0005.

James swallowed the lump in his throat, trying to ignore the pain of seeing Kendall so close yet so far away. "Amanda, I—"

"What are you doing here?" she interrupted, her shock quickly giving way to anger. "You have no right to be here."

"I'm here for Kendall,"James managed to say, his voice hoarse with emotion. "I'm not leaving without her."

“What? You ain't serious. You left us and never bothered to contact us and now you showed up here asking for Kendall. Did you ever act like you have a daughter?” Amanda questioned.

“What do you mean, Amanda? Don’t act like I am the one in the wrong here. You left me, taking our daughter along with you,” James said.

“Yeah I did and I don’t regret it,” Amanda replied trying so hard not to give in to the emotions messing her mind up on seeing James again.

“Amanda, you!”

“Let’s not keep this conversation any longer,” Amanda cut him off. “It is already over and be it known to you that I left for good,” Amanda dropped the bombshell, trying so much to conceal the tears that has filled her eyes.

Her gaze hardened as she further tried not to look at James. As she took in a deep breath to calm the storm in her heart, her lips pressed into a thin line.

“Don’t worry about having to take the responsibility of raising Kendall. I will not leave my daughter with you. I will make sure Kendall has nothing to do with you or your family from now on. you should be relieved about that, she wouldn’t pose as a problem with you moving on with your life," she added.

“What? Amanda! How dare you say such?” James said as he became furious.

“Because I believe that’s what you want to hear. Just sign the divorce papers and email them back. I cannot wait any more,” Amanda said in the coldest tone, giving James goosebumps.

James clenched my fists, anger and desperation warring within him.

“Amanda, I cannot give up on our daughter. If you think I am here to abandon her then I have to make you known to you that you are thinking wrongly,” James replied.

“Im sorry James but you have to give up on Kendall because I would never allow you raise her. She doesn't deserve to have a father like you nor a family like yours,” Amanda said losing her temper.

“You ain't serious Amanda, are you? What are you talking about? How could you boldly ask me to give up on my daughter? And if I refuse? What then?"

James asked staring right into Amanda’s eyes.

A cruel smile spread across her lips as she stared back at James right in the eyes for the first time since he showed up at her doorstep.

"Then I guess we'll have to settle this in court," she said.

"And trust me, James, I will fight to the bitter end to ensure that you never get custody of our daughter."

"Amanda, you don’t have to do this, you would only end up hurting yourself," James replied.

“I mean it James, I would make sure I cut every tie with your family,”

“Amanda I think something is wrong. I haven't seen you act this way,” James said as the expression on his face became gentle all of a sudden.

Amanda he knew would never act like this, he knew she was hurt and might have left because of whatever made her hurt.

“Amanda,” James called softly. “Can we talk this out? We're still family."

“Family? What? You should never say that to me. Let's just start this fight and end it already with everyone moving on,” Amanda said as she blinked back the tears threatening to fall.

Deep down she was already about breaking down but she had to remain tough in front of James, she couldn't let him see her like that.

“Amanda!” James called trying to move closer but she raised her right hand asking him not to come closer.

“Leave! You have overstayed your welcome and never show up here again,” Amanda said with finality.

“Can I talk to Kendall then. Can I see her?” James asked.

“No!” Amanda said as she went inside closing the door at James’s face.

“Fuck!” James cursed hitting his fist on the wall as his mind reeled with so many emotions. He couldn't even hate Amanda as he had thought he would. He couldn't imagine he became soft and wanted to talk things out.

“Has she moved on? Was it the reason she was so cold?” James thought as his memories reminded him of the man who was sitting comfortably on the couch in Amanda’s apartment.

*

Amanda leaned her back against the door, her entire body trembling as if she were on the verge of collapse. it felt like her heart was ablaze, searing her chest while being pierced by a million knives of despair.

Each breath was labored and each beat of her heart was a painful reminder of James' betrayal. Tears rolled down her formerly rosy cheeks, now drained of color and utterly pale.

The betrayal stung even more because James hadn't just cheated, but also belonged to the family that destroyed hers.

"He's a devil," She cried out, her voice cracking as she slammed her hand against her chest like it would quell the terrible pain within.

"Mommy?" Kendall's small and fearful voice pulled Amanda from her stormy thoughts. She realized that she had been crying helplessly in front of her daughter and a stranger.

