Chapter 5
Victoria stared at the ring like it had insulted her.
“You don’t mean that.”
“I do.”
“You would choose a maid over me?”
I looked at Lily.
“She is not a maid to me.”
Grace lowered her eyes.
That hurt.
Because I had not earned the right to say more.
Victoria laughed.
“You think that child makes you a father? You know nothing about her. You know nothing about Grace.”
“I know you hit her.”
“She was blocking me.”
“She was protecting Lily.”
Victoria’s face twisted.
“That little girl is not yours.”
Grace stepped forward.
“She is.”
“Prove it.”
“I can.”
Victoria’s confidence flickered.
I saw it.
Grace reached into the pocket of her uniform with her good hand and pulled out a folded envelope.
It was worn at the edges.
She handed it to me.
Inside was a birth certificate.
Lily Bennett.
Father listed unknown.
A hospital bracelet.
A photograph of newborn Lily.
And a letter.
My name was on the envelope.
Nathan.
I looked at Grace.
“What is this?”
“I wrote it after she was born,” she said. “I never sent it. I was afraid Charles would find us again.”
My fingers shook as I opened it.
Nathan, if you ever learn the truth, please know I did not leave because I stopped loving you. I left because I thought leaving was the only way to keep our daughter safe.
Our daughter.
I read the words three times.
Victoria moved toward the back hallway.
Marcus blocked her.
I looked at him.
“Call the police.”
Victoria’s mouth dropped.
“No.”
“Yes.”
“My father will destroy you.”
“Your father is why I’m calling.”
She grabbed the counter.
“Nathan, listen to me. Grace planned this. She came here for money.”
Grace laughed softly.
It was the saddest sound I had ever heard.
“I came here because Lily wanted to see where her father lived before we moved again.”
“Moved?” I asked.
Grace nodded.
“I got a notice. My apartment lease was terminated. My bank account was frozen. Someone called Lily’s preschool asking for pickup authorization.”
My blood turned cold.
“Charles.”
“I think so.”
Victoria smiled then.
Small.
Cruel.
“You should have stayed gone.”
The sirens were faint at first.
Then louder.
Lily clutched Grace.
“Mommy, I’m scared.”
I knelt a few feet away.
Not too close.
“Lily, I know I am a stranger to you. But I promise you, no one in this house will hurt you again.”
She studied me with wet eyes.
Then she whispered, “Are you really my daddy?”
May you like
My voice broke.
“Yes.”
