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Chapter 9
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The Divorce Countdown: Tears in the Closet Chapter 10
One week later, sunlight streamed through the living-room windows on a Saturday morning.I sat on the couch and changed television channels with the remote."Mommy! I want strawberry milk, and it can't be cold!" I shouted.Mom leaned out from the kitchen with a cleaning cloth in her hand. Her hair was twisted loosely behind her head, and she wore an old flour-stained T-shirt."Coming! I just finished washing the strawberries!" she answered cheerfully.She brought me warm strawberry milk and placed it on the coffee table.I took one sip and frowned."It's too sweet. I don't want it." I pushed the cup away.Mom did not become angry. She picked it up. "All right. Mommy will make orange juice. Would you like a little honey?""No honey. I want it sour.""Whatever our little queen wants." Mom returned to the kitchen.The front door opened, and Dad entered carrying a huge box."Lily, look what Daddy bought you!"He set it down and opened it. Inside was a limited-edition doll cast
The Divorce Countdown: Tears in the Closet Chapter 9
After dinner, I went into Dad's study to look for paintbrushes.The desk drawers were unlocked. When I opened the lowest one, I found documents inside a brown envelope. I thought they were divorce agreements.My fingers jerked away as if I had been shocked.The voice that had been silent for two days suddenly returned.[Key plot item detected. Host, be advised: the divorce agreement between the male and female leads has been completed.][Their recent behavior was only a performance intended to calm the host. They will sign shortly.][The host should leave immediately and avoid unnecessary resistance.]I stared at the brown envelope.So they had only been kind because they felt guilty.They still did not want me.I did not cry. I thought I had already used every tear I had.I turned, left the study, and went back to my bedroom.I took out the small backpack I normally used for toys.I packed no clothes and no toys. I took only the family photograph showing the three of us.
The Divorce Countdown: Tears in the Closet Chapter 8
Mom's phone rang for the third time in the living room.She sat on the kitchen floor beside a Dutch oven, awkwardly cutting pork ribs while following an online recipe.Her hands, insured for a fortune and trained to create perfect ballet lines, were covered in grease and diluted blood. A fresh cut on her index finger was still bleeding.The phone stopped and began ringing again.I stood in the kitchen doorway, terrified by the blood on her finger."Mommy, your phone. Your hand is bleeding," I reminded her softly.Mom wiped her hand carelessly against her apron and answered."Elena Johnston! Why aren't you at the theater? Opening night is in two days. Do you still want to be principal dancer?" The artistic director's furious voice came through the phone.Mom looked at me in the doorway."Mr. Bell," she said calmly, "I'm resigning."The other end went silent."What are you talking about? You worked three years for this role. Do you understand the financial consequences of walk
The Divorce Countdown: Tears in the Closet Chapter 7
Dad did not sleep at all that night.At eight the next morning, he changed into casual clothes and drove directly to Little Oaks Academy.Ms. Whitfield, the academy director, rose quickly when Dad entered her office with a cold expression. "Mr. Johnston, why did you come personally? Lily is home sick today. Is she feeling better?"Dad ignored the question and pulled out a chair."Bring me every security recording from the senior preschool classroom for the past three days. I want all of it."Ms. Whitfield hesitated. "Mr. Johnston, that isn't our normal procedure. The recordings include other children's private information."Dad slammed his car keys onto the desk."My daughter was injured here yesterday. Her knee is covered in bruises. If you won't preserve and review the footage with me, I'll call the police and have them request it."Ms. Whitfield jumped and immediately asked security to display the recordings on her computer.Dad watched the screen.The first scene showed l
The Divorce Countdown: Tears in the Closet Chapter 6
My fever rose suddenly during the second half of the night.Dad wrapped me in a towel and ran downstairs with me in his arms. Mom followed in slippers without changing her shoes.The emergency department at St. Alder Children's Hospital was washed in harsh white light.The doctor studied the thermometer and frowned. "One hundred three point six. Why did you wait this long? And where did these injuries come from?"Dad stood beside the bed, his tall body somehow bent and smaller."Another child pushed her. We didn't notice."The doctor shook his head and placed a stethoscope against my chest."She has mild malnutrition and signs of stomach cramping. How have you been feeding her? A six-year-old's stomach is sensitive. Have you been forcing her to eat food she can't tolerate?"Mom froze and turned sharply toward Dad."Carrots," she whispered. "She hates carrots. But for the last few days, she has eaten them every day and swallowed without even drinking water."The doctor finishe
The Divorce Countdown: Tears in the Closet Chapter 5
"Be quiet."Dad spoke.His voice was not loud, but it carried a coldness no one could challenge.He strode into the room and stopped before Nora."Take it off."Nora trembled and covered the necklace with both hands. "Mr. Johnston, Lily insisted on giving it to me. Then she hit me..."Dad did not argue.He reached out, seized the chain, and pulled.The metal clasp snapped loudly in the room.The necklace returned to Dad's hand.Mom came to me, knelt on the floor, and wrapped her shaking arms around me."Lily, Mommy is here. Mommy isn't leaving."I leaned against her shoulder and listened to her heart pounding.The system panel inside my head flashed with blinding red light.[Error! Error! Severe deviation from the intended plot detected. Countdown forcibly terminated.]Dad turned toward Nora, who had backed into the corner, and called Grandma."Mom, you have thirty minutes to come collect Nora. From now on, do not bring another outsider into my home."My daughter has a
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