Hung for a Lie

I looked up in shock at Giselle Thornwall.

“That’s the only thing my mom left to me…”

My daughter, Palmer Thornwall, looked annoyed.

“So what is it going to be? If you’re not going to do it, Lucy stays up there.”

“I’ll do it!”

Lucy Thornwall hadn’t had a drop of water in three days.

If she wasn’t released soon enough, she could very well die here.

With tears in my eyes, I removed a tag necklace from my neck and carefully handed it to Palmer.

“Palmer, this is all I have left of your grandmother. Keep it safe…”

Palmer glanced at the necklace in my hand, her voice dripping with disdain.

“It’s the hideous thing ever. I don’t get why Theo would ever want this.”

Theo?

I couldn’t believe that Theo was behind this.

Before I could wrap my head around the whole thing, Theo Castell emerged from outside.

“Palmer!”

“Theo!”

Theo’s presence perked Palmer up.

She darted toward Theo with a spring in her step. Throwing herself into his arms, she said, “What took you? I’ve been waiting for ages.”

Giselle approached and shuffled Palmer’s hair before saying, “Palmer, Theo has his own business to take care of. It’s only natural he arrives a little later.”

The picture of the trio acting like one big family cut into me like a knife.

I couldn’t make sense of it all.

What was it that made Theo charming?

The moment Theo showed up, gone were my sweet baby girl and loving wife.

Meanwhile, Palmer put on her sweetest voice, seeking Theo’s approval.

“Even though you’re late, I still got you the necklace.”

She clicked her tongue at me as if summoning a dog. She said, “Come here, you. Give the necklace to Theo.”

No father would tolerate such disrespect from his daughter, and I was no exception.

Anger and humiliation overtook my every being.

It took multiple deep inhales and constant reminders that Lucy was in their custody before I could swallow my pride.

Rising to my feet, I gripped the necklace in my palm and headed toward them.

I barely moved a few feet.

Palmer cut me off, her face filled with annoyance.

“Did I say you can stand?

“A piece of trash doesn’t deserve to walk on two feet. Get on all fours and present the necklace to Theo with your mouth.”

The taste of metal filled my mouth.

I bit down hard on my lip.

‘Dean Thornwall, keep it together!’

I screamed inside my head while dropping to my knees in disgrace. Clamping the necklace between my teeth, I crawled toward Theo.

“Hahahaha! He actually did it!”

Palmer’s laughter rang out across the warehouse.