The next day, a photo of Harris, Mallory, and Harriet at the park emerged online, sparking a frenzy of rumors. Whispers of infidelity spread like wildfire, and suddenly, reporters and paparazzi were swarming the school where Harriet went to school, eager for a glimpse of the woman rumored to be Harris's secret love.
"Mommy, why are all those people here?" Harriet asked as they hurried through the room, trying to avoid the throng of journalists.
"Shh, sweetie," Mallory whispered, pulling her daughter close and shielding her face. She could feel her heart racing as they ducked into a side corridor, narrowly avoiding the press. "We're just playing a little game, okay? We have to be very quiet and very sneaky."
"Like spies?" Harriet's eyes lit up with excitement, despite the tense situation.
"Exactly like spies," Mallory affirmed, forcing a smile for her daughter's sake. Internally, she was a mess of worry and fear. How did things spiral out of control so quickly? And how could she protect Harriet from all this chaos?
As they slipped out a back door and into their car, Mallory's thoughts raced with a thousand different scenarios. She knew that she needed to find a way to keep her daughter safe—from the ruthless media, from the ever-looming threat of Marian Thompson, and from a life that seemed determined to tear their fragile family apart.
"Mommy?" Harriet's small voice broke through Mallory's spiraling thoughts. "Are we going on an adventure?"
"Maybe, sweetheart," Mallory replied, her voice barely above a whisper. "Maybe we are."
They went home with Heidi waiting for them as Mallory texted her about what happened. Thankfully, Heidi was on the rescue bringing them food to eat as they are unable to drop by to the supermarket to get their weekly supplies. It's Mallory's day off, so she was able to take Harriet to school and was supposed to drop by to a store. The press made their daily routine a little harder than it used to be.
"Mally, I got everything you need here. Since we have extra food in our pantry, I just picked everything necessary, and also I didn't forget sweets for our baby girl here." Heidi handed Harriet an ice cream, which is her favorite.
"Yay, ice cream! Thanks, Auntie Heidi." Harriet was fast enough to open the small ice cream as she went to her room.
"You're welcome, sweetie," Heidi said. Beaming with happiness, knowing Harriet was unaffected by all the chaos happening.
"Thank you so much, Heidi. Let me know how much I need to pay you for all of this," Mallory said, looking at the hefty groceries on the counter.
"Oh, please, Mallory, you don't have to." Heidi hugged her best friend, trying to console her burden.
"The day I feared has come. Heidi, I can't lose Harriet," Mallory said, her voice fading.
"Shh... everything is gonna be okay. We'll figure out how to end all of this."
"Is this gonna end well for me and Harriet?"
"Of course. What did Harris say?"
"About that, I'll call him right now."
Harris was fast enough to answer Mallory's call. "Mallory, how are you? Is there anything urgent?"
"Harris, you need to do something fast to get rid of the press spying on our daughter in school," Mallory said on the phone. "We were lucky enough we lost them and we got home safe."
"Mally, what do you mean?"
"The photos in the park have spread, and they are accusing me as another woman. I can take anything they throw at me, just not my daughter. I don't want to lose her. Since this has escalated, your mother might take advantage of it."
"Mallory, I'll be right there. We will talk about this."
As promised, Harris arrived at Mallory's small house. Heidi and Mallory are in the living room, and Harriet was in her room coloring her art book. She went outside as soon as she heard her Dad's voice.
"Daddy, you're here," Harriet shouted.
"Yes, I am. And I got a new doll for my princess," Harris said, showing the pink doll he got. Harriet's blue eyes spark seeing a new toy she can play with.
Just as they were seated in the living room, the doorbell rang. "Mallory, are you expecting another visitor?" Heidi asked.
"No," Mallory replied as she was heading to the door to check who was on it. Her heart was pounding at the possibility that the press might have found her house. She was relieved to find it was a delivery man, holding a flower. "Another flower?" She muttered.
"Hi," Mallory greeted the delivery man.
"Good afternoon! Mallory Phillips?" The delivery man asked. He let Mallory sign before giving the flowers to her.
As Mallory closed the door, Harris, Heidi, and Harriet were still all eyes on her. Harris was looking at her intensely. If they are in a relationship, Mallory could tell that he was jealous.
"Mommy, I thought Daddy was the one sending you flowers? Do you have another boyfriend besides Daddy?" Harriet asked innocently.
"No, sweetie. I don't have any other boyfriend, and your Dad and I are not in a relationship, Harriet. Remember what I told you before introducing your dad?"
Harriet nodded, her eyes blinking with curiosity.
"I don't know who's been sending flowers. It doesn't have a name on it. Now, can you go to your room? We have important things to discuss here." Mallory kissed her daughter's forehead before turning to Harris and Heidi. She put the bouquet of flowers on the center table.
They were sitting in the living room quietly until Heidi broke the silence. She cleared her throat. "So, are we gonna talk about the flowers?
"I don't have any idea. Flowers keep coming in every week starting the day I applied for a job in the newly opened hotel."
She doesn't know why she felt like explaining. Was it for Harris?
"It's not surprising for you to have admirers anywhere you go, Mallory," Harris chimed in. He was still looking at Mallory intensely.
"That's not my priority this time, Harris. You know that."
"I know," Harris said, relieved.
Heidi left Mallory and Harris, giving them space to talk about the problem they were facing. The tension between Harris and Mallory surged even more. Neither of them can open up about the topic when Harriet comes from her bedroom.
"Daddy, can you stay and tuck me in before I sleep?" Harriet asked, pouting.
"Of course, my princess. Daddy is gonna stay tonight and tuck you in. Okay?" Harris took Harriet in his arms.
"Yay! Thank you, Daddy," Harriet wrapped her tiny hands-on Harris's neck.
"Harris, can you really do that? You're busy. We don't want to take your time away from your company."
"Don't worry about it. This is my duty as Harriet's Dad. I missed taking her to school. I haven't done it since she went to school. I want to make up for my mishaps. Let me do this, Mallory."
Mallory had no choice but to agree to her daughter's request. After dinner, Harris spends time with Harriet while Mallory prepares Harris's bedsheet and blanket he could use. Harris insists on staying the night to look after them. She found some big shirt, shorts and a new toothbrush Harris could use for the night.
That night, Mallory found herself pacing the floor of her small house, sleep evading her as she replayed the day's events over and over in her mind. The fear gnawing at her heart had spread like wildfire, making it impossible to close her eyes without seeing Marian Thompson's cold, calculating gaze staring back at her. She knew that if that woman got her hands on Harriet, everything Mallory had worked so hard for would crumble to dust. Now that the truth is out in public, Marian might take advantage of it.
"Can't sleep either?" Harris's voice startled her from her thoughts. He stood in the doorway, his usual confident demeanor replaced by a look of concern and vulnerability.
"Every time I close my eyes, I see her," Mallory confessed, her voice shaky. "I can't lose her, Harris. She's all I have."
"Neither of us will let that happen." Harris hesitated before he continued. "I've been thinking…maybe you and Harriet should move in with me. One of my mansions has top-notch security, and it'll keep you both safe from my mother and the press."