Vivian's soft laugh echoed through the phone, a sound that unsettled Charles.
"You can try, Charles," she said in a gentle but firm tone, "but you know Sophie needs a mother. And you... you need someone by your side. It's only a matter of time before you see that."
Charles's face tensed. "This isn't open for discussion. We've been managing just fine. I won't let you come in here and change Sophie's life."
"Oh, Charles," Vivian's voice was calm, but there was something in it that felt off, like an undercurrent of control. "You're being so stubborn. Think about what's best for your daughter."
Charles put the phone down, his hand shaking slightly. He couldn't let this happen, not when everything had been fragile for so long. But deep inside, there was a part of him that questioned whether he was enough for Sophie, whether he could truly manage alone.
The following weeks passed quietly, but there was an uneasy atmosphere in the house. Sophie noticed the way her father seemed distracted, his smile not reaching his eyes. He didn't talk about the woman from that night, and Sophie didn't ask. Still, the thought of her lingered in the back of her mind.
Then, one evening, Charles sat Sophie down on the couch. His face was serious, and Sophie's heart dropped.
"Daddy? What's wrong?"
Charles took a deep breath, his hands resting heavily on his knees. "Sweetheart, there's something I need to talk to you about. It's... about Vivian."
Sophie blinked, remembering the name faintly. "The lady from before?"
Charles nodded slowly. "Yes. She's... she's going to be staying with us for a while."
Sophie felt confused. "What do you mean?"
Charles sighed, trying to find the right words. "Vivian and I... well, we're getting married."
The words hung in the air, and Sophie stared at him, unable to fully understand. "Married? But why? I don't want a new mommy, Daddy. I just want you."
Charles gently placed a hand on her shoulder. "I know, honey. And it's still going to be just you and me. But... Vivian is going to be part of our family now. She'll help out and—"
"I don't need anyone else!" Sophie cried, pulling away. Her chest felt tight, and her eyes stung with tears. "I don't want her here!"
"Sophie, please try to understand," Charles said softly, though his voice held a firm edge. "Vivian is kind, and she wants to help us."
"No, she doesn't!" Sophie shouted, her voice cracking. "She's going to take you away from me!"
Charles felt a pang of guilt as he looked at his daughter, tears streaming down her face. He reached for her, pulling her close despite her resistance.
"No one is taking me away from you, Sophie," he whispered, holding her tightly. "It's still you and me. Always."
But even as he spoke the words, a flicker of doubt crossed his mind.
Vivian moved in the following week. The wedding was quiet—no grand celebration, just Charles, Vivian, and a subdued Sophie who watched from the corner, feeling more lost than ever.
Vivian smiled easily, her presence filling the house as she unpacked her things and started rearranging the space. She moved into the master bedroom, altered the décor, and immediately began "making improvements."
"This place could use a woman's touch," she commented one morning as she sorted through the kitchen drawers. "Don't you agree, Charles?"
Charles, ever polite, nodded, though his smile was tense. "As long as Sophie feels comfortable."
Vivian's smile widened. "Of course. I want her to feel at home here."
But Sophie didn't feel at home anymore.
Days passed, and though Vivian was friendly at first, her constant presence weighed heavily on Sophie. She always seemed to be around, asking too many questions or offering advice that Sophie didn't want.
"How was school today, Sophie?" Vivian would ask, her voice full of forced cheer.
"Fine," Sophie would mutter, barely lifting her head.
"And what did you learn?"
"Stuff."
Vivian's smile would tighten, but she would never push further. "I'm sure you're doing wonderfully."
It was the little things at first. Vivian would move Sophie's toys without asking, arrange her books differently, and suggest changes to her outfits. Sophie said nothing, but inside, resentment started to build.
One evening at dinner, as Sophie absentmindedly played with her food, Vivian cleared her throat.
"Sophie, don't you think it's time you started eating more vegetables? They're very good for you."
Sophie looked up, her fork paused mid-air. "I don't like them."
