Chapter 5
279words
Alexander laughed triumphantly, scooping Lily into his arms and planting a kiss on her forehead. "That's my girl!"
Victoria stood beside them, her smile radiant, silently blessing this perfect family portrait.
Rage and humiliation incinerated my last shred of self-control.
I lunged forward, tearing Lily from Alexander's arms, gripping her tiny shoulders. "Look at me! I'M your father! I'm NOT stupid!"
Lily screamed in terror, her face crumpling as she kicked and flailed. "Let go! You're not my daddy! You're stupid! I hate you! I want Daddy Alex!"
"Let her go!" Victoria shrieked, rushing forward and slapping me hard enough to make my vision blur. "Have you completely lost your mind?"
"You're terrifying her! Get out! NOW!" She yanked Lily away, shielding the child with her body, looking at me like I was something diseased.
Alexander grabbed my collar, twisting the fabric tight against my throat. "You just don't know when to quit, do you?"
He snapped his fingers, and security guards materialized, grabbing my arms and hauling me toward the exit.
Lily's sobs, Victoria's curses, Alexander's sneer, the guests' whispers and pointing…
Something died inside me. Permanently.
I yanked the crumpled divorce papers from my pocket and hurled them at Victoria's perfect face.
The pages scattered, floating to the marble floor like dead leaves.
"Sign them."
Just two words. Then I wrenched free from the guards and walked out of that gilded hell without a backward glance.
Victoria's voice chased me down the corridor: "Ethan Turner! You'll regret this! Even if you crawl back begging, I'll never take you back!"
Regret?
My only regret was ever knowing you in the first place.
