“Figures,” you couldn’t stop laughing at your stupidity. The pathetic woman in you had hoped Steve would break the speed limit to come home and talk you out of breaking up with him. “There’s no hope, you idiot. He will die alone because his daughter is a selfish and spoiled brat.”

You took a deep breath and another before starting to pack up the things you left at his place. For years, you had hoped you could turn his house into a home for all of you. It was foolish of you to believe that Rhea would change her ways and see all the good things you did for her father and her.

The expensive clothes she wore–you bought them for her. The new phone she got for Christmas–it was your idea to buy it, not Steve’s. You were always there, supporting her from the back, hiding in the shadows where you belonged in her opinion.

You even sponsored the trip to Hawaii last year, only for her to destroy your passport to ensure that you couldn’t join them on the trip. You didn’t want to lose the money, so you asked Steve to fly with her for a father-daughter bonding vacation while you were left with doubts and the realization that Rhea would never accept you in their life.

If you were a weaker woman, you’d have waited for Steve to come home and fix what his daughter broke. Though you have had enough of her attitude.

You were so angry today that you imagined slapping her across the face to wipe the self-satisfied grin off her face–a red flag stopping you from hanging your heart on Steve and his daughter for longer. “If not, I’d do it one day. That’s just not me.” You told yourself.

Sadness gripped your heart when you packed up your things. Your clothes, books, your favorite mug, and picture frames containing pictures of you, Steve and Rhea.

“No.” When you gathered all your belongings, you started packing your car. It didn’t take you long before you walked out the door with your last suitcase, slamming it shut. The picture frames and the birthday gift you prepared for Rhea ended up in the trash.

It wasn’t much you brought to Steve’s house. Once upon a time, you wanted to move in with them and give up your apartment. Your best friend told you not to give up on freedom and to be careful with a single father. Not because she did not trust Steve, but Rhea.

Natasha got burned years ago. She raised someone else’s daughter, only to hear that she’s not the mother, or worse. It ended much like your relationship. Love wasn’t enough to endure humiliation for a lifetime.

Right when you wanted to put the last suitcase in your trunk, you heard Steve calling your name. He jogged toward you, trying to take the suitcase out of your hands.

“Please let’s talk things out, Y/N. I know you are mad at me, but Rhea needs you in her life, and I do too.” You heard Rhea scoff behind your back.

“Dad, don’t let that vicious woman fool you. This is a ploy to get you to turn your back on me. She’s nothing but vile.”

Rhea glared in your direction as you didn’t even spare her as much as a glance. You raised her with Steve for five years and got nothing but hatred and hurtful jabs in return.

How many times have you told yourself that she’s just a hurt child to keep on fighting for your relationship with Steve? You couldn’t remember.

For the first time, Rhea didn’t get a reaction out of you. You put the suitcase in your trunk and slammed it shut. When you turned around, Steve had tears in his eyes.

“Y/N, please. We can work this out.” You gave Steve a sad smile.

“We could work this out, sure,” you said, tenderly touching his cheek while Rhea made a retching noise. “I love you, and I love her, but, for the first time in five years, I must put my mental health and well-being first.” You kissed him softly, lips lingering while you fought the tears wanting to break free.

“Y/N…I can talk to Rhea and…”

“Stop fussing over that woman!” Rhea snapped at her father.

“Steve, enough is enough.” You looked at his fuming daughter. “I gave Rhea too many chances, always apologizing because she was still sad about your divorce.”

She sneered at you as Steve tried to stop you from giving him back the keys to his house, and in a way to his heart, too.

“Steve, you are a wonderful man. Sweet and kind. Maybe too kind to see that sometimes, the people you love the most can hurt you deepest.” You placed the keys in his hand.

“Y/N…doll…” He murmured, his voice cracking. “I’m sorry for ruining this.”

“You did, in a way. Not because you are a bad person, but for your daughter. Maybe, if she loves someone one day, she’ll see what she destroyed today.” You walked toward your car, looking over your shoulder, and at Rhea. “I won’t play your daughter’s punching bag only because you never told her that it was her mother breaking you up.”

Steve didn’t stop calling you for a week straight. You never picked up. If you heard his voice, you would have reconsidered your decision. It was for the best that you and Steve would go your separate ways from now on.

Your heart disagreed. It felt like a huge part of you was missing, but you couldn’t keep on running yourself into the ground for Rhea. You knew her hatred didn’t come from her alone. Peggy played a huge part in getting rid of you.

Even though Peggy was the one cheating on Steve and ruining their marriage, she couldn’t bear seeing her ex-husband get happy with someone else.

Another week later, Steve could barely get out of bed. He dragged his feet over the kitchen floor, reminding himself that he had a daughter to take care of. With Peggy’s departure creeping closer, and you gone, he had to be the mother and father to Rhea.

