Chapter 4

"Oh look, Theo actually brought her over."

"Dressed like that to a birthday party? If I didn't know better, I'd think a beggar wandered in."

The chatter in the private dining room ground to a halt. Over a dozen pairs of eyes locked onto me at once.

Theo pulled out the chair right beside him. "Everyone, cut it out. She's my wife."

He turned to look at me, his voice soft. "Offer your apology and sit down to eat. I had the kitchen save some of that salmon you like."

Debra scoffed loudly. "Who'd dare let her sit? She was just talking about Sophia dying earlier today, and now she doesn't even bother putting on decent clothes."

Ava chimed in with a smug laugh, "Charlotte's sweater is practically washed out. Guess she was too busy hiding Daisy to bother dressing up."

Someone at the table asked, "Is the kid actually sick?"

Debra waved her hand dismissively. "That's just how she raises her kid. Daisy sneezes twice, and she acts like she needs to call an ambulance. Let's not ruin the mood with bad vibes."

Sophia cut them off, picking up a glass of wine and walking right up to me. She was dressed in a stunning off-the-shoulder gown, and the IV bandage on the back of her hand was gone.

"Charlotte, I know Daisy's sick, and you're in a bad mood," Sophia said gently. "If you drink this, we can just pretend nothing happened last night."

I stared at her. "Didn't you have a high fever?"

Sophia's smile faltered for a fraction of a second. "It broke."

"Broke fast, didn't it?"

"The doctor said I have a strong constitution. Once the IV was done, I was fine."

Debra slammed her hand on the table. "Sophia is being magnanimous! What are you still nitpicking for? Take the tea and kneel, don't be be a buzzkiller!"

Sophia quickly shook her head. "Debra, there's no need for that! I'm already so happy that Charlotte made it."

"Well, she should," Ava demanded, pointing her phone camera right at me. "Talking about someone like that brings terrible luck. And apologizing won't kill her."

Theo reached out and pushed Ava's phone down. "Put that away."

He turned his focus back to me. "Charlotte, do as I say."

"I'm not apologizing."

"Don't make me repeat myself."

"Then shut your mouth."

Gasps echoed around the table.

Sophia's eyes welled with tears. "Theo, forget it. Charlotte clearly hates me. I'll just leave."

"Where are you going? It's your birthday." Theo held her by the shoulder, guiding her back into her seat.

Then, he stood up and walked over to me, carefully straightening my disheveled coat.

"Just behave. After you apologize, I'll take you back to pick up Daisy. We can still go through with tomorrow's wedding photoshoot."

"Daisy isn't coming back."

"Here you go again." His tone carried a tired, helpless indulgence, as if dealing with a stubborn child. "I already booked her that specialist appointment. Isn't that what you care about the most? Kneel down. Admit you were wrong right now, or I'm calling to cancel it this instant."

"Is that the only leverage you have left to threaten me?"

"Because you only listen when it involves her." Theo placed his phone on the table. "Charlotte, don't force my hand."

I looked at his smug, confident face, reached out, and knocked the teacup out of Sophia's hands.

Wine splashed over the tablecloth as the glass shattered onto the floor.

Debra snapped up. "Are you out of your mind?!"

Sophia shrank back, tears instantly streaming down her face. "Charlotte! I've backed down this far. Why won't you let me go?!"

Theo raised his hand and struck my face.

It wasn't a hard blow, but it split open my lip, fresh blood oozing out again. His hand lingered mid-air for a second, almost as if he wanted to touch my bruised cheek.

I took a step back.

Theo's fingertips slowly curled into a fist. "Charlotte, do you really care so little about your own daughter's life? Her medicine, her preschool spot, and her specialists are all in my hands. If you keep throwing tantrums, who suffers in the end?"

I wiped the blood from my chin, reached into my coat pocket, and pulled out the folded paper.

"You don't need to cancel anything," I said, unfolding the document and slamming it right against his face.

"She died last night."

Silence instantly washed over the entire room.

Theo looked down, his eyes locking onto Daisy's name, then the time of death, and finally the official red seal on the cremation certificate.

"This is fake." He flipped the paper back and forth, his breath hitching. "Just to force me to go home, you'd go so far as to forge a document like this?"

"Call Dr. Stevenson."

Theo's fingers trembled as he dialed three times before hitting the right numbers. As soon as the call connected, he slammed it onto speakerphone.

"Dr. Stevenson, is Daisy with you right now?"

Silence lingered on the other end for two agonizing seconds.

"Theo, you absolute scumbag! Where were you last night when your wife was begging you to save her?! The child had already suffocated to death before she even reached the hospital!"