lle

lse-fear? Humiliation? He stood there, frozen, his chest heaving. Then, with a harsh glare that promised retribution, he grabbed Fernanda' s arm

a mask of confusion and hurt. "Mommy, why did Daddy leave?

t had something important to do, sweetie. It' s okay." My throat was tight, the lie burning

oes Daddy not like me anymore?" A fresh wave of tear

his own daughter? Daisy' s tears started to fall, silent, stinging drops. I kissed the top of her

refully, her tiny finger reached up and brushed my cheek. "Mommy, don' t cry." Her

hair a mess. He saw us, Daisy still silently weeping, my face streaked with tears, and

k." His voice was low,

ck of my hand, my voice hoarse. "Wh

stone cold, his eyes chips of ice. "Don' t create a scene, Adelle. Don' t make yourself a vict

I had endured, everything I had sacrificed? I st

g her, Carter. She asked if you didn' t like her. What was I supposed to say? Th

you dare call Fernanda' s daughter 'another fam

his child, but not to grant her any relation to Daisy. He wanted his new life, his new famil

s it you truly want, Carter?" I asked, my voice devoid o

the papers, Adelle. I want custody of Daisy, of course. For her sake

shed over me. I was too tired to fight.

sive wave of his hand. "I' ll have my lawyers draw up the papers. Don' t try to make it difficult." Then, withou

y my own ragged breaths and Daisy' s quiet sobs. My arms tightened around her, as if I could squeez

d, leaving a faint trail of smoke. The last flicker of hope in our marria

wisted by the new, brutal reality. The love I once felt for him, the hopes I had cherished for our future, all of it had turned to ash. I held Daisy tighter, the warmth of her small body the only thing keep

I knew he wouldn' t. I dressed Daisy, took her