Chapter 2

I didn't expect Ava to suddenly lunge over and try to yank Daisy out of my arms. Daisy had just calmed down, but the scare made her whole body jolt. She squeezed her eyes shut and started wailing.

Ava didn't care at all and just kept yanking at her with brute force. She screamed, "Get down already! Your dad doesn't want you anymore. Why are you still clinging to him?"

I frowned at Ava and snapped, "What the hell is wrong with you, Ava? Can't you see Daisy is crying?"

She shot me a vicious glare. "I put my life on the line bringing Daisy into this world. Why should she stay with you?"

With that, she ignored Daisy's cries of pain and gave her another hard tug. Afraid that she would hurt Daisy, I had no choice but to loosen my grip.

Ava jabbed a finger hard against Daisy's forehead, scolding her nonstop. "Your dad doesn't want you anymore. Why are you still sticking to him like a leech?"

Hearing that, Daisy cried even harder, her body shaking as she sobbed. My heart ached at the sight, and I hurried to comfort her.

But before I could say anything, Neal cut in, "Enough of this, Jordan. Just focus on your life with Ava. Break things off with that other woman."

I turned my head in shock, staring at Neal in disbelief. He knew perfectly well I hadn't cheated, yet he still wanted to slander me. I knew exactly what he was up to, though.

The neighbors who were lapping up the drama gasped when they heard him.

"So he really did cheat. Men only behave if you nail them to the wall, huh?"

"No wonder he doesn't even want a wife this pretty. Some homewrecker out there has him completely bewitched."

Ava completely lost it. She started swinging at me, her slaps landing wherever they could. "I can't believe you actually cheated on me, Jordan! How could you do this to me? Who is that woman? Tell me who she is right now!"

Her angry shouts grated on my nerves, filling me with frustration. On normal days, my life was just the gym and home. I didn't go anywhere else. No one knew that better than Ava, yet the second Neal said a few loaded words, she believed him without hesitation.

In the past, I would've rushed to explain myself, terrified she would misunderstand. But now that I'd already decided to divorce her, I didn't care what she thought of me anymore.

When I stayed silent, Ava turned her anger on Daisy. "You're your daddy's little girl, aren't you? Go on, ask him about this other mother he got you!"

Daisy had already cried herself red in the face from being frightened, and she now started coughing hard. I quickly pulled her into my arms and patted her back gently to calm her down.

Ava still tried to grab at her, but I saw what she was planning and twisted away with Daisy in my arms. Neal stepped forward to block my path, siding with Ava as he tried to talk me down.

"Come on, man. Ava's the one who carried Daisy to term. If you're set on divorcing her, then get your side chick to give you another kid. Besides, you've always wanted a son, haven't you? Daisy's a girl."

I stared at him incredulously, catching the smug glint in his eyes. He had great acting skills—if I hadn't known him for over a decade, I might not have noticed what he was really thinking.

I didn't want to keep arguing with them, so I lowered my voice and gently asked Daisy, "Daisy, do you want to come with me?"

She threw her arms around my neck without hesitation, sobbing her heart out.

Ignoring Ava's nonstop cursing, I covered Daisy's ears and turned to leave. Behind us, Ava screeched, "Everyone says their daughters are total sweethearts, but mine has nothing but a jet-black heart!"