“Dad,” Rhea huffed because Steve ignored her once again. She whined and pointed at the cupboard. “Can you make the tea you always make when I have cramps?”

Steve looked at Rhea, opening his mouth. He wanted to lie and tell her that he was going to brew it for her. “I can’t,” he said instead, turning his attention toward the coffee machine.

“Why? Is it out?” She scoffed. “Or did Y/N steal it?”

“Y/N always made the tea when you had cramps.” Steve casually said while watching the coffee machine work.

“No, you made it!” Rhea stomped her feet. “Daddy, are you mad at me and want me to suffer?”

“I told you that I made the tea because you wouldn’t have accepted any help from Y/N. It was her buying your first pads, and later your favorite brand of tampons. I didn’t know what to buy. She helped me and told me to tell you that it was all me.”

“Well, then I don’t want the tea…” Rhea stormed off, angrily cursing under her breath.

Days blend into another. And before you knew, a month had passed. Your heart was still sore, and you couldn’t sleep much without Steve by your side.

In the past few weeks, you have tried not to think about your life with Steve. Whenever you thought about all the times you lay in Steve’s arms, you broke down crying.

“No turning back now.” You told yourself for the hundredth time. “It’s better this way.”

“Dad, I need new clothes. I accidentally ripped my jeans,” Rhea whined, holding up her designer jeans.

“Sorry, but we need to spare some extra cash for my car repair, and it will soon be winter. We need to think about more important things than designer jeans.” Steve rummaged in his toolbox to find a hammer. “I need to fix the window in the bathroom. I can buy you a normal pair, if you need it.”

“But…” She huffed, frustrated. “You always buy me designer clothes. I can’t go to school in normal jeans.”

“Y/N bought all the designer stuff,” Steve shrugged when Rhea stared at him in disbelief. “I know nothing about designer clothes or your size. I asked Y/N once, and she volunteered to get the clothes. She also paid for them.”

“Why did she never tell me so? Why make me believe you did all of it?” Rhea frowned deeply. Did her father lie to her? Would he stoop so low to get you back?

“The same reason I told you that I made the tea. You decided to hate Y/N only because she wasn’t your mother. Y/N knew you’d never wear the clothes knowing she bought them. This way, she could give you what you wanted without watching you throw her gift right back in her face.”

Rhea dipped her head, watching her father’s features grow sad. “Dad, I—”

“We go shopping for normal jeans over the weekend,” he said, wiping his wet eyes. “You know, Y/N wanted to make you happy. It didn’t matter if you thanked her for all the things she did for you.”

“Rhea, why the long face?” Peggy cooed. It was her weekend, and she wanted to talk her daughter into making your life even more miserable. Peggy didn’t know about the breakup yet. “I asked you a question.”

“Is it true?” Rhea turned to look at the few pictures of Peggy and her in her room.

“What are you talking about?”

“Is it true that you will leave the country to live in London. I heard that you would give up custody.” Peggy blanched. She didn’t expect Rhea to find out before the final preparations were done.

“You see…Benedict wants to go back to London, and I do too. Benedict offers a brand-new life to me. I’m not only a mother, but also a woman who wants to find happiness with her partner.”

Rhea swallowed thickly. “…and all the times you told me Y/N is the worst, and that you cannot stand watching dad get happy with her was…” She shook her head. “If you love Benedict so much, why did you want me to ruin Dad’s relationships?”

“He divorced me after I made one mistake. I ran off with Benedict for a few weeks, maybe six months. I needed a break from family, being a mother, and your father.”

“Y/N was right,” Rhea didn’t know if she wanted to laugh or cry. “You want to leave me behind, just like you did with dad. All this time, I did everything to chase Y/N away…for you. Dad is sad, and it’s all your fault!”

“It was for his best,” Peggy lied. “He would’ve never gotten happy with her. Your father still yearns for me, and I like it that way.”

“Fuck. You!” Rhea hissed. She shoved her mother out of her room to pack up the most important things.

“Dad, you gotta listen to me.” Rhea came back home earlier to talk to her father. “I know I fucked up…okay.” She sighed deeply. “Mom wanted me to be a bitch around Y/N. I believed she’ll come back to us if I do it.”

Steve’s voice cracked, hearing all the horrid things Rhea did to you in the name of her mother.

"Why did you do all of this, Rhea?”

“It was my only chance to get my family and mom back. I didn’t know she planned to leave me…again.” Rhea admitted, glancing at her father. “I have a plan to get Y/N back.”

“She doesn’t want to have anything to do with me any longer.” Steve sounded defeated, and for the first time, Rhea felt guilty for all the things she did to you.

“She doesn’t want to have anything to do with me, Dad, not you. I know it will be hard, but I want to make things right with Y/N. She wasn’t the villain in this story, but me…”

Part 3