Chapter 3
Anyone with half a brain could guess that the call had to be from Marcus, who was checking in on her. To hook up with younger men, Lillian had spent all these years painting herself as a rich, single woman.
Marcus had no idea she was married, let alone that she had a nine-year-old daughter. If her secret was exposed, that difficult little lover of hers would probably throw another fit.
I thought she would be in a rush to leave so she could go back and coax him. However, for once, she declined Marcus' call and gazed at me affectionately.
"We're husband and wife, Daniel. Marcus and I are just fooling around. It doesn't mean anything. I'll never give up on you and Rosie. One day, I'll make you both change your minds!"
The moment her heartfelt speech left her lips, she turned around and returned Marcus' call. "Marcus? I'm heading back to the hotel right now. I'll bring you something yummy!"
As I watched her scurry off, I just found it ironic. This was the woman I had loved for ten years. One moment, she was sweet-talking me and Rosie, and the next, she was running off to a hotel with her side piece. I took her words as nothing more than a joke.
Fortunately, I had already moved on. I no longer held any hope for her.
…
I never imagined Lillian would cling to me and Rosie like a piece of gum.
One day, when I went to pick up Rosie from school, I found her sobbing hysterically at the school gates. A woman wearing a face mask was dragging her away, attempting to force her into a car.
Rosie clearly didn't want to leave with her. So, she struggled with all her might.
I rushed over and slapped the woman across the face. "Who are you? Why are you trying to kidnap my daughter?"
Rosie pulled off her mask, revealing a familiar face. It was Lillian.
"Daniel, it's me! I just want to spend more time with our daughter! Why'd you hit me? You never had the heart to lay a hand on me before!" she demanded.
The second she loosened her grip, Rosie threw herself into my arms and burst into tears. "I don't want to leave with her! Don't leave me, Daddy!"
I stroked Rosie's head, gently consoling her. "It's okay, Rosie. I'll always stay by your side. I'll never abandon you."
Rosie had grown up without her mother's love. It made her particularly sensitive and insecure.
Despite my repeated assurances that I would never abandon her, every time she was triggered, she would doubt whether I would truly stay by her side. Consequently, I had found a therapist for her.
Through the combined efforts of Vivienne, the therapist, and me, Rosie's emotions had gradually stabilized. She had become cheerful, optimistic, and all smiles. She no longer cried easily.
Lillian had only seen her twice, yet she had already caused Rosie's emotions to fluctuate wildly. The problem clearly lay with Lillian.
With that thought in mind, I shot daggers at Lillian. "What exactly did you tell Rosie?"
Caressing her swollen cheek, she sniffled. "Nothing much. I simply told her that you and your new wife will have a bunch of kids. And when that happens, you won't want her anymore, so I'm kindly taking her in. I'm not wrong, am I? Since you have a new family now, Rosie should come with me!"
I put Rosie in the car and closed the door so she wouldn't hear our argument. Then, I rolled up my sleeves and stared coldly at Lillian, wishing my gaze alone could kill her.
"Do you really love Rosie? Or are you fighting for custody solely to spite me?"
Lillian was probably frightened, because she took two steps back and explained meekly, "I love you more than I love Rosie. I thought that since you love her so much, if I could just win her back, you would change your mind and give us another chance too."
After hearing about her little plan, I made a call to a friend in the media. "Mr. Long? I have some compromising footage of the CEO of Harmon Group committing adultery."
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