Tangled Hearts.

~Chapter 73~

~Emily~

~ January 14th 2025~

"Aspen, you can't use the blue cup right now, it's dirty. We have to use the pink one," I said, trying to keep my voice calm but firm. Aspen's face scrunched up, and I knew what was coming. The tantrum started with a scream and quickly escalated to her throwing herself on the floor, kicking and wailing.

"Aspen Jean Brock, stop it right now!" I demanded, my patience wearing thin. She ignored me, her cries growing louder. I picked her up and she bit me. Hard.

Oh fuck no. Not on my watch.

Without thinking, I spanked her. Not too hard but hard as I needed to to discipline her. She screamed even louder, and my frustration boiled over.

"Emily, that's not helping," Colby interjected, his tone annoyingly calm. He stepped in, crouching down to Aspen's level. "Hey, sweetheart, I know you want the blue cup, but it's dirty. How about we use the pink one today, and I'll make sure the blue one is clean for tomorrow, okay?"

Aspen cries softened, and she nodded, sniffling as she hugged his neck he patted her back as he gave her a squeeze. I felt a mix of relief and irritation. Colby's gentle approach worked, but it felt like he was undermining me. "You're being too babyish with her," I snapped. "She needs to learn that she can't always get what she wants."

"She's two, Emily. She's still a baby," Colby replied, his voice full of exasperation. "You can't expect her to understand everything like an adult."

We didn't resolve it then. The rest of the morning was tense, and I was fuming. I sat on the couch, holding Aspen and Blake close, feeling the tears sting my eyes. Colby was avoiding me, and I was giving him the silent treatment.

It all came to a head when Colby walked into the living room, and I couldn't hold back anymore. "You always undermine me in front of her," I accused, my voice trembling with anger. "How is she ever going to respect me if you keep babying her every time she throws a tantrum?"

"Respect? Emily, she's not even one and half years old! She doesn't even understand the concept of respect yet," Colby shot back, his frustration evident. "You're too harsh on her. Spanking her because she bit you? What do you expect from a toddler who's entering the terrible two's?"

"I expect her to learn that biting is not acceptable!" I shouted, my voice cracking. "And maybe if you backed me up once in a while, she would learn that."

"Back you up? You mean agree with you when you're wrong? No, Emily, I won't do that," Colby retorted, his voice rising. "It's no wonder Aspen is such a crybaby; she gets it from you. You're the biggest crybaby I know."

That cut deep. I felt the tears spill over, and I hugged Aspen and Blake tighter. "You're such an asshole, Colby," I whispered, my voice shaking. "Why do you always have to be so mean?"

Our roommates, Sam, Jake, Corey, Katrina, Devyn, and Tara, along with my sister Isa, were all in the room, witnessing the whole thing. They looked just as angry at Colby as I felt. Isa stepped forward, her face red with anger. "Colby, that was uncalled for. Emily is doing her best."

"Stay out of this, Isa," Colby snapped. "This is between me and Emily."

"No, it's not," Isa shot back. "When you insult my sister in front of everyone, it becomes our business. You need to apologize."

Colby's face twisted in anger. "Apologize? For what? For telling the truth? Emily needs to toughen up, and so does Aspen."

"Fuck you, Colby," I spat, my voice choked with tears. "You don't get to talk to me like that. You don't get to treat me like shit just because you disagree with me."