«They’re still adjusting,» Jessica would say. «Their father fills their heads with ideas about loyalty and biological family. Just give it more time.»
But time wasn’t fixing anything. It was making things worse because Mason and Chloe were learning they could disrespect me without real consequences.
The incident that changed everything happened on a Thursday night in February. I’d had a long day at work, and I came home to find Tyler in his room crying. When I asked what was wrong, he told me that Mason had broken his favorite toy, a model airplane we’d built together. When Tyler got upset, Mason had said, «Tell your dad to buy you a new one. That’s all he’s good for anyway.»
I found Mason in the living room playing video games like nothing had happened.
«Mason,» I said, «we need to talk about what happened with Tyler’s airplane.»
He didn’t even pause his game. «I don’t know what you’re talking about.»
«You broke his model airplane, the one we built together.»
He shrugged. «Accidents happen.»
«This wasn’t an accident,» I said. «Tyler said you threw it against the wall when he wouldn’t let you use his gaming headset.»
Mason finally looked at me, his expression pure defiance. «Tyler’s lying. And even if he wasn’t, you’re not my dad. I don’t have to explain anything to you.»
«You’re living in my house,» I said, trying to keep my voice calm. «You’re eating food I buy, using electricity I pay for, and you just broke something that belongs to my son. You absolutely do owe me an explanation.»
He laughed. «Your house? Mom pays rent too. Your son? Tyler’s not even related to me. And you? You’re just Mom’s husband. You’re not my parent, you don’t make my rules, and I don’t answer to you.»
Something snapped inside me. It wasn’t anger, exactly, but a cold clarity. This kid had just told me exactly where I stood in his eyes, and it wasn’t just disrespectful; it was cruel.
But instead of yelling, I nodded. «Okay,» I said. «I hear you loud and clear.»
I walked away and went to my home office. I pulled out my laptop and started making a list of everything in the house that was in my name, that I paid for. The list included the mortgage, the utilities, the internet, the cable, the family cell phone plan that included Mason and Chloe’s phones, the car insurance that covered Jessica’s car—the one she drove Mason and Chloe around in—the gym membership, the streaming services, and even the gaming console Mason had been playing on.