CHAPTER 4
Michael had married Vanessa eight months after Lily’s mother died.
Everyone told him it was too soon.
He knew it was too soon.
But grief had made him weak in ways he hated admitting.
Vanessa had come into his life like sunlight through curtains. Calm voice. Elegant clothes. Perfect smile. She told him Lily needed a woman in the house. She told him he should not raise a child alone.
At first, Lily liked her.
Or tried to.
She brought Vanessa drawings. She saved her the pink candies from birthday parties. She asked if Vanessa wanted to braid her hair.
Vanessa always smiled when Michael was in the room.
When Michael was not, Lily became quieter.
“I don’t like when Vanessa watches me eat,” Lily whispered once.
Michael had kissed her forehead and said, “She’s just trying to help.”
He hated himself for that now.
Because now his daughter was sitting beside a dog bowl on the kitchen floor.
May you like
And the woman he had trusted was standing clean and beautiful beside the island.
Like cruelty could not touch white fabric.
