Three years after our “paper” divorce, my six-year-old daughter, Lily, walked for two hours through the cold streets just to find me. She gently tugged at the edge of my coat. “Mommy, I’m so hungry.” My heart dropped. On the way to get her food, a post on my Snapchat suddenly flashed through my mind. It was a photo Julian had posted just a few hours ago. It was a picture of a beautifully prepared, organic kid’s meal. His caption read: Nothing is too good for the kids. Always homemade with love. “Didn’t your daddy make you dinner?” I asked, my voice trembling. Lily shook her head. “No. That was for Leo.” I froze in my tracks. Leo was Celeste’s son. Celeste, his first love. In that instant, the cold truth washed over me. There was never a “paper” divorce. He had left me for real. 0 I pushed the menu in front of Lily. But my eyes kept drifting downward. I saw the worn-out, scuffed edges of her little sneakers. I couldn’t bear to think about how she had walked such a long distance all by herself. Lily flipped to the very back of the menu and pointed to the simplest thing on the page—a small bowl of Mac and Cheese. My chest tightened. It physically ached. “Why only that, sweetheart? You can have whatever you want with Mommy!” I thought she was just feeling distant because we hadn’t seen each other in a month. Forcing a smile, I took the menu back and ordered three more of her favorite dishes. But Lily shook her head fearfully. “Daddy doesn’t let me eat that much.” “He says girls need to stay skinny to look pretty.” “Mommy, I was just so hungry… that’s why I came to find you. Please don’t tell Daddy.” She looked up at me, her eyes filled with an anxiety that no six-year-old should ever have. We had only been apart for a month. How did she become like this? My heart was bleeding. Tears blurred my vision, and I quickly began piling food into her plate to hide them. “You’re only six, baby. You need to eat to grow.” “Didn’t Mommy send you those bags of pecans last week? If you were hungry, you should have eaten some of those.” Regret hit me like a tidal wave. I should have packed her more snacks. Even some crackers would have saved her from this misery. The last time I saw her, her cheeks were chubby and rosy. Now, she looked like a shadow of herself. Lily looked up and saw a tear slip down my cheek. She stood up on her chair, reaching out her tiny hand to wipe my tears away. But the moment her fingers touched my face, a cold sweat broke out across my back. I grabbed her wrist. Her tiny, delicate hands were covered in raw, healing cuts and bruises. “What happened to your hands?” I tried to keep my voice steady, but I was crumbling inside. My voice shook violently. But Lily just gave me a small, innocent smile. “I got them from shelling the pecans.” “Daddy said the dog would choke on the shells, so he made me shell them all and grind them into powder for the dog’s food.” “I shelled two whole bags, Mommy! Aren’t I strong?” She tilted her head up, waiting for my praise. But the words caught in my throat. It felt like swallowing glass. I excused myself, walked out of the restaurant, and dialed Julian’s number. It rang three times before he finally picked up. “What is wrong with you?” I screamed. “You starve Lily, and then you make her shell the pecans I sent her just to feed your damn dog?” “Julian, do you even deserve to be a father?” The rage I had kept locked in my chest exploded. Julian’s voice on the other end was cold, indifferent. “She eats less now so she won’t have to suffer through diets when she’s older. I’m saving her from ending up like you, obsessing over weight every other week.” “And stop sending those cheap organic snacks. Who knows where they’re sourced? You can’t even guarantee they’re clean.” Before I could speak, the line went dead. He was right about one thing. Julian was a billionaire’s son. He grew up in absolute luxury. Even his kid’s meals were topped with caviar. But Lily didn’t get caviar. She didn’t even get her pecans. She had nothing. I stood there, listening to the heavy thud of my own heartbeat. I wiped my face, refusing to let my daughter see me break down. But Lily was too smart. She noticed the moment I walked back in. She lowered her fork, not daring to look me in the eye. “Mommy… is Daddy mad at me?” I forced a warm smile and stroked her hair. “No, sweetie. Daddy wants you to eat up.” “After this, Mommy will take you to your piano class, okay?” She was too young. I didn’t want her to carry the weight of our broken family. But Lily just looked at me blankly. “The piano class?” “Daddy said Leo needed it more. He gave my spot to him.” 0
