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“Oliver, the company’s being audited. The bank’s calling in our loans. What’s going on?”
It must be Peyton’s doing.
She was forcing me to admit this was all an act and to apologize to Maya.
I held Lily close. Her breathing was growing weaker.
“Daddy… it hurts…”
“It’s okay, baby. Daddy’s here. I won’t leave you.”
Night fell. The bodyguards’ mocking continued.
“Sir deserves an Oscar for this.”
“Yeah, crying like it’s real.”
By the time, all my illusions had vanished.
Peyton wouldn’t save us. She’d always take Maya’s side.
I’d save us myself.
I pulled out a brooch, which was a birthday gift from Peyton long ago.
Now, none of that mattered. With the brooch, I started picking the lock.
My nails broke. Blood blurred my vision. I kept working.
Lily’s hands turned colder. She shivered in my arms.
“Daddy, am I going to die?”
“No. Daddy will save you.”
I didn’t know how long I worked. But thank God, the lock finally gave way.
Seeming to be drawn by the gate swinging open, Peyton came with Maya.
She glanced at Lily lying in blood and frowned, while Maya fake-gasped,
“Oh my god! What happened to Lily? Daddy, how could you hurt her just because you’re mad at me?”
She turned to Peyton, eyes teary.
“Mom, look. Daddy’s taking it out on Lily to get back at me!”
Peyton’s face darkened. She pointed at me and yelled,
“Oliver! How could you really hurt her? Are you insane?!”
I held Lily, who was barely breathing, as tears streamed down.
“Peyton! Look closely! You ordered those nails! You’re the monster!”
“Enough! Stop pretending! Take her to the hospital. Let’s see what act you pull next!”
She still didn’t believe. Or maybe she didn’t want to.
Maya fake-comforted her, “Don’t be mad, Mom. Daddy’s just upset. He didn’t mean it.”
This was the woman I loved for over a decade. This was the girl I treated like my own.
Lily was rushed to the hospital. Peyton followed closely.
Her face was stiff and cold. She snapped at the doctors,
“Check everything. Leave nothing out.”
She still doubted me. I felt a wave of despair.
Even with our daughter bloody on a stretcher, she thought this was my doing.
We waited for thirty minutes till the doctor came out, wearing a grim expression.