Vivian's smile was patient, though a hint of tension appeared in her eyes. "But they're healthy, dear. It's important to take care of yourself."
"I'm fine," Sophie mumbled, lowering her gaze.
Charles glanced between the two, feeling the discomfort at the table. "Sophie, maybe just try a little bit?"
Sophie felt her frustration rise. "I said I don't want them."
Vivian's voice remained steady, but there was a firmness now. "You can't always get what you want, Sophie. Sometimes you need to make good choices, even if you don't like them."
Sophie clenched her fists under the table. She hated the way Vivian spoke to her like she was incapable of understanding anything. But what hurt more was that her father just sat there, silent.
A few days later, Sophie came home to find her room completely changed. Her toys had been moved, her bedspread replaced with a new one, and her belongings neatly arranged in ways she didn't recognize.
Standing in the doorway, Sophie felt a wave of shock. "What... what happened to my room?"
Vivian appeared behind her, smiling brightly. "I thought it could use a little sprucing up. Don't you think?"
Sophie's hands trembled at her sides. "You didn't ask me."
Vivian's smile faltered briefly but returned. "I was just trying to help, dear. It was a bit untidy."
"It wasn't a mess! It was my room!" Sophie's voice trembled, her emotions rising.
Vivian's face stiffened, her smile turning cold. "Sophie, I understand that this is difficult, but you need to be more appreciative."
"I didn't ask for this!" Sophie cried, tears brimming in her eyes. "I didn't ask for you!"
Vivian's expression hardened. "That's enough, Sophie."
Sophie turned and ran to her room, shutting the door behind her. She threw herself on her bed, her tears soaking the pillow. She missed her mother, missed the life they had before Vivian came into the picture and turned everything upside down.
Later that evening, Charles knocked softly on Sophie's door.
"Sophie? Can I come in?"
Sophie didn't answer, but after a pause, Charles quietly opened the door and sat on the edge of her bed. His eyes were filled with sadness.
"Sophie, I know this is hard for you," he said gently. "But Vivian... she's trying. She really is."
Sophie turned her tear-streaked face toward him. "I don't want her here, Daddy. I just want it to be us again."
Charles sighed, rubbing his forehead. "I know, honey. But things are changing. Sometimes we have to accept things we don't like."
"I don't like her," Sophie whispered, her voice quivering. "She's trying to take you away from me."
Charles's heart ached as he brushed a lock of hair from her face. "No one is going to take me away from you, Sophie. I'll always be here. But we have to make this work. Vivian is part of our family now."
Sophie didn't say anything. She just turned away, pulling the covers up.
Charles sat there, feeling the weight of his decisions.
As the days went by, the distance between Sophie and Vivian only grew. Sophie felt like an outsider in her own home, constantly on edge around Vivian. Even Charles seemed more withdrawn, caught between trying to keep everyone happy and failing to do so.
One evening at dinner, the silence was suffocating. Sophie barely touched her food, pushing it around her plate.
Vivian, ever composed, finally spoke. "Charles, I've been thinking... perhaps it's time Sophie transferred to a new school. A more... refined one."
Sophie's head snapped up, shock written across her face. "What? No! I like my school!"
Vivian smiled, but her tone was firm. "I'm sure you do, but there are better options available, Sophie. Schools that can offer you more."
"I don't want to go to a different school!" Sophie's voice rose slightly, her heart sinking.
Charles looked between them, unsure of how to respond. The tension was building, and he knew things were spiraling out of control.
Sophie's eyes filled with frustration as she looked at her father, hoping for support, but all she saw was hesitation. A silence that spoke volumes.
As Sophie stormed out of the dining room, her heart heavy with disappointment, a quiet but sharp voice from behind made her freeze in her tracks.
"Sophie," Vivian said, her voice barely above a whisper, "you need to learn your place."
Sophie felt a chill run down her spine, the weight of Vivian's words settling deep. What did she mean by that? Was Vivian really going to