Chapter 5

I turned to Victor with feigned obedience, nodding softly.

"You're right. I shouldn't argue in front of the child. But since there's already a 'new wife' here, I'll take my daughter back to my parents' place for a few days."

Bianca's smug expression nearly dripped off her face, though she managed to play her role with a simpering voice.

"Elise, don't go. How could I possibly take care of Dave all by myself?"

Dave shot her an unreadable glance before his irritation landed squarely back on me.

"Stop playing games, Elise. The kids are hungry. Go make lunch and quit threatening to go home just to spite me!"

I rolled my eyes and didn't bother answering. Instead, I picked up my daughter, grabbed the keys to my brand-new car, and strode past them.

As I approached the door, Bianca pretended to persuade Dave.

"Dave, are you really going to let her leave? Elise loves you so much. What if she doesn't come back?"

Dave snorted dismissively.

"She'll be back in three days, tops. Elise is too proud to admit it, but she burned all her bridges with her family to marry me. Where else would she go?"

I paused mid-step, bitterness rising in my throat.

This was the same man who once sat by my bedside for hours when I had a fever, promising he'd never let me feel alone again.

Now? He knew I might not even have a home to go to, yet he still stood idly by, letting Bianca plant herself in our lives.

It was a test, a blatant, degrading test of my obedience.

If I stayed any longer, his entire family would only become even more shameless. They might even let me take care of Bianca when she got pregnant!

There was only one solution when dealing with trash: run. And run fast.

Quickly and efficiently, I strapped my daughter into the front seat, loaded my bags into the trunk, and prepared to drive off.

Bianca appeared again, hovering by the doorway with that insufferable false kindness.

"Elise, stop being so stubborn. Just apologize to Dave, and this will all blow over. Why slink back to your parents' house in disgrace?"

Dave, standing smugly behind her, folded his arms across his chest.

"Elise, I'm warning you. Think carefully. You can still bring your bags back inside. But if your parents slam the door in your face, don't come crawling back to me!"

I ignored them both, utterly focused on strapping myself into the driver's seat.

Satisfied that I wasn't backing down, Bianca smiled to herself and disappeared back into the house.

Just as I started the engine, Dave blocked the car door with his arm, his face dark and threatening.

"Elise," he growled. "Don't you dare regret this."

I snorted coldly and slammed the door shut.

As I shifted into drive, Dave's phone buzzed. He glanced at the screen, and his expression instantly paled.

Panicking, he pounded his fists against my window. "Elise! Where's the lottery money? Which account did you transfer it to?"