Chapter 1

Lilith had been moved out of the ER and into a regular room two hours before Calvin showed up.

His ex-wife Ella and her son Felix came in behind him.

I sat beside Lilith's hospital bed, spooning broth into her mouth. She was so pale.

Holding Felix's hand, Ella came over. "Lilith, it breaks my heart to see you like this.

"But Felix didn't mean it. He says you made fun of him for not having a father, and he got a little upset. You understand that, don't you?"

"Lilith, is what Ella said true?" Calvin frowned down at her.

Lilith's eyes filled with tears at once. She clutched my fingers and said nothing.

"Lilith would never say that!" I held my shaking daughter, my eyes burning. "Calvin, Felix pushed her down those stairs! You should be worried about her, not interrogating her."

Calvin's handsome face hardened.

For the first time in five years, he looked at me with disgust. "Adela, we still don't know exactly what happened. You can't pin it on Felix like that!"

I stared at him in disbelief. Lilith was lying right there in that bed, yet he was still taking Ella and Felix's side!

Three hours earlier, I'd called Calvin in tears while Lilith was in surgery. He'd assured me he was coming right away.

But when he arrived, he went straight to Ella and Felix and anxiously asked whether they were hurt.

It stung even then, but when he turned and put an arm around me to comfort me, I pushed the hurt aside.

Now, though, I saw it plainly. He played favorites, simple as that. He'd been taking Ella's side without question for a long time.

"Adela, you're still blaming me..."

Ella burst into tears and slapped Felix hard on the shoulder. "Beg your sister to forgive you, right now! Don't make this any harder on your mother!"

Calvin immediately stepped in and stopped Felix from kneeling. Then he turned to me, his voice stern. "Adela, don't push this too far. Felix is my child too. You should care about him.

"Ella already told you he didn't mean it. Can't you be a little more forgiving?"

I let out a humorless laugh. "He pushed my daughter down a flight of stairs, and you want me to be forgiving?

"You really are a great father, Calvin."

Calvin glared at me, then led Ella and Felix out, both still crying.

By the time he came back, Lilith was almost asleep.

He went to the bed and softened his voice. "Sweetheart, Felix is a good big brother. He wouldn't hurt you. Your mom is just too sensitive. Rest up, and Daddy will take care of everything."

Lilith looked at him but said nothing.

Calvin ignored her silence. He kissed Lilith's cheek, then pulled me out into the hall.