Chapter 2

[Elara]

I’m still in a daze when Cora squeals and runs off to Damon. “Daddy!”

Excited, she wraps her little arms around him, grinning up at him. “Daddy, you finally came. Mommy and I have been waiting for you for so long.”

I smile at her innocence, at her excitement, and the way she looks up to him as if she’s the luckiest in the world.

‘Daddy, do you know we made a surprise—’

‘Get off!’ Damon jerks her away, frowning deeply. ‘How many times do I have to remind you? I’m not your dad.’

The raised voice of Damon is enough to make grown-ups piss their pants, so imagine what it does to my little girl. He downright terrifies her.

She recoils, trembling. ‘But Daddy—’

‘Stop it.’ His tone is sharp, cutting through the air like a blade. ‘Call me uncle if you have to.’

Somehow, I’m not surprised by his reaction. 

He’s said those words before. Many times. When Cora was conceived, he called it a mistake. Because in his eyes, this marriage was never real—it was a transaction built on deception.

After Hannah vanished before their wedding, he believed I took advantage of the chaos, that I manipulated him into marrying me to protect my so-called reputation. And when I got pregnant soon after, he claimed I’d tampered with the protection on purpose… that I’d forced him into fatherhood he never wanted.

He never showed up for a single prenatal checkup, never once asked how I was—or how she was—throughout those nine months. He wasn’t there when I screamed through the pain, or when I almost passed out from exhaustion. He wasn’t there when they placed Cora in my arms for the first time—tiny, warm, perfect. He missed everything. I stayed in that hospital for a week afterward because of severe blood loss, drifting in and out of consciousness. And still, he didn’t come. Not a single visit. Not even a message.

I pull Cora to me and cup her face. “Sweetheart, why don’t you go to your room and open the gift that Mommy got you? I’ll join you soon.”

My little girl quickly wipes her tears. “Okay, Mommy.”

She does as she’s told, and I watch her small figure disappear into her room.

I turn to Damon. “Do you really have to be so heartless? It’s her birthday today. The least you can do is be nice to her.”

His glare turns colder. “Nice to her?” he mocks, taking a step in my direction and leaning close to whisper in my ear. “If you hadn’t tampered with the protection, do you think I’d be dealing with her at all?”

Even though I should be used to his hatred and indifference by now, he still leaves me speechless.

I wipe the corner of my eye before he can see the tear threatening to fall. “You really think I’d stoop that low?” I whisper, pulling away. “That I’d bring a child into this world just to trap you?”

“You already did.”

For a moment, I swear the air leaves my lungs. My throat burns, but I refuse to let him see me break. I breathe in a deep breath. “Fine. If that’s what you want to believe.”

I turn to leave, desperate to get out of his sight, but before I can take a step, his hand clamps around my arm and yanks me back.

“What more do you want?” A single tear slips down my cheek before I can stop it.

He doesn’t even flinch. “Prepare a room for Hannah and Danny. And make sure a maid tends to them. I don’t want excuses.”

I blink at him, unsure if I heard right. “You… really want them to stay here?”

His eyes cut to me, sharp and flat. “You need me to repeat myself?”

My lips part, but no words come out. Of course—Hannah. Her. He’s doing this for her. Always for her.

“Right,” I whisper, forcing the word past the knot in my throat. “I’ll make the arrangements.”

He releases my arm with a flick of his hand. “Do it quickly. I don’t want them waiting.”

Then, without another word, he strides right up the stairs.

Once he’s out of sight, Hannah chuckles. “Is this how Damon always treats you? Like some pathetic maid?”

The mockery in her voice doesn’t go unnoticed. I turn to face her. “He does. And I wonder if this is the reason you ran away from your marriage—couldn’t stand the thought of spending forever as his personal maid.”

“You—” She looks angry.

“You’re my sister, Hannah. I know you better than anyone. So, please, drop the act in front of me at least.”

I walk back to the living room, ready to arrange the guest room as per Damon’s order.

“Cake!” Danny practically screams, however.

I watch him rushing to the table, his hands already flying to grab the whole thing.

I try my best to stop him, but the boy is too quick.

He grabs the whole cake from the table and hurls it straight to the floor.

For a moment, I just stare—frozen—my mind unable to process what just happened.

Then Danny laughs. Laughs.

Hannah smirks from the doorway, arms crossed. “Well, looks like someone doesn’t like your cheap taste in desserts.”

I blink, trying to steady my breath. “It was Cora’s birthday cake.” I baked it myself.

“Then buy her another one,” she laughs. “You must be used to cleaning up disappointments by now.”

Her words slice through me sharper than glass. I crouch down to pick up the ruined pieces of the cake, but my hands are trembling too much. The chocolate smears against my fingers, sticky and cold—just like the humiliation sitting in my chest.

Danny giggles again, stepping right into the mess, crushing the frosting under his shoes. “Mommy, look! It’s fun!”

“Danny, stop—” I start, but Hannah pushes me aside.

“Let him enjoy himself,” she says coolly. “He’s just a child. Don’t be so uptight.”

I don’t know what to say—or if saying anything would change anything at all. It’s not like Damon would ever take my side anyway.

So, I ignore the mess, swallow down the disappointment and leave the room.

While preparing the guest room, I get a call from an unknown number.

I look at the time and wonder who must be calling at this hour.

When nothing comes to mind, I answer it just for the sake of it.

“Mrs. Blackwood, this is Dr. Wilson from ApexCare Hospital,” the man on the other side of the call says. “I’m calling regarding Cora’s recent tests. Is this a good time to talk?”

“Dr. Wilson?” My mind flashes back to the tests Cora underwent after collapsing in class two days ago. But why is he calling me at this hour? My heart accelerates, my body going numb. “What is it, Doctor? Is everything okay?”

“Mrs. Blackwood…” The doctor exhales shakily. “I’m afraid Cora isn’t okay. Do you think we can meet?”