Chapter 3

Julian looked surprised to see me.

Before rolling down his window, he carefully put noise-canceling headphones on Leo.

"Today isn't your scheduled visitation day, Elena."

"Have you forgotten how to follow rules?"

He didn't even look me in the eye.

He leaned against his steering wheel and lit a cigarette.

The smoke drifted between us, blurring his face.

It felt like I was looking at a complete stranger.

"You’re the one who broke our agreement first!" I screamed, my voice cracking.

"Julian, you promised you would take care of Lily! What the hell are you doing to her?"

"You starve her, you take away her classes, and you pretend she doesn't exist!"

"She is your own daughter!"

I lost all control. I screamed at the top of my lungs, demanding justice for my little girl.

But Julian’s brow didn't even twitch.

"Leo has real musical talent. Letting Lily take those classes is just a waste of money."

"Lily’s custody belongs to me. I raise her my way, and you have no right to interfere."

"Besides, she’s alive and well, isn't she?"

I stared at him, utterly dumbfounded.

Was survival the only bare minimum he thought his daughter deserved?

"Do you have any idea that her arms are covered in bruises? That boy, Leo..."

When I had pulled Lily into my arms earlier, she had whimpered in pain.

That was when I noticed the dark purple bruises on her tiny arms.

Leo was the one doing this to her, right under Julian's nose.

But before I could finish, Julian cut me off.

"Enough."

"Don't try to throw dirt on him. Leo would never do something like that."

"No wonder Lily has started lying lately. She clearly learned it from you."

With that, Julian started the engine, forcing me to step aside.

"I have things to do."

He stepped on the gas and sped away.

Leaving me standing alone in the cold wind.

He knew.

Lily must have cried to him for help.

But Julian chose not to believe her.

He would rather believe Celeste's son than his own blood.

The strength drained from my legs, and I collapsed onto the pavement.

So this was what it meant to love someone else's child.

Because he loved Celeste, he loved her son.

And because he was done with me, Lily had to pay the price.

That evening, I saw Julian again at a high-end restaurant.

It turned out his "important business" was celebrating Leo's birthday.

But he had completely forgotten.

Today was Lily's birthday too.

Through the glass of the private dining room, I saw Julian, Celeste, and Leo sitting together, looking like a perfect, happy family.

Three years ago, Julian had celebrated Lily’s birthday just like that.

He bought every single flavor of cake because he didn't know which one she’d like best.

He imported limited-edition dolls and custom-made princess dresses.

He had even placed a diamond necklace around my neck, whispering how grateful he was that I gave him such a beautiful daughter.

Those memories felt like they happened yesterday.

But in the blink of an eye, everything had changed.

I was holding a takeout box of Lily's favorite food, getting ready to leave, when a cheer erupted from the private room.

I turned around. Julian was presenting Leo with his birthday gifts.

The boxes piled up, overflowing from the table.

Then, Julian pulled a black platinum card from his wallet.

"There's fifty thousand dollars on this. Buy whatever you want, buddy."

My breath hitched.

Leo gasped in excitement, but I felt like I had been doused in ice water.

That card... was the savings account I had set up for Lily's college fund!

I could barely breathe.

Celeste leaned over and kissed Julian’s cheek.

"Julian, this is too much."

"It's nothing. Just pocket change."

Yes, to Julian Sterling, fifty thousand dollars was pocket change.

One of his custom suits cost more than that.

But that was money I had saved, dollar by dollar, working late-night shifts.

I knew the Sterlings were incredibly wealthy, but I wanted to contribute to Lily’s future.

When I handed Julian that card a year ago, he had kissed my forehead and told me to rest, promising that the Sterling family would always provide for Lily.

It was all a lie.

My ears buzzed.

I was about to storm in there and demand my card back.

But suddenly, a pair of strong hands grabbed me from behind.

Before I could scream, I was pinned to the floor.

The bright lights of the restaurant hallway faded, and darkness took over.

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