For a second, I couldn’t process her words. That piano class was taught by a world-renowned pianist. I had pulled dozens of favors and spent months on a waiting list to get Lily in. And Julian just gave it away to Celeste’s son? What kind of sick joke was this? Without wasting another second, I took Lily and drove straight to the prep school. After settling Lily in the waiting room, I stormed into the director’s office. “Why wasn’t I notified that my daughter’s spot was transferred?” “I signed the contract. I paid the fees. Did anyone think to ask for my consent?” The administrator looked incredibly uncomfortable. Her face flushed red as she spoke softly. “Mr. Sterling arranged it personally. He specifically instructed us not to tell you.” All the air left my lungs. Classic Julian. When he wanted to cover his tracks, not a single whisper would escape. I had paid thousands in tuition, only for Celeste’s kid to reap the benefits. I took a deep breath, trying to calm down. The administrator was just doing her job. But as I turned to leave, she called out to me. “Mrs. Vance… I highly suggest you pay closer attention to Lily’s mental health.” “She’s been… isolated by her classmates lately.” The hesitation in her voice sent a chill straight down my spine. Lily was a sweet, gentle girl. How could she be isolated? My mind was a chaotic mess as I walked out into the hallway. And then, I saw him. Julian was walking out of a classroom, holding Leo’s hand. He naturally reached down to take the boy’s backpack, carrying it for him. I stared, dazed. I wondered if he ever smiled like that when he was with Lily. “Daddy!” Lily saw him too. She ran toward Julian, her little arms outstretched, desperately wanting a hug. But Julian flinched. He stepped back, avoiding her completely. An expression of pure disgust flashed across his face, as if she were a stranger. “You have the wrong person,” he said coldly. Lily froze. Her hands fell to her sides, her tiny fingernails digging deep into her palms. Class had just ended, and several kids gathered around, watching the scene. “Look, Lily has no daddy!” “Even my dog has parents. Lily is unwanted!” The kids’ laughter echoed down the hallway. It pierced my ears. Without thinking, I rushed forward and pulled Lily tightly into my arms. “Go away! All of you!” “I am Lily’s mother! She is not unwanted!” My entire body was shaking. It felt like someone had ripped a piece of my heart out. My sweet Lily. What kind of hell had she been living in? Three years ago, to protect Julian’s family assets during a massive corporate restructuring, we agreed to a legal divorce. Back then, he had held my hands and cried like a child. He promised it was just on paper. He promised that once things settled, we would remarry. He promised Lily would never suffer. Because of those promises, I waited. Year after year. But it was all a lie. Julian heard those kids mocking Lily. He heard her crying. But he turned around and walked away without a single backward glance. As Julian got into his car, I ran out and blocked his path, standing right in front of the hood. “You owe me an explanation!” 0
Julian looked surprised to see me. Before rolling down his window, he carefully put noise-canceling headphones on Leo. “Today isn’t your scheduled visitation day, Elena.” “Have you forgotten how to follow rules?” He didn’t even look me in the eye. He leaned against his steering wheel and lit a cigarette. The smoke drifted between us, blurring his face. It felt like I was looking at a complete stranger. “You’re the one who broke our agreement first!” I screamed, my voice cracking. “Julian, you promised you would take care of Lily! What the hell are you doing to her?” “You starve her, you take away her classes, and you pretend she doesn’t exist!” “She is your own daughter!” I lost all control. I screamed at the top of my lungs, demanding justice for my little girl. But Julian’s brow didn’t even twitch. “Leo has real musical talent. Letting Lily take those classes is just a waste of money.” “Lily’s custody belongs to me. I raise her my way, and you have no right to interfere.” “Besides, she’s alive and well, isn’t she?” I stared at him, utterly dumbfounded. Was survival the only bare minimum he thought his daughter deserved? “Do you have any idea that her arms are covered in bruises? That boy, Leo…” When I had pulled Lily into my arms earlier, she had whimpered in pain. That was when I noticed the dark purple bruises on her tiny arms. Leo was the one doing this to her, right under Julian’s nose. But before I could finish, Julian cut me off. “Enough.” “Don’t try to throw dirt on him. Leo would never do something like that.” “No wonder Lily has started lying lately. She clearly learned it from you.” With that, Julian started the engine, forcing me to step aside. “I have things to do.” He stepped on the gas and sped away. Leaving me standing alone in the cold wind. He knew. Lily must have cried to him for help. But Julian chose not to believe her. He would rather believe Celeste’s son than his own blood. The strength drained from my legs, and I collapsed onto the pavement. So this was what it meant to love someone else’s child. Because he loved Celeste, he loved her son. And because he was done with me, Lily had to pay the price. That evening, I saw Julian again at a high-end