Chapter 3

Diana led the two children to the edge of the pond and egged Tobias on.

"Go on! Mommy's got your back!"

Tobias, puffed up like a proud little rooster, kicked my daughter straight into the water.

She was terrified of water.

I broke free from the servants holding me back and dove in after her like a madman. Underneath the surface, her face had gone white, but she didn't dare struggle, too afraid that fighting back would cost her father his job.

As I fought to drag her back to the surface, I could still hear Diana praising Tobias from the bank.

"Good job, baby! Remember that. From now on, if anyone bullies you, hit them. If you kill them, Mommy will pay for it."

That night, my daughter's fever spiked into pneumonia, and she slipped into unconsciousness. A few more strands of my hair turned grey overnight.

The doctor looked at me with pity.

"Right now, the most important thing is giving her a reason to fight. Is there anyone she cares about?"

I closed my eyes and called Diana anyway.

"I know you're my wife. Our daughter needs you right now. I can let go of everything else that's happened. I just need you to talk to her for a few minutes. That's all I'm asking."

I even thought, if she'd just help, I'd cancel the arrangement with that other person.

Heavy breathing came through the line. My daughter, still unconscious, mumbled deliriously.

"Mommy... I miss you so much, Mommy. Everyone at school has a mom. I'm the only one who doesn't. Tobias keeps calling me a motherless stray and getting the whole class to leave me out."

My hands curled into fists. Tobias was the one without a real mother. My daughter had one.

Then someone finally spoke, but it was Marcus, his voice dripping with malice.

"Tch, you are a stray, sweetheart. Just go ahead and die. I bet your mommy's waiting for you to join her. Once you're dead, you'll get to see her again. No more pain, good girl."

The heart monitor flatlined. Doctors and nurses rushed my daughter out for emergency treatment.

I lost it completely.

"That's enough, Marcus! Are you even a man? You know exactly who Tobias's real mother is!"

Before I could finish, a familiar voice cut in.

"Who's on the phone? What's going on?"

Marcus let out a sigh. "Honey, Cooper called just to yell at me, saying Tobias is a motherless stray."

Diana's voice turned icy. "How dare he talk about our son like that? Does he think I'm dead?"

A little while later, my phone buzzed. The kindergarten teacher's message was curt and superior.

"Your daughter doesn't need to come to school tomorrow. She isn't welcome here anymore."

My eyes stung. I'd once gone down on my knees in front of every school administrator just to get her a spot, and now one careless word from Diana had undone it all.

But I didn't have time to dwell on that. My daughter was still in emergency surgery, and the doctors said the deposit wasn't enough. I had no choice but to go home for the compensation money the military had given me after she'd died.

I never expected to walk into a house that had been torn apart.

"Wow, honey, this wedding suit looks expensive! I should wear it for the ceremony tomorrow!"

Marcus's voice rang out, followed by Diana's sweet laugh.

"Sure, wear it."

I ran to the bedroom door just in time to see Marcus pulling on the wedding suit my mother had left me.

I'd cut ties with my entire family to marry Diana. My mother hadn't approved, but she'd still sewn that suit for me with her own hands. Not long after, she died in a car accident.

It was the last gift she ever gave me. I hadn't even let myself wear it on my own wedding day to Diana.

How dare he.

I lunged at Marcus like a man possessed, and we grappled violently. Diana frowned and drove her foot into my stomach, kicking me aside.

"That's enough out of you! You're our driver. Everything you have belongs to us."