"Mommy," Little drops of tears filled Kendall's eyes in response to her mother's emotional distress. "Why are you crying? Did Daddy hurt you?"

The innocence in Kendall's voice broke Amanda's heart to pieces. She didn't want her daughter to be pulled into the ugly situation of her marriage, that was why she cut all ties with James and his toxic family. But James had to ruin her efforts like he had done with her heart.

"No," Amanda's voice cracked. "Daddy didn't..."

Caught between a rock and a hard place, Amanda struggled with whether to lie to protect Kendall's innocence and happiness or to reveal the darkness that had seeped into their lives. The options were difficult and almost impossible because either of them would cause harm now or later.

"Mommy and Daddy are simply having a few issues that will be sorted out soon," The stranger, who was Amanda's lawyer, said to Kendall.

"What issues?" Kendall inquired, her little curiosity in unrest.

She had never seen her mother in such a state, and her eagerness to understand the cause of the disagreement between her parents was evident.

"Why are Mommy and Daddy fighting? Mommy, why didn't you let me meet Daddy?" Kendall asked, her voice quivering and warm tears trickling down her cheeks.

Fresh tears filled Amanda's eyes to see her daughter slowly falling apart. The happiness that was in Kendall's beautiful eyes had vanished, giving way to pain.

"Baby, don't worry about anything..." Amanda walked briskly to her and lifted her from the lawyer's side. "I and your Dad will fix whatever problem we have. Don't think about it again..."

Amanda wiped Kendall's tears away with her thumb before pulling her gently into her arms. It was more of a tight, yet gentle and warm embrace.

The embrace was enough to calm Kendall's troubled little heart about her mother's display of distress and her forceful separation from her father.

Kendall's little sniffs as she rested her face against Amanda's shoulder, deepened the heartache of her mother.

"Why don't you wait in your room, while I talk to Lawyer Charles for a second?" Amanda requested, needing urgent privacy with the lawyer, which would, in turn, give her time to think of a suitable lie.

Amanda preferred a lie because Kendall was too young to experience such emotional trauma. She deserved better than that.

"Will you go to your room?" Amanda whispered close to her ear before giving her a soft kiss.

"Okay," Kendall responded quietly, her initial cheerfulness gone.

Amanda placed her gently on the floor and bent to her level.

"Go," Amanda smiled, kissing her chubby cheeks.

Kendall left the sitting room without any question or opposition. Amanda was glad that she didn't have a stubborn or defiant child.

"Are you willing to go to court?" Charles asked, crossing his leg and locking his hands elegantly on his thigh.

Charles was a lawyer that Amanda contacted during the months of her separation from James. Lizzy had gotten her in contact with him and he had been helping with the divorce procedure.

Charles had a good reputation and had won a respectable amount of cases. His handsome features and warm smile always attracted clients and gave them a reason to trust him.

"Do you think that hiding the truth from your daughter will help?" Charles asked, staring intensely at her.

An intensity that he never entertained for other clients. It was like a strange interest, a forbidden one.

"How am I supposed to know the answers to those questions? you're my lawyer, do your job!" Amanda snapped but regretted it immediately.

She gently placed her hand on her forehead and sighed wistfully.

"I'm sorry," She apologized.

"I took no offense," He responded with a little smile gracing his lips. "You are emotionally sensitive at this point and I understand you. However, you have to think things through and calmly make your decision,"

"Normally, pre-divorced parents agree on joint custody, which enables the child to see and spend time with both parents..." He explained.

"No!" Amanda's voice was firm, her heart racing in her chest. "I don't want my daughter to spend time with that man or his family,"

Charles uncrossed his legs and slowly stood to his feet.

"Okay, I will help you speed up your divorce process and take your daughter away from him," Charles said with a strange undertone to his words.

"Thank you so much," Amanda sighed in relief. "I'm sorry about everything you've witnessed and for not being able to offer you a proper dinner as promised. I truly appreciate your help,"

"You're welcome, Amanda," He muttered softly and walked closer to her.

He patted her arm a bit and walked towards the door.

"Have a good night," Charles mouthed before exiting.

Amanda had intended to accompany him, but she was too emotionally drained to do so.

"I won't let you get close to my daughter, James. I will keep her as far from you and your monstrous family as possible. I also promise to get my revenge on you all. You will pay for everything you've done," Amanda spat, her eyes blazing with fury and hatred.