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Chapter 3

作者: Apis Fortis
"Oh, right, Adela. Where's the child-size crest ring I had made for Eve? Daisy saw it last time and threw a fit because she wanted it. There isn't time to have another one made, so I'll give Daisy this one for now and have a new one made for Eve."

Vincent changed the subject so quickly I couldn't answer. He rushed into the room, found the ring, and carefully put it in a gift box.

As he was leaving, he finally glanced at me. "Honey, what were you going to say?"

I froze. The words I'd meant to say died in my throat, and anger surged through me.

"That's Eve's ring, Vincent. How can you give her things to someone else?"

That ring symbolized the highest authority in the Colletti family. Only the head of the family and the heir he chose had the right to wear it. Vincent had a child-size ring made especially for Eve's fifth birthday.

Vincent's face darkened, and his voice turned hard. "Adela, don't be so selfish. It's just a ring."

Just then, his phone rang. Vincent glanced at the caller ID, threw on his coat, and hurried out. He didn't even see Eve standing in the doorway with her stuffed animal.

Eve stood frozen, her eyes brimming with tears.

This was my husband. He claimed he was repaying a debt, but he kept abandoning Eve and me for them. He'd even take things his daughter treasured and give them to Daisy without a second thought.

The house fell quiet again. Long after Vincent left, I stared at the closed door and said softly, "Vincent, Eve and I have both decided to give up on you."

I turned to Eve. "Let's go back to your room. Mommy will read you a bedtime story."

Eve nodded without another word. She set her stuffed animal on the floor, her eyes red, and came with me. Vincent had given it to her long ago, and she'd never gone anywhere without it.

Thank goodness we were leaving soon. If we stopped expecting anything from him, he couldn't disappoint us anymore.

Vincent texted me. "Adela, Daisy's so happy. Serena said she'll have Daisy give it back as soon as she can."

I texted back, "No need," and turned off my phone.

When I woke up the next morning, Eve was still asleep, so I went to warm up some milk for her.

That was when I ran into Vincent coming home.

He looked as though he'd hurried back, still chilled from the morning fog.

Vincent asked nervously, "Adela, you booked tickets to Atlanta? Why do you suddenly want to go back?"

Then I remembered that Eve was on his family account. Buying the tickets would have sent him a text alert.

Eve hugged me and said sweetly, "I want to go to Atlanta. I want to see where Mommy grew up."

Only then did Vincent relax.

He brought up the restaurant reservation himself. "Sweetheart, Daddy even got your favorite Disney characters to come. Tonight, you're going to be the prettiest little princess."

Eve's eyes lit up. My heart ached for her, and I reminded Vincent not to be late this time.

Vincent agreed, then hesitated. "Sweetheart, Daddy has to take Daisy to the hunting estate outside the city today so she can try shooting a gun. Let's meet at the restaurant at seven tonight, okay?"

My heart sank.

Vincent had given Eve that hunting estate for her fourth birthday. The deed had come with a beautiful Beretta pistol.

Back then, he'd crouched in front of Eve, held her little hand, and taught her how to pull the trigger.

"Eve, you're Daddy's daughter. Remember, you have to learn to protect what's yours."

But now he was promising his daughter a perfect night while letting another child use her private estate as if it were his to offer.

He always gave Eve just enough to get her hopes up, then took something that belonged to her.

Eve hung her head and sniffled.

But Vincent didn't notice. He was still making excuses. "I already promised to take Daisy hunting. Otherwise, the kids at school will laugh at her tomorrow."

After a suffocating silence, I nodded. "Fine."

Vincent kissed me and hugged Eve.

Before he left, he said, "My two princesses, see you tonight."

Once he was gone, Eve's voice broke into a sob. "Mommy, let's leave tonight. I miss Grandpa and Grandma."
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