Chapter 13
We did not leave immediately.
I moved Lily upstairs first.
Food.
Water.
A warm bath.
No questions.
She ate two sandwiches too quickly.
I watched.
Said nothing.
Then hid half a cookie in her pocket.
That nearly broke me.
“Baby.”
She froze.
“I’m saving it.”
“You can have more later.”
She looked uncertain.
“What if Grandma says no?”
I crouched.
“Grandma does not decide when you eat.”
“Daddy?”
My throat tightened.
“No.”
“Who?”
“You.”
She stared.
“Me?”
“Yes.”
“If you’re hungry, you tell me.”
Lily started crying.
Not loudly.
Relief.
I held her until she stopped.
Downstairs, Margaret was still arguing.
I heard her before I entered.
“She’s spoiling that child.”
Mark answered:
“She hid food.”
Silence.
Margaret said:
“Children do that.”
“Hungry ones.”
I walked in.
Daniel looked at me.
“Is she okay?”
“No.”
He flinched.
Good.
“Can I see her?”
“No.”
“She’s my daughter.”
“You remembered that late.”
He looked down.
Margaret laughed.
“You’re enjoying this.”
I stared.
“No.”
“Of course you are.”
She leaned forward.
“You finally get to punish everyone.”
“No.”
“What do you call this?”
“Boundaries.”
She almost spat the word back.
“You think some therapist word changes blood?”
“No.”
I stepped closer.
“Choice does.”
Margaret smiled.
“You’ll come back.”
“No.”
“You need Whitmore.”
“I am Whitmore.”
That silenced her.
Victor tried to leave.
My guards blocked him.
He turned.
“You can’t hold me.”
I looked at him.
“I can while your men are still on my dock.”
He went pale.
Good.
Savannah had already left with two women from my security team.
Safe.
Not forgiven.
But safe.
Mark approached me quietly.
“What happens now?”
“Now?”
“Yes.”
I looked at Daniel.
Margaret.
Victor.
Then Lily’s DNA report still lying on the table.
“Now everyone tells the truth.”
Margaret laughed.
“You think truth matters more than loyalty?”
I looked at her.
“No.”
May you like
Pause.
“Truth tells me who deserves mine.”
