Chapter 3

When the slap landed on the child's face, the entire room went silent.

Leah held her cheek, staring in disbelief at the grandmother who had always doted on her.

Mom clearly regretted it. Her fingers trembled, but she turned all her guilt against me. "Look what you've taught this child to become!"

Adrian had already helped Vera up, his eyes cold. "You grew up spoiled by the Walker family, used to everyone revolving around you. You have the family trust, your research career, your reputation. Why can't you make room for a woman who has nothing and a child?"

He gripped my arm and dragged me toward the door. "You can leave. There's no place for you here anymore."

I looked at this man who once waited for me outside the lab building on snowy nights, who once promised to protect me forever, and felt the very last trace of attachment drain away.

"Vera, you win." I took Leah's hand. "You can have Adrian. You can have my mother, too. I don't want either of them anymore."

I turned to leave, but Adrian seized my wrist. "Who said you could take Leah? You're her mother, and I'm her father. The lawyers have already filed an emergency petition with the family court, claiming you're emotionally unstable after the kidnapping and pose a risk to the child. Until the hearing, she stays at the estate in the care of my legal wife and me."

I went numb.

So the lawyers at the dinner weren't just there to amend the trust. They had already prepared the paperwork to take Leah away from me.

Mom grew anxious too. "Elena, stop being stubborn. You can barely take care of yourself right now. Get treatment first, and we can talk about Leah once you're stable."

Just then, Mia suddenly shrieked, "Don't touch my crown! Daddy gave it to me!"

When I turned around, all I saw was Mia yanking Leah's hair with all her strength. Leah lost her balance, and the back of her head slammed against the marble steps. Mia tumbled on top of her and began wailing.

Blood began seeping from the back of Leah's head.

"Leah!" I threw myself forward and scooped her up. "Call an ambulance! Get a doctor, now!"

Leah struggled to open her eyes and reached out toward Adrian. "Daddy, it hurts..."

Adrian was just one step away from reaching her, but Mia's crying pulled him away. He turned around, picked up Mia, and anxiously checked her arms and forehead.

I held Leah's limp body and screamed myself hoarse for the housekeeper to call 911. By the time the family doctor arrived, the accumulated injuries and terror of the past few days finally overwhelmed me completely.

When I woke again, Leah and I were lying in a room in the guest wing of the estate.

Adrian stood by the window. The moment I opened my eyes, he said coldly, "Mia was only trying to take back what belonged to her, but Leah deliberately fought her for it and nearly knocked her down the stairs. She's five and already fighting for attention. What exactly have you been teaching her?"

Leah burrowed into my arms and whispered, "I didn't start it. She pulled my hair first."

Adrian slammed the glass down on the table. "You're still lying! You've completely corrupted her."

He produced the documents the lawyers had prepared. "The court will review the temporary custody petition tomorrow. Until then, Leah stays with Vera. You have no right to take her."

I held my child tight. "No. She's terrified of Vera. Vera just threatened her with those kidnappers!"

"Enough." He pried my hands open impatiently. "Stop turning everything into some conspiracy."

I ripped the IV needle from my hand and lunged to grab Leah. Security stood outside the door but didn't intervene at Adrian's signal. He shoved me back onto the bed. When I lunged again, he slapped me across the face.

The room went dead silent.

He stared at the red mark on my face, and a brief flicker of hesitation crossed his eyes.

I blocked the doorway and slowly sank to my knees, gripping his hand. "Adrian, I'm begging you. It's all my fault. I'll sign whatever you want, I'll move out right now. I don't want anything. Just let me keep Leah."

"I'll take her away from Grayport. You and Vera will never see me again. Please don't hand her over to that woman."

That hint of hesitation was quickly replaced by anger.

"Leave?" He peeled my fingers away one by one. "Where do you think you'll run to with my daughter? Elena, you've turned everyone's life upside down and now you want to just walk away?"

He picked Leah up as she cried and screamed, then walked out.

The door locked in my face.

The countdown before my eyes had only one day left.