Chapter 2

Zoe grabbed a plate of sliced cake from the table and smashed it against me.

The suit and hairstyle I had put together so carefully for my anniversary with Naomi were now a ridiculous mess.

"You're mean! Don't you bully my dad!" Zoe threw her arms wide in front of Elias, glaring at me like I was the enemy.

"You're just jealous of my dad! You ruined our party! You're a jerk!"

Sticky frosting slid down my collar.

I looked down at myself, then at my daughter's face, guarded and hostile.

The razors I had been swallowing all evening felt like they had finally dropped into my chest, cutting all the way down.

"Zoe, what did you just call him?"

Naomi did not spare a glance at the mess on me.

She pulled Zoe behind her first, then reached out to steady Elias, who looked ready to collapse.

"Wyatt, why are you picking a fight with a child?"

Her expression was cold, her voice full of disappointment. "Elias still hasn't recovered. Do you really have to upset him right now?"

I wiped the frosting off my face. "Ms. Holden, my lawyer will draft the divorce papers and send them to your office. Sign them when you get a chance."

I did not look at any of them again. I turned and walked toward the restaurant exit.

"Wyatt!" Footsteps followed behind me.

My sister, Cassie Raines, and Jay chased me down and blocked me at the entrance.

"Are you done making a scene?" Cassie's voice was sharp.

"Elias is a sick man. Can't you show a little compassion? Naomi gives him some extra attention and you threaten her by bringing up divorce?"

I yanked my hand free.

"Being sick gives him the right to shove his way into someone else's family?"

I looked at her. "Cassie, whose sister are you, exactly?"

Jay let out a cold laugh and stepped in front of my sister.

"Wyatt, I am so sick of this victim act of yours.

"You want to know the truth? When Naomi lost the second baby, there was nothing wrong with it."

My heart dropped as I stared at him.

Cassie's expression changed, and she grabbed for Jay's sleeve.

"Let him talk." I stared at Jay, my voice barely above a rasp.

Jay shook Cassie off and laughed again.

"That baby was perfectly healthy.

"But Elias had just found out his illness meant he could never have children. If you and Naomi had a second baby right then, it would've destroyed him."

He held my gaze. "So, your sister, being the OB-GYN, made sure you both believed there were serious complications and talked Naomi into terminating.

"You only got to marry Naomi back then because Elias went abroad. You already got one kid out of the deal, but that wasn't enough. You wanted another one.

"We were all just protecting Elias. It's your own fault for being so selfish, always trying to compete with him."

A ringing swelled in my ears until it drowned out everything else.

Jay's mouth was still moving, but I could no longer make out his words.

Five years ago, Jay was fired from his job. I was the one who begged Naomi to find him a position at her company.

That day, he grabbed my hand, so grateful that he was nearly in tears. He swore he would always look out for Naomi for me.

I looked at my sister's evasive eyes and felt the acid rising in my stomach.

That was a baby I had spent three months looking forward to, a baby that was also her own flesh and blood.

After Naomi lost it, I blamed myself every single day. She would hold me and tell me gently that we would have another one.

All along, every single one of them had known the truth.

I was the only one, grieving like a fool for a child that had been murdered.

A commotion erupted from the private room. "Elias fainted!"

Naomi came rushing out with Elias slumped against her. Zoe trailed behind them, sobbing so hard that she could barely breathe.

Cassie ran over immediately and helped Naomi carry him out.

When Naomi ran past me, she did not spare me so much as a glance. Her shoulder caught my arm, and since I was already unsteady from the fever, I went down hard on the scorching asphalt.

Blood beaded along my knees.

Naomi's car sped away.

A waitress from the restaurant came out and helped me to my feet. "Sir, I think you're running a really high fever. Can I help you get to a hospital?"

I thanked her politely and declined.

My phone buzzed inside my bag. It was Zoe's kindergarten teacher.

"Mr. Raines, I'm sorry to bother you so late. Zoe left her art portfolio in the classroom, and the school is closing for summer break soon.

"I tried calling her mother and her secondary emergency contact, Mr. Sawyer, but neither of them picked up.

"I had to call you as the third emergency contact. Would you be able to come pick it up tomorrow?"

I went still for a moment, not quite processing what I had just heard. "Ms. Torres, I'm sorry. What number did you say I was?"