Come in. Tell me what that fools done now.”
Elena sank onto the sofa, rocking Emily.
“He made a scene at the café, shouting that Id abandoned Emily, that she was dyingall over a *tag*. He didnt even check.”
“Disgraceful,” Mrs. Bennett sighed. “And then?”
“He said children are *my* jobnot his.”
“I see.” Her voice turned icy. “So Emily isnt *his* daughter?”
“Thats what infuriates me! He thinks childcare is a *holiday*.”
“I was a fool,” Mrs. Bennett murmured. “I hoped hed grow up. Instead, hes gotten worse.”
***
The next morning, Michael arrived, face twisted with rage.
“Mum, where is she? Tell her to come home now!”
“She isnt running away,” Mrs. Bennett said calmly. “Explain why you humiliated her in public.”
“Humiliated? I was protecting my child!”
“From a *tag*?” she said dryly. “Elena told me everything.”
“Dont listen to hershe exaggerates!” He paced the room. “Kick her outmake her come back!”
“Sit,” his mother snapped. “We need to talk.”
“About *what*? A wife belongs at home!”
“Listen well. Elena has every right to stay in that flatshes the mother of my granddaughter. *You*, however, have disappointed me deeply.”
“Mum, I *work* for this family!”
“And she works toowith a child in her arms. She handles the house, the cookingwhat do *you* do?”
“I bring in the money!”
“And what of it? I raised you, worked, did everything alone after your father died. Yet you wont even wake for your own child.”
“Why should I? Shes got the milk.”
“And playing with her? Bathing her? Taking her outnone of thats *your* job?”
Michael fell silent.
“My jobs stressful,” he muttered finally.
“Shes exhausted too! But unlike you, she doesnt scream at strangers.”
Michael clenched his jaw.
“Fine! Ill find another woman! Let *her* raise the child alone!”
“Try,” Mrs. Bennett said coolly. “But rememberyoull pay child support. Ill see to it.”
“Mum, whose side are you on? Mine or hers?”
“Im the mother of a grown man,” she said sharply. “And hes behaving like a spoiled boynot a father.”
***
A month later, the divorce was final. Michael felt triumphantfree at last! He even brought home a new girlfriend: a blonde from the office named Sophie.
“Wow, your flats lovely!” she gushed.
“This is nothing,” he boasted. “Once I redecorate, itll be perfect. No more burdensjust me.”
“What about your ex?” Sophie asked carefully.
“Oh, shes at Mums with the kid. Let her rot there.”
“You pay child support?”
“Support?” He waved a hand. “Mums got moneytheyll manage.”
They were drinking coffee when the door swung open. Mrs. Bennett stood there, Elena and Emily behind her.
“Mum, whys *she* here?” Michael sputtered.
“Returning the rightful owner,” Mrs. Bennett said coldly. “This flats been in Emilys name for six months. And you, missare free to leave.”
“What are you *doing*?” he shouted.
“What I shouldve done sooner. Pack your things. Youre living with me.”
“Mike, whats happening?” Sophie faltered.
“Nothing special,” Mrs. Bennett said. “Your hero forgot to mention the flat belongs to his daughter.”
“You cant do this!” Michael choked out.
“I can. And I *am*. Elena, settle in.”
Sophie snatched her purse and fled.
“Soph
