"Robert, I need you clean this mess right now."

I sighed, picking up the bottles, knowing very well that my so called husband wouldn't even move a finger to help me. Honestly I on my account had given up hope too. He is what every woman dreaded to see in her husband. Since the first day of our marriage he had been like this, he didn't even care about his own daughter. He has always failed as my husband as well as my child's father.

"I am not cleaning any of this, you understand. It's because of you I have this fucking responsibility of a family this young. I could be out there enjoying frat parties, but no you had to fucking get pregnant."

"We are not having this conversation again Rob, I told you many times. And I am repeating myself again, I don't need your sympathy or help. You can leave us; I can support myself and my child."

"Ahh, look who is getting feisty. Babe this used to work back in high school." my body tensed as he came closer to me.

"But not anymore." I flinched as I heard the sharp clinking sound of glass falling into ground.

His footsteps echoed in my ears as he marched down the hallway towards the door in front, and finally he was out with a loud bang of the door. This was like the ritual every morning and I was sick of it. I was only clinging to the last thread of hope in this relationship because of my daughter.

My daughter.

She was the sole ray of light in my dark life, my life revolved around her happiness. She was the only hope left in my doomed life. As soon Rob's parents found that I was with his child, them being religious forced him into marrying me. My parents even though they were upset in beginning, gradually they accepted me back. Today was my baba's 2nd birthday and he didn't even give a single fuck about it.

"Mama is I 2 years yet?"

There she came, my sweet angel, my baby Olivia. Her eyes were half open, and her hair sticking out in every direction.

"Good Morning Livi. How did you sleep last night?"

"Mama I sleep good, now tell me am I this old now?" she raised her 2 little fingers towards me in excitement.

"Baba you need to say I slept well. And yes you're mamas big 2 year old now." I chuckled at her confused face.

"Is papa going to be there with us to celebrate?" I frowned, hearing the question I had been dreading so long.

"No baba. I not sure he can, but hey Mama is here right? We will also visit your Nan's house."

"Okay Mama." the disappointment in her voice was evident, and sadly there was nothing I could do about it.

*-*-*

We first went to her favorite smoothie parlor; this was like our escape whenever we needed one. And I being a bad mother took her there more than often.

"Livi, you know what to order right?"

"Yes Mama, I'll be back."

I watched as she jumped through her way to the counter, and stood up the tool beside it. Gently tugging the apron of the person, standing behind the counter excitedly.

"Uncle Li, I am back"

Liam, he was my only friend here. It wasn't like I wasn't a sociable person, back in high school I was one of the popular kids of our league. But maybe it was the situations that bought the change in me. Whatever, the point was I wasn't comfortable opening myself to others now, and Liam was the only person who succeeded in pushing my buttons.

"My princess is back, how old is she today?" he cooed picking her up from the ground.

She adorably raised her two fingers, with a proud face. I couldn't help but giggle at the sight.

"Mama thinks we are funny Livi, isn't she cute while she laughs."

"Yeap she is. My mama cutest."

"Now go to your mama. I'll be back in a jiffy with your drink."

Liam had not once but several times had expressed his dissent towards Livi's father. But I being a coward would always brush it off, even when I knew he was right.

"Here you go, your regular order, for my two favorite people in the world."

"Livi say thank you to uncle Li."

"Thandk yuuo" she said with mouthful of smoothie.

"Andri, so what's the plan for the rest of the day?"

"To be honest I have no idea."

"Can I join you both for today?"

"Oh no, Liam that is not need. We'll be fine, besides I don't want you to ditch your work for us."

"Bullshit, it's not like we have big sales on a working day."

"We'll be fine, really Liam."

"I insist."

I smiled nodding in understandingly, this why I liked Liam. He would always be there for us, even his girlfriend Melissa was like that. I was lucky to have them in my life.

a/n - hope you enjoyed the chapter.

Ash