Chapter 2

"Daisy, have you lost your mind? A child born out of wedlock still has inheritance rights. You need to get people together right now, go to Sam, and stop them." Michelle was frantic, snapping at me over the phone.

"I'm. Not. Crazy. Do it. Give them the transfer." I dug my nails into my palm and answered one word at a time.

After I hung up, I took a cold shower, pulled myself together, and, through my mother-in-law's fury, took my daughter back into my arms.

Two hours later, Michelle messaged me. "The quadruplet transfer was a success. Whatever you decide, I'm behind you!"

She'd attached every piece of evidence of Sam and June doing IVF. I saved it all and sent it to my lawyer.

My decision was divorce.

Sam came home the next day, worn out, dark circles under his eyes.

He spread his arms wide. "Babe! Let me hold my little girl. Once this big project comes through, I'm buying her a mansion."

The second she reached his hands, our daughter started crying. He came over, faintly irritated. "I'm a little tired. You take her after all."

I looked at him and held out an insurance policy. "The mansion can wait. This is the million-dollar education fund you promised our daughter. Sign it."

Sam frowned at me, displeased. "Daisy, is there anything you can do these days besides ask me for money?"

June walked in with my mother-in-law. "Sam adores his little girl," she said loudly. "A million-dollar education fund? He wouldn't think twice about it."

Her figure was lovely, dressed in the newest, prettiest clothes, looking ten years younger than me.

"Here, this is the latest scar cream, I had a friend track it down. Great for the stretch marks on your belly. I was a little busy yesterday, couldn't make it to the baby's hundred-day party. You're not upset, are you?" June propped a hand at her waist and looked at me, pleased with herself.

"What right does she have to be upset? She doesn't earn a cent, my son supports this whole family. Spending money on her is a waste." My mother-in-law curled her lip and eased June carefully into a seat.

"I don't need it. Keep it for yourself." I looked coldly at the three of them playing at being one happy family.

Sam frowned, out of patience. "June comes here out of kindness to bring you scar cream, and you curse her, wishing more scars on her."

"Daisy, ever since you had the baby, you've been impossible. Like a shrew."

So I was a shrew. Impossible.

Fifteen years together, and in the end, in his eyes, this was all I amounted to.

June's lips curved, all put-on generosity. "Sam, women who've just had a baby always get suspicious over everything."

"Besides, Daisy's dad cheated when he was young. It's normal for her to be triggered. I won't hold it against her."

Sam sighed. "Daisy, when will you learn some of June's grace and warmth? You go on like this, and I'll wear out."

"Sam, back when you two were dating, I told you not to take a woman from a single-parent home. They're prone to mental problems. But no, you wouldn't believe me." My mother-in-law looked over at me with disgust, as if I were some kind of virus.

"Mom, that's enough! Daisy's just sensitive after the baby." Sam's mouth stopped his mother, but I saw the regret in his eyes, plain as day.

Back then, when he was chasing me, he said he'd protect me for life, love me for life.

That he'd never let me walk my mother's road, that he'd make sure our future daughter was happy.

Now he was walking my father's road.

But I would not let my daughter walk mine.

I looked at Sam. "The education fund for our daughter. Are you giving June four times that too?"