Chapter 3

Humphrey's hand dropped.

He crossed the room fast, wanting to pick Lola up.

"Daddy didn't."

Lola took a step back.

"You were mean just now."

Some of the anger left Humphrey's face.

"Daddy just talked too loud with Mommy."

Lola looked at me.

"Mommy, does it hurt?"

I went over and lifted her into my arms.

"It doesn't hurt."

She buried her face in my shoulder.

"I don't like Daddy like this."

Humphrey stayed where he was, a flicker of panic in his eyes.

"Lola, Daddy will take you to the amusement park tomorrow, okay?"

Lola ignored him.

I carried her up the stairs.

Behind me came Humphrey's voice, holding down the fire.

"Elisa, don't let our problems affect our daughter."

My steps didn't slow.

"That line's for you."

The next day James Group was in an uproar, just as I'd expected.

I'd barely finished making Lola's breakfast when Humphrey's call came through.

The moment I picked up, there was a low, furious growl.

"Happy now?"

"The whole company is talking about me and Sarah."

"Several partners have called to ask if I'm switching out Mrs. James."

I cut the eggs into small pieces.

"So are you?"

His breath caught.

"Don't get snide with me."

"Come to the company right now and get those flowers cleared out."

I glanced at Lola.

She was picking out the carrots.

I put the piece she didn't like back on her plate.

"No time."

"Elisa."

"I'm taking our daughter to the hospital for a follow-up."

There was a beat of silence on the line.

Lola's allergies had always been a serious matter in our house.

No matter how busy Humphrey was before, he'd always ask how it went.

This time he said,

"Have Janet take you for the follow-up."

"Sarah's crying at the company because of you, and she's new. You come here and clear this up."

The hand holding my chopsticks stopped.

"Clear up what?"

"That you sent those flowers on your own and it has nothing to do with me."

I laughed.

"Humphrey, you really are opening my eyes."

"You coaxed her into wanting flowers, I paid for them and had them delivered to the company, and now I'm supposed to wipe up after her."

"What, doesn't she have hands of her own?"

His patience ran out.

"Elisa, don't push me."

"I'll have finance cancel your supplementary card right now."

"Cancel it."

I switched the phone to speaker and held it up in front of Lola.

"Your daddy says he's going to cancel Mommy's card."

Humphrey panicked.

"Why are you letting the kid hear this?"

Lola looked up and asked, very seriously,

"Daddy, does Mommy have no money?"

"No, that's not what Daddy meant."

I took the phone back.

"Go on and be busy, Mr. James."

"I have my own money."

After I hung up, Lola sat in her chair, her little face pulled tight.

"Mommy, does Daddy not like us anymore?"

My throat went dry.

"No."

"Then why is he always with other people?"

I had no answer.

The children's hospital was crowded.

While we waited in line, Lola gripped the hem of my clothes.

"Mommy, I don't want flowers anymore."

"Okay."

"And I don't want Daddy giving flowers to other people either."

I crouched down.

"Lola, some things don't stop happening just because we don't want them to."

She half understood.

The follow-up results weren't good.

The doctor told me again and again,

"Keep allergens strictly controlled right now, especially pollen. Nuts too, don't let her near them."

I nodded.

"We've always been very careful at home."

I'd barely stepped out of the exam room when Humphrey's mother called.

"Elisa, what exactly are you throwing a fit about?"

"A man goes out for business, he looks after a young girl, so what?"

"Sending those flowers to the company, are you trying to embarrass Humphrey, or embarrass the James family?"

I walked toward the exit with Lola.

"Mom, if you like that girl so much, I'll have Humphrey bring her home to be your daughter."

"Don't you smart-mouth me."

She let out a cold snort.

"I've met Sarah. Sweet-tongued, hardworking, better than you sitting home spending money all day."

"Don't put on airs just because you had a daughter."

"The James family isn't short on granddaughters."

I stopped walking.

"Say that again."

Her voice rose.

"Did I say something wrong?"

"Back then, if you hadn't married Humphrey, could you live in a mansion, drive a luxury car?"

"Now your wings are strong, so you dare pick a fight about divorce?"

I looked at the people coming and going down the hospital corridor and suddenly it all felt pointless.

"Mom."

"Don't call me Mom."

"Fine. Ma'am."

She choked on that.

I went on.

"Don't worry. I won't cling to your son."

"When he has time, we'll go and finish the paperwork."

The line was quiet for two seconds.

Then quickly she laughed again.

"Who are you trying to scare?"

"You leave Humphrey, what will you raise the kid on?"

I looked down at Lola.

She was tilting her face up at me.

I fixed her hat properly.

"On my own skills."

Before the call had even ended, a familiar voice came from behind me.

"Elisa?"

I turned around.

A man in a white coat, his name tag reading

Jayden Henson.

My upperclassman from college.

Also, back then, the youngest head of the fragrance lab.

He glanced at the checkup sheet in my hand.

"The child has allergies?"

Before I could speak,

Humphrey's mother's sharp voice carried out of the phone.

"Elisa, do you have a man on the side?"

Jayden raised an eyebrow.

I hung up on the spot.

He looked at me and asked one thing.

"Has Humphrey been mistreating you?"