CHAPTER 6
Vanessa stepped forward quickly.
“Michael, stop.”
He held the phone tighter.
“You do not get to give me orders in my house.”
Her face hardened.
“Your house?” she snapped. “I run this house. I cook. I host. I deal with her moods while you hide in meetings.”
Lily pressed her face deeper into Michael’s shoulder.
Michael felt her shaking.
He kept his voice steady for her.
“You dealt with a grieving child by putting food in a dog bowl.”
Vanessa’s breathing changed.
“She needed discipline.”
“She needed lunch.”
“She needed to learn respect.”
Michael stared at her as if seeing her clearly for the first time.
The expensive dress.
The flawless hair.
The perfect kitchen.
The empty place where a conscience should have been.
Then Lily whispered against his jacket.
“She said Mommy would be ashamed of me.”
Michael closed his eyes for one second.
May you like
When he opened them, all the panic was gone.
Only fury remained.
