Chapter 2

I didn't say a word. I just dropped the lunchbox onto his desk with a heavy thud.

Carter blinked, looking surprised.

"You brought this for me?"

I let out a dry laugh.

"Who else? Your assistant?"

Carter frowned, grabbed my arm, and dragged me out of the office.

"Chloe, this is a corporate office. Stop making a scene here."

"I've already eaten. Don't bother bringing me lunch anymore."

I shook his hand off and looked him in the eyes.

"Why is it that when I spend hours cooking your favorite meals, you barely touch them, but when she makes things you supposedly hate, you eat them like a starving dog?"

Carter snatched the lunchbox from the desk, shoved it back into my hands, and sighed.

"You wouldn't understand. Just go home."

"I'm incredibly busy. Don't come to the office again unless it's an emergency."

He pushed me out of the office. Before I knew it, two security guards appeared.

One of them made a polite but firm gesture toward the exit.

"This way, ma'am."

Before I turned around, I caught a glimpse of Monica inside the office.

She had her arms crossed, giving me a smug, victorious smirk.

Down in the lobby, the security guard spoke in a serious tone.

"Mrs. Miller, Mr. Miller has instructed us that you will need an appointment to enter the building from now on."

I looked down and smiled bitterly. What a joke I was.

When I got home, the moment I stepped through the door, my daughter started screaming from the kitchen.

"Mom! What kind of garbage did you leave on the counter? It tastes disgusting!"

"And where did you put the new designer bag and clothes you bought? I need to wear them to hang out with my friends."

"Are you deaf? Answer me!"

I stood there, completely numb.

I didn't even realize when my once sweet, bright little girl had turned into such a spoiled, disrespectful brat.

I looked at the counter and realized she had eaten the food I prepared.

"That was wet food I mixed up for the cat," I said quietly. "Your actual dinner is in the fridge."

Hailey’s face flushed with anger. She marched up to me and yelled,

"Are you insane? Why would you put my food in the fridge?"

"You did this on purpose just to ruin my day! I'm telling Dad!"

I took a deep breath, trying to keep my patience.

"You came into my room in the middle of the night yesterday begging for cold pasta salad. It's summer, Hailey. If I didn't put it in the fridge, it would have spoiled."

Hailey choked on her words for a second, then snapped,

"Well, you could have left a note! You clearly didn't want me to eat it anyway."

"Dad was seriously blind to marry you. I wish Monica was my mom instead!"

I froze, staring at her in sheer disbelief.

"You... you know Monica?"

She scoffed, looking at me with pure disdain.

"Duh, of course I do."

"Monica has been visiting me at school and bringing me the best snacks."

"She told me that if she hadn't gotten sick and had to move to Europe years ago, you would have never had the chance to marry Dad!"

"You stole him from her!"

She looked me up and down, sneering.

"Honestly, you don't even compare to her."

"Now that she's back and working with Dad, if I were you, I'd just sign the divorce papers and pack my bags. Let them be together."

"After all, Dad and Monica actually look good together."

My hands started shaking violently. I pointed at her, my voice cracking.

"Hailey! I am your mother! How can you say something so cruel to me?"

"And you actually believe the lies of some home-wrecking outsider?"

Hailey snatched my new designer bag from the sofa and shrugged.

"Stop trash-talking Monica. She didn't lie."

"She's gorgeous, young, and sweet. Anyone would love her."

"Look at you. You're so shrivelled up and frumpy, you look like a grandma!"

With that, Hailey turned on her heel and slammed the front door behind her, leaving me standing alone in the silent house.

I sank onto the couch, staring at my reflection in the dark screen of my phone.

It wasn't like I was always like this. In my twenties, I was stunning. Everyone told me I was a natural beauty.

But after having Hailey, my stomach was ruined with stretch marks, and my skin lost its glow from sleepless nights.

It felt like I had aged ten years overnight.

I had forgotten what it felt like to be beautiful.

*Buzz.*

A text from Carter popped up on my screen.

"Working late tonight. Don't wait up."