Chapter 8

Josie played with quiet focus, as if she truly meant to bless them with her music.

But Graham's heart began to beat erratically.

He glanced at Josie, a flicker of unease crossing his features. He didn't know why she had chosen that piece. His steps faltered, but he didn't even notice.

Until Allison let out a startled gasp.

He had stepped on her foot.

Snapping out of his daze, Graham immediately scooped her into his arms and hurried away to find ointment.

The music came to a gentle halt. Josie watched their backs as they disappeared, and told herself—this would be the last time.

After today, she would leave with Kira.

She slipped into the restroom to compose herself, unaware that Kira had wandered to the cake table.

The lavish three-tier cake stood before her, and her eyes reddened.

Not once had Graham ever shared a cake with her.

She knew this one wasn't meant for her, but still, she couldn't help it. She reached out and cut a small slice.

Let her pretend, just for a moment, that this cake was from her father.

That was the thought she clung to.

But just as she made the first cut, Cami rushed over and smacked the plate from her hands.

"You little thief! How dare you steal my cake!"

Kira paled instantly and shook her head. "I'm not a thief."

She had only wanted to know what cake from her father might taste like.

But Cami didn't care. She shoved Kira hard and screamed, "You are a thief! You stole my daddy! Your mom is a thief too! She stole my mommy's man! Neither of you belong here—go away!"

Hearing someone insult her mother, Kira scrambled up, desperate to defend her.

"My mom isn't like that!"

The shouting escalated. The girls shoved each other near the entrance.

Cami, stronger by nature, suddenly pushed Kira out the door.

She lost her footing and fell hard onto the edge of the flowerbed.

Her little face went pale in an instant.

Cami froze, startled.

Then—perhaps out of guilt, perhaps out of calculation—she flung herself onto the ground and began to wail as if she'd been the one hurt.

Hearing the commotion, Josie rushed over, only to see Kira lying motionless in a pool of blood, her face deathly white.

Her hands trembled violently. Panic overtook her as she gathered her daughter in her arms and shouted for help.

Graham arrived moments later. When he saw the scene, his face went white as well.

He stepped forward to check on Kira—

But Allison called out just then, panic in her voice. "Graham! Cami fainted!"

He froze.

A flicker of hesitation crossed his face, then he turned and ran toward Cami.

Josie stood there, staring at his retreating back in disbelief.

Her entire body chilled. She held her bleeding daughter close and rushed to the hospital.

Thankfully, the injury wasn't life-threatening. But the doctors said Kira should stay overnight for observation.

Midnight came. Graham never appeared. Not even a phone call.

Josie sat by Kira's bedside, eyes full of guilt and pain.

But Kira only looked at her and smiled, trying to ease her mother's worry. "It's okay if Daddy doesn't come."

Josie's heart clenched.

"It's okay if he doesn't like me," Kira added quietly. "I still have you, Mommy. That's enough. Mommy, let's leave this place."

There was no trace of longing in her eyes now.

She was done hoping.

The image of her father walking away without looking back would forever be etched in her memory.

If nothing she did could make him love her, then it was better to leave.

Josie burst into tears and pulled Kira into a tight embrace.

The next morning, Josie checked Kira out of the hospital. They got into a cab headed for the airport.

Before boarding, she sent Graham one final message: [Goodbye forever.]

Then she deleted every trace of him from her phone.

Every number. Every thread. Every contact.

'Graham, you've used up all three chances. From now on, there's nothing left between us.'