Chapter2
The ride was silent.
I stared at the handcrafted crystal keepsake on the dashboard–the very first gift Nathan had ever
given me.
Two little clay figures hugging each other inside the glass, modeled after us.
He carved them by hand.
Back then, he wasn’t some powerful CEO. He was just a lonely, quiet kid in my mother’s high school
class.
His parents died in a car crash. His relatives stole the compensation money. He couldn’t even afford
tuition.
My mother couldn’t bear to see him suffer, so she took money from our savings to help him… and
even let him live with us.
During the darkest time of his life, I stayed by his side. I told him stories. Made him laugh. Helped
him catch up in class.
We got into the same college. He worked hard and eventually started his own company.
The day Whitmore Enterprises went public, he proposed to me.
He gave me diamonds, luxury bags… and that little crystal globe.
“I know you don’t care for fancy things,” he told me. “I got them for you because I want you to have everything other women have… and more.”
“This crystal ball? I made it a long time ago. It only carries one meaning–my love.”
“I want to give you a good life, Ava. I want to love you more than anything, forever. I want to honor
your mother and keep our family together. Always.”
But he broke every promise.
He fell in love with the part–time nanny–Lillian Cross.
Even though she was clumsy. Even though she spilled boiling tea on me more than once. Even
though she purposely let Bella fall.
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“She’s still young,” he said. “She didn’t mean it. Besides, Bella’s too fragile. A few bumps will toughen her up.”
“Don’t you see how hard Lillian works to pay her tuition? She reminds me of the younger you. You know what it’s like to struggle–don’t tear apart someone else’s umbrella just because you’ve finally found shelter.”
When we arrived at the memorial chapel, Nathan tugged me in roughly after giving me another warning not to “embarrass” Lillian.
But as soon as I stepped in, I froze.
Everything was red.
The supposed black funeral drapes had been replaced with red ones. The speakers were blasting a cheery celebration song.
And there was Lillian–straddling my daughter’s tiny body, giggling as she smeared lipstick across Bella’s face.
“What the hell are you doing?!”
I snapped. I kicked over the speaker and yanked her off my child.
She stumbled in her heels and fell backward, twisting her ankle.
Nathan rushed to catch her and then turned on me with fury in his eyes.
“Ava! What the hell did I just say?! Apologize. Now.”
“Are you blind, Nathan? This is Bella’s memorial, and she turned it into a sick joke. She’s desecrating our daughter’s body!”
Even Nathan faltered at that. But Lillian quickly started crying.
“I’m sorry, Ms. Sinclair,” she sniffled. “You were always so busy with work… I guess I was the only
one who knew Bella’s favorite color was red. She loved that song. She asked me to sing it all the
time.”
“She also loved makeup. I just wanted to make her look pretty one last time. I know she was mischievous, but… I just want her to be happy?”
“Don’t be so stubborn.”
Chapter2
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Nathan gave me a cold glance. “You heard her. Maybe if you weren’t such a cold–hearted mother, it
wouldn’t be her turn to show Bella love.”
I laughed–bitter and hollow.
Me? Cold?
I’d raised Bella myself while helping Nathan build his empire.
I’d passed out from exhaustion more than once.
And he had the audacity to call me heartless?
He never changed a single diaper.
I turned to Lillian, rage bubbling up. “You homewrecker. If you hadn’t locked her in that trunk, she’d still be alive. And now you’re mocking her even in death?! Aren’t you afraid of karma?!”
The crowd was growing. People were whispering.
Lillian pursed her lips. “Ms. Sinclair, I was trying to protect your dignity. But now you’ve insulted me and accused me of abuse. Do you even have proof?”
Right.
The only proof I had… Nathan flushed it down a drain.
She smirked and pulled out her phone. “Because I’ve got video clips of Bella crying for her mom while you were off doing God knows what. Want me to play them for everyone?”
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