Chapter 3

Marlow sensed the heavy mood between Vincent and me and turned to leave.

But Nina called after him. "Don! Don't go yet!"

Marlow's step halted.

"Could you leave me your phone number? If Mommy really did steal me, I want to call you so you can come rescue me."

Marlow studied her. "If that happens, your mother will be shot under Family law. Then you won't have a mommy at all. Wouldn't that make you sad?"

Nina shook her head. "Honest truth? A mommy who's mean to me deserves to die!"

For a heartbeat, her coldness raised the hair on the back of my neck.

Something like pity flickered in Marlow's eyes. He said quietly, "Give her my number. Don't let her stir up anything worse."

And he left without looking back.

After Marlow left, Nina circled me once. When she saw that my face was calm and Vincent looked at me with nothing but concern, she seemed a little deflated.

I couldn't stop myself from demanding:

"Why did you tell the Don all that?"

Nina folded her arms, lifted her chin, and answered like she had every right to.

"I'm an honest good girl. If I lie, my nose grows like Pinocchio's."

"And yesterday you said it yourself. I'm stolen!"

So this had been deliberate.

Even the threat of "a bullet from the Family" hadn't fazed her.

A chill went through me. I made myself ask:

"What if you really aren't mine? What if your real parents were bad people, and I took you away from them?"

I paused, clinging to one last thread of hope.

"Would you really call the Don?"

"He's Daddy and Mommy's boss. He really will put a bullet in Mommy."

Nina clapped her hands, thrilled.

"Of course I would! I'm an honest good girl!"

The words knocked the breath out of me.

But the calm came quickly after.

Vincent and I exchanged a silent look.

We both knew the truth.

Bad blood ran strong, it seemed.

Vincent's face darkened. "Nina, I'm warning you. No more posting videos about this family. You hear me?"

Then he sighed and rubbed my back.

"She's still little... maybe when she's grown... she'll understand when she's grown."

Nina watched Vincent comfort me, her eyes filled with hatred.

Seven years of caring for her, and this was the look it had earned me.

With my temper, I should have cut ties with her long ago.

But seven years. Seven whole years.

Did she really not care about me at all?

Nina, I would give you one more chance.

But this was the last one.

Looking at the number clutched tight in her hand, I deliberately raised my voice.

"Nina, you really aren't mine by blood. The file on your real parents is locked in the safe at home."

"From now on, you learn to respect Mommy. If you don't change, I'll send you back to your birth parents."

At that, the careless look finally vanished from her face.

In its place came panic.

She threw herself into Vincent's arms, sobbing. "Daddy, Daddy, Daddy, I don't want to go... Mommy isn't telling the truth, is she?"

Seeing her finally lose some of that defiance, Vincent softened.

"Mommy's just scaring you. You can't keep saying whatever you want. Do you understand?"

Nina's tears turned to a grin. Hands on her hips, she pouted.

"I knew you were just scaring me! I knew it wasn't real!"

"Hmph! If Mommy keeps being mean to me, then this year I'll ask Santa to find my real mommy. I hate Sophia!"

After saying it, Nina stared at me on purpose.

I gave her the hurt look she wanted, and sure enough, she smiled wider.

So that was it. She simply liked hurting me.

Vincent was away most of the year and only came home now and then, so he always spoiled her. I was the one who looked after her every day, so in her eyes, I was the one taking her freedom away.

But I was "Mommy," the person who would never leave and would always greet her with a smile.

That was why she felt safe enough to hurt me however she pleased.

Seven years of love, and she'd turned it into a license to do whatever she wanted.

Something in me went cold for good.

I didn't say another word to her.

I only cast another worried glance at the safe.

Nina, I hoped you would cherish this family.