Chapter 30
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“Milford–how dare you?!“}
My voice trembled uncontrollably as I called out, “Enid?“}
My daughter froze, then slowly lifted her head to look at me. She stared for a long moment, dazed–until her eyes widened in disbelief.
“Mama? You’re back?”
The next second, her small figure broke down into tears. She cried out like she’d finally found someone to cling to after holding on for far too long.”
“Mama, Aunt Malissa locked me in the dog cage. She didn’t give me any food. Daddy didn’t do anything about it! I was so scared. The big dog bites real hard, it hurts so bad. Mama, please get me out…“}
The word “Mama,” spoken with such raw pain and trust, shattered me from the inside. But I didn’t have time to cry–not with that hunting dog now awake, glaring at Enid like she was prey.
I grabbed an axe from the corner, ignoring the old butler’s frantic protests and brought it down hard on the lock of the cage.”
Once the chain snapped, I rushed in, scooped Enid into my arms and held her tight.”
Then I turned back. I wasn’t done. Raising the axe once more, I aimed it at the snarling dog.
“Ma’am, please! Don’t be reckless!” the butler begged. “That’s the madam’s favorite dog–Mr. Milford gave it to her himself! If you hurt it, she’ll be furious–and the master too!“}
Oh? So Milford gave Malissa a dog… to mangle his own daughter?}
I didn’t even spare it a glance. As the beast lunged, I met it head–on–and with one clean, furious swing, I severed its head.”
Still not satisfied, I turned to the cage that had imprisoned my child… and hacked it to splinters.
Milford came rushing in at the sound of the chaos–only to start scolding me the second he opened his mouth.
“Lori, you just got back and you’re already making a scene? Do you want the guests outside to start asking questions?}
“You scared Eddy half to death! He’s crying his eyes out and Lisa’s been running around all day. Now she has to calm him down too? Can’t you just stop causing trouble?“}
“I know this past year hasn’t been easy for you and I will explain everything when I get a moment. But I won’t let you ruin Lisa’s reputation.”}
I let out a bitter laugh. Eddy, huh? Of course! His precious little prince.}
And what were Enid and I to him then? Disposable trophies?}
“So your heart breaks when her son cries, but not when your OWN daughter is locked in a dog cage? When she’s bitten by some wild animal? Forced to eat slop like a stray? Tell me, Milford–how twisted is your love?“}
Milford finally looked at Enid. When he saw the raw, bleeding wounds on her tiny arms and legs, confusion twisted across his face.} “What are you talking about? Enid’s my daughter–I would never let something like that happen to her.“>
¡.froze for a beat. He… didn’t know?}
Milford frowned and turned to the butler. “Bring Lisa here.”
Malissa walked in moments later, already crying–tears perfectly timed, voice trembling just right.”
“Milo, you’ve got it all wrong… Lori misunderstood me. Enid’s such a sweet little thing–how could I ever hurt her?”
mat
“You know how much she loves playing hide and seek. Just now, she begged me to play with her. I was busy handling the guests and couldn’t find her in time. Who could’ve guessed she’d go and lock herself in a dog cage? That child has such an imagination…“}
Milford staggered back a step, more stunned by my rage than the shove itself. He didn’t apologize. He didn’t even look at Enid. Instead, he turned to Malissa–like she was the one who needed comforting.
Malissa dabbed fake tears with a silk handkerchief, her voice trembling just enough to sound fragile. “Milo… she’s just making a scene. I know Enid’s upset, but blaming me for something like this? You really think I’d hurt a little girl?“}
Milford looked torn for half a second–just half. Then his jaw tightened.
“This isn’t the time or place for this,” he snapped. “Lori, if you want to talk, we’ll talk later. But right now, Lisa and I are celebrating the birth of our son. Don’t ruin that for us.”
I stared at him, dumbfounded. He just watched as Enid stood there, shaking, her cheek already red and swelling. His daughter. And he chose her. Again.”
Malissa slipped her arm through his and leaned her head on his shoulder like the doting saint she pretended to be.!!
“I’m not asking for much,” she whispered, loud enough for everyone to hear. “I just want a peaceful home for our baby…“% Peaceful? She had locked my daughter in a cage.
I wrapped my arms around Enid and whispered into her hair, “It’s okay, baby. Mama’s here now. I won’t let them hurt you again.” Inside, though, I was on fire. If they wanted peace, they should’ve thought of that before crossing a mother with nothing left to lose.