restaurant. It turned out his “important business” was celebrating Leo’s birthday. But he had completely forgotten. Today was Lily’s birthday too. Through the glass of the private dining room, I saw Julian, Celeste, and Leo sitting together, looking like a perfect, happy family. Three years ago, Julian had celebrated Lily’s birthday just like that. He bought every single flavor of cake because he didn’t know which one she’d like best. He imported limited-edition dolls and custom-made princess dresses. He had even placed a diamond necklace around my neck, whispering how grateful he was that I gave him such a beautiful daughter. Those memories felt like they happened yesterday. But in the blink of an eye, everything had changed. I was holding a takeout box of Lily’s favorite food, getting ready to leave, when a cheer erupted from the private room. I turned around. Julian was presenting Leo with his birthday gifts. The boxes piled up, overflowing from the table. Then, Julian pulled a black platinum card from his wallet. “There’s fifty thousand dollars on this. Buy whatever you want, buddy.” My breath hitched. Leo gasped in excitement, but I felt like I had been doused in ice water. That card… was the savings account I had set up for Lily’s college fund! I could barely breathe. Celeste leaned over and kissed Julian’s cheek. “Julian, this is too much.” “It’s nothing. Just pocket change.” Yes, to Julian Sterling, fifty thousand dollars was pocket change. One of his custom suits cost more than that. But that was money I had saved, dollar by dollar, working late-night shifts. I knew the Sterlings were incredibly wealthy, but I wanted to contribute to Lily’s future. When I handed Julian that card a year ago, he had kissed my forehead and told me to rest, promising that the Sterling family would always provide for Lily. It was all a lie. My ears buzzed. I was about to storm in there and demand my card back. But suddenly, a pair of strong hands grabbed me from behind. Before I could scream, I was pinned to the floor. The bright lights of the restaurant hallway faded, and darkness took over. 0
When I opened my eyes, I was in the backseat of Julian’s SUV. He was sitting next to me. He was looking in the vanity mirror, wiping a bit of frosting from his nose. The warmth from the party hadn’t fully faded from his face, and a soft smile lingered on his lips. Seeing me stir, he spoke in a casual tone. “Celeste has had a hard time raising Leo alone. I just wanted to help them out a bit.” “Elena, don’t overthink it.” His tone was so indifferent. Like he had just done a minor good deed. I knew we were divorced. I had no right to care who he helped. But he had no right to touch Lily’s money! I ripped the restraint cloth off my arms and threw it right at his face. “Give me back the money, and give me back Lily!” There was no longer any reason to leave Lily with him. If he didn’t want to raise her, I would do it myself. I expected him to agree easily, but instead, Julian reached out and gently took my hand. His eyes softened. “Lily is my daughter. How could I not love her?” “I’ve actually made arrangements to send her to a traditional boarding school upstate. They’ll teach her discipline and domestic skills. When she’s older, she can marry Leo. They’ll keep it in the family.” My heart stopped beating for a second. I stared at Julian, desperately searching his face for any sign of a joke. There was none. He was completely serious. “Are you insane? That place is a prison! You want to throw your own daughter into a house of submission?” Without thinking, I slapped him across the face. The slap echoed in the quiet car. I only regretted that I hadn’t hit him harder. Julian froze. When he turned back to look at me, his eyes were dark with malice. “Elena, I am not asking for your permission.” “Lily is lazy. She doesn’t even know how to clean up after herself. How is she going to take care of Leo in the future?” “Sending her to that school is for her own good. She needs to learn her place early so she doesn’t suffer later.” His tone left no room for argument. Before I could scream at him again, his phone buzzed. The name Celeste popped up on the screen, accompanied by a red heart emoji. His harsh expression melted instantly. He gave the driver a quick nod. The door was opened, and I was shoved out of the car like a piece of trash. I fell hard onto the gravel road. Sharp stones sliced into my palms and arms. But as the blood began to seep through my skin, I felt no pain. I pressed my hand against the wound and walked toward my apartment. Lily was still waiting for me. Thankfully, I made it back before midnight to celebrate her birthday. After she blew out the single candle on her small cake, she looked at the clock anxiously. “Mommy… can I sleep here tonight?” she whispered. That broke me. I pulled her into a tight hug. “You’re staying here tonight.” “And we are never going back.”
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