Didn’t know Kate Anderson had been replaced by THIS. Talk about a downgrade!
Step 1: Become nanny. Step 2: Seduce grieving widower. Step 3: PROFIT.
Sunny felt violated, as if strangers had broken into her home and rifled through her most personal possessions. These people knew nothing about her, about the genuine care she had for the girls, about the complex emotions that had developed between her and Liam. They saw only what they wanted to see — a scandalous stereotype, a narrative that fit their preconceived notions.
Before she could stop herself, Sunny found herself diving deeper into the rabbit hole, clicking on hashtags related to the story. What she found made her physically ill.
Twitter was ablaze with opinions, many from hockey fans concerned that Liam was “distracted” by his “fling with the hired help.” Others speculated that she was a calculating gold-digger who had set her sights on a vulnerable widower from day one. Some particularly vicious comments suggested she was a terrible influence on the girls, teaching them to be “homewreckers” (never mind that Kate had passed away — facts seemed irrelevant in the court of public opinion).
Mommy bloggers had already written think pieces about the “harmful message” Liam was sending to his impressionable daughters. Armchair psychologists diagnosed both her and Liam with various disorders based on nothing but paparazzi photos.
And then there were the comments about her appearance — scrutinizing everything from her figure to her clothing choices to her makeup (or lack thereof in the beach photos). She was simultaneously deemed “not pretty enough for him” and accused of using her “obvious sex appeal” to manipulate Liam.
The cruel words blurred on the screen as tears filled Sunny’s eyes. She felt sick, dizzy with anxiety, her chest tight as if bands were constricting around her lungs. Yet she couldn’t stop scrolling, consuming the poison like a masochistic addiction.
A soft knock on her door finally broke the spell.
Hastily wiping her eyes, Sunny called out, “Just a minute!” She took a deep breath, composing herself before opening the door to find Maddie standing in the hallway, her favorite stuffed rabbit clutched to her chest.
“The cartoon ended,” the six-year-old said matter-of-factly. “And Hailey fell asleep. I’m bored.”
Sunny forced a smile, grateful for the interruption. “How about we unpack your souvenirs and find a special place for each one?”
As she helpedMaddie arrange her collection of seashells and small trinkets on her bookshelf, Sunny felt the knot in her chest gradually loosen. This — these quiet moments with the girls, these simple acts of care — this was real. Not the vicious speculation of strangers on the internet.
“Are you going to leave us?” Maddie asked suddenly, her small fingers tracing the spiral of a conch shell. The question, delivered in such a casual tone, struck Sunny hard.
“What makes you ask that, sweetie?” she managed, trying to keep her voice steady.
Maddie shrugged, not meeting her eyes. “When bad things happen, people go away. And Daddy was talking loud on the phone.”
Sunny’s heart broke at the child’s perception.
“I’m not planning to go anywhere,” Sunny said softly, cupping Maddie’s cheek. “I care about you and Hailey too much.”
“Promise?” Maddie’s blue eyes, so much like Liam’s, bored into hers with an intensity that belied her age.
The weight of that simple question nearly crushed Sunny. How could she make a promise she might not be able to keep? Yet looking at this child who had already lost so much, she couldn’t bear to add to her uncertainty.
“I promise I will always care about you,” she replied carefully. “No matter what.”
It wasn’t the unequivocal assurance Maddie wanted, but it was the most honest response Sunny could give.
Sunny
Later, after both girls were settled with a puzzle and the sounds of Liam’s phone conversations had finally ceased, Sunny ventured downstairs to prepare dinner. She needed to keep busy, to maintain some semblance of normalcy in a day that had been anything but normal.
She had just begun chopping vegetables when she heard Liam’s voice again, this time from the adjacent living room. His tone was hushed but tense, clearly trying to keep the conversation private.
“I know how it looks, Mom, but it’s been blown out of proportion. It was just… we were on vacation, and things got…”
A pause. Sunny’s knife stilled on the cutting board.
“No, it’s not serious. Just a fling.”
Just a fling.
The words pierced Sunny.
