3

CHAPTER 3

My breath caught in my throat, the sight before me nearly ripped my soul apart.

A little girl curled up on the edge of the bed, her tiny fists scrubbing at her wet cheeks; beside her lay a broken lamp. But it wasn’t her tears that froze me—it was her eyes.

Those round brown eyes, framed with long lashes, were mine.

Her straight nose looked so much like Derrick's that I didn’t need anyone to confirm what my heart already screamed.

This was my baby.

“Rose..” My lips still remembered her name.

That was the same name I had whispered against her soft hair when she was only hours old.

I still remember it after three years.

Her head jerked up in confusion as she blinked at me.

“Rose. It’s me.”

Her tiny mouth parted. And then she asked the question that shattered me.

“Who are you?”

The words struck harder than anything could. My knees went weak, but I forced myself to stay upright and kept my gaze steady on her.

“I’m your mother.”

I paused.

“I’m your mother, Rose.”

Rose's face instantly crumpled into anger.

“No, you’re not!” She yelled, her small fists tightening against the sheets. “You can’t be! My parents are getting married today! And you know what’s funny? They didn’t even let me go. They locked me in here!”

Her little voice broke on the last word, and tears welled again in her eyes.

I froze, pain spiking upwards. They'd not only lied to her, but they’d caged her, too?

Had my baby been treated like an inconvenience on the very day her father was marrying another woman?

“Rose..” I whispered, sinking onto the edge of the bed.

My hands trembled as I reached for her. “I’m so sorry. I’m so, so sorry.”

Tears burn my eyes, but this time I let them flow.

For a moment, she stared at me with scrutiny. Then slowly, she leaned into me. Her tiny body trembled as she buried her face into my dress.

“They don’t deserve you,” I murmured into her hair.

I’ll never let anyone hurt you again.

Before I could say more, her stomach growled loudly. She blinked in embarrassment, and I smiled faintly.

“Come,” I said, brushing her cheek. “Let me make you something. You must be hungry.”

We sat in the living room a short while later with two milkshakes that I had prepared.

Rose held her cup tightly with both hands and sipped eagerly, her eyes watching me over the rim of the cup.

“But really, who are you?” She asked again.

I sighed. “I told you, Rose. I’m your mother. The one who held you when you were born. The one who—”

But I didn’t get to finish.

The sound of footsteps echoed from the hallway, and my body stiffened as I turned to see Derrick.

He was standing tall with a cold expression plastered across his face as he took in the scene in front of him.

There's a bloodied bandage wrapped around his forehead.

Behind him was Florida.

Her eyes locked onto me, and her face turned bright red.

“What the hell do you think you’re doing here?” She shrieked. Her voice was so sharp it made Rose flinch. “Stop feeding my daughter lies!”

Lies?

Her daughter?

The words sent fire through me, and I rose immediately. My hands were shaking so much that my milkshake glass slipped from my grip and shattered across the floor.

“Your daughter?”

I tried to cool my temper.

“Don’t you dare. Rose is mine. She is my child!”

Florida’s mouth twisted into a smirk. “You’re pathetic. Even in your delusion, you cling to a child who doesn’t even know you.”

Rose’s wide eyes darted between all of us in confusion.

“W-what are you talking about?” She asked in a trembling voice.

I turned to her, desperate that she believed me. “Rose, listen to me. I am your mother. I gave birth to you. I—”

But Derrick cut me off instantly. His voice was cold as he bent down to her eye level.

“Rose.. don’t listen to her. She’s not well. She... she’s a sick woman who claims things that aren’t true. She’s not your mother, Florida is.”

Rose’s little face twisted into fear. “She’s lying?”

“Yes,” Derrick said firmly, his hand stroking her hair. “Florida is your real mother. That woman... she’s just a lunatic.”

The word stabbed through me. Rose’s gaze turned to me in fear before she ran into Florida’s waiting arms.

Florida smirked and patted Rose's back. “Come, darling. Don’t let that crazy woman upset you anymore.”

Soon enough, she disappeared with Rose into one of the rooms.

Now, it was just Derrick and me.

For a long time, no one talked until I asked the question that had been eating at me since I walked out of prison.

“Why?”

His mouth opened, closed, then opened again, searching for excuses. But he couldn't find any.

In the end, he just said. “You know why. My father never supported us. He would rather see me dead than married to you.”

My lips parted, a bitter laugh escaping. “That’s your excuse? That’s why you let me rot in prison? That's why you erased me from my own child’s life?”

His jaw tightened, but he didn’t answer. He just reached into his pocket and pulled out a cheque book, then scribbled quickly and tore out a page, giving it to me.

“Take this.” He said. 5 million. Enough for you to start over. Leave Rose and me alone. You’ve suffered enough, don’t make it worse for yourself.”

I stared at the cheque in disbelief, before bursting into a crazed laugh.

“You really think money can fix this?” I hissed and stepped closer to him. “I built my own company before you destroyed me, so I don't need your money. All I need is my daughter.”

“Clara—”

“No.” I jabbed a finger at him, trembling with rage. “I will get her back. Do you hear me, Derrick? You can try to poison her mind, but she’s mine. And I will fight for her with every breath I have left.”

His eyes narrowed. “You don’t have the means.”

“I don't care if I have to burn in hell or sell my soul to the fucking devil, but you will pay.” I grit my teeth.

“Mark my words, you will pay,” I growl, shoving him aside as I strut out with one thing in mind.

I need to rip Derrick apart.

I need to get my business in line.