1/3
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11:42 AM D
Chapter 4%
Milford hesitated for a moment, but before he could say anything, Malissa burst into louder sobs, her voice quivering with theatrical despair.”
“Forget it. I know I’m just a burden in this house,” she cried. “It’s all my fault, right? Fine. I’ll take Eddy and go–I’ll go down to the grave and keep your brother company!“}
Then, she spun around dramatically and ran off.”
Milford’s eyes followed her retreating figure, full of worry. But before chasing after her, he shot me a venomous glare.
“This is the daughter you raised?” he snapped. “A little girl already capable of lying and becoming a manipulator… She always picked on her aunt, too. What next? Was she going to bully her baby brother too?“}
He stepped closer, his voice full of righteous anger.}
“My brother died young. Lisa has no one to rely on but me. Is it really so hard for you two to just accept her? You’re unbelievable, Lorraine. You’ve completely lost your sense of decency.” With that, he turned on his heel and left us standing there, bloodied and bruised, to go after her.”
Enid watched his back disappear, her tiny hands clutching the hem of my shirt, her big eyes filled with confusion and hurt.§
“Mama,” she whispered, “is it because I’m a girl? Is that why Daddy likes Auntie Malissa and Eddy more than us?” She continued, “I’m sorry… It’s my fault. I made things hard for you…“}
Even after Milford hit her–after all the pain–my daughter didn’t hate him. Not even a little. She blamed herself for being born the way she
was.
I knelt down and pulled her into my arms, my heart shattering all over again.}]
“No, baby. None of this is your fault,” I murmured, my voice thick with tears. “You’re the best thing in my life. The kindest, bravest little girl
I’ve ever known.”
“Sweetheart,” I kissed the top of her head and whispered, “You don’t need that kind of father. Not anymore.“}
I carried Enid back to the guest room and asked the old butler to call a private doctor. He came quickly and administered a rabies shot.
From Enid, I finally learned the truth about the past year.
Milford had poured all his attention into Malissa and her unborn child, completely ignoring his own daughter. Malissa, on the other hand, had tormented Enid in secret–and sometimes even right under his nose. And every time Enid tried to tell her father the truth, Malissa would twist it, accuse her of lying and Milford would believe her without question.
It was also them–Milford and Maiissa–who told Enid I had been killed by “bad people.“}]
Enid cried herself to sleep night after night, clutching a wooden tablet with my name carved into it like it was all she had left. She even let the dog bite her, just so it wouldn’t damage my memorial.
After I finally coaxed her to sleep, I sat at the edge of the bed, but there was no peace in my heart.
I had told her we didn’t need that kind of father anymore–but she hadn’t agreed. She didn’t say a word.”
I knew. Deep down, she still missed him.}
No matter how often Milford criticized her for being a girl, said she was weak or worthless, she still longed for his love. Still saw him as
her dad.
Should I give Milford one more chance–for her sake?”
I was lost in thought when suddenly, I felt myself pulled into a warm embrace. Thes
scent of milk and postpartum sweat clung thick in the
air.
“Lori, came a voice from behind me, trembling with emotion. “Thank God… you’re alive. You made it back to me.”
Milford pressed soft kisses along my neck, his voice low and caring, “I promised my brother I’d take care of Lisa… that I’d give him an heir. When she found out she was pregnant, she had a terrible time with it–constant sickness, fainting spells. I had to stay by her side. That’s why I wasn’t there to save you.“>
“I have looked everywhere for you. But then, I heard you were dead… Lori, it broke me.”
I pushed him away, swallowing down the nausea that rose in my throat. My voice was calm, but there was steel beneath it. “I’m back now. Very much alive. Yet, you’re still going to marry her. Isn’t that correct? You DO still plan on making her your wife.“}}
Milford gave a helpless sigh, as if I were being unreasonable. “Of course not. You’re my wife. You always have been. The wedding’s just for show–I’m not signing any papers.“)
*I need to give Lisa and Eddy some kind of status, so people won’t gossip. That’s all this is–just a performance. You know that. We’re the real thing Legally, emotionally–everything. You’ve always been so understanding, Lori. You won’t make a big deal out of this… right?”
So that was it. He sull expected me to live in the shadows–officially dead, unofficially his. Hidden. Forgotten. Then, with the same casual entitlement, Milford started to undo the buttons of my blouse.
Lisa’s already given me a son,” he murmured. “We should catch up, don’t you think? If we have a boy and with Enid… the three of them together would make a perfect little farmily Harmony. Balance.”
He wanted to complete his pretty little family picture–with me as the secret comer of the frame.!!
