Chapter 2

I held my wheezing daughter tightly, my voice shaking with rage.

"That was Buddy! Lily’s favorite dog! What Hailey did will scar this child for life!"

Ethan knitted his brows, ready to defend Hailey again.

I didn't give him the chance. With tear-filled eyes, I spat out the painful memories. "Buddy was Lily’s third birthday present. I brought him home when he was just a tiny puppy. She was so happy she couldn't sleep all night!"

"For two years, he ate with her, slept with her, and was her best friend! How could you let this psycho torture and kill him?!"

Standing behind Ethan, Hailey sneered, looking completely unbothered.

"It was just a cheap mutt, Chloe. Lily isn't that fragile. She won't be scarred."

She sighed dramatically. "I was just worried she'd be sad if we simply gave the dog away. That's why I preserved its bones and fur. Honestly, she should be thanking me for my thoughtfulness."

Her shameless lies shattered the last of my self-control.

I lost it.

I grabbed the glass cup from the nightstand and hurled it straight at the disgusting pair.

The glass slammed hard against Hailey’s arm. She let out a sharp cry of pain.

Instantly, her eyes welled with tears, and she bit her lip pitifully.

"If I knew Chloe hated me this much, I wouldn't have come today. I was just trying to be nice, and now I'm accused of ruining Lily’s birthday..."

Seeing her cry, Ethan rushed to support her, glaring at me with pure venom.

"You are a literal madwoman, Chloe! Not only did you disrespect Hailey, but you also have zero respect for me!"

I wanted to scream at him for being so blind, but Lily’s breathing suddenly grew incredibly shallow.

Her tiny gasps felt like physical stabs to my chest.

Her asthma attack was getting worse.

Panicked, I tried to push past Ethan to get the emergency inhaler from the nightstand.

But he grabbed my arm, blocking my path. His voice was cold and commanding. "You are not leaving this room until you apologize to Hailey."

I looked at my suffocating, trembling daughter. My heart was being shredded by a dull blade.

For Lily, I had to swallow my pride and my tears.

I lowered my head and whispered hoarsely to Hailey, "I’m sorry. I lost my temper."

But the moment the words left my mouth, Hailey reached out and shoved me hard.

My lower back slammed violently against the sharp corner of the desk. The pain was so intense I couldn't stand up.

Hailey quickly took two steps back, gasping in mock shock. "Oh my god, Chloe, how could you be so clumsy? If you can't even take care of yourself, how can anyone trust you with Lily?"

Ethan instinctively reached down to help me.

But Hailey grabbed his arm, her voice sweet and urgent. "Ethan, Lily is still struggling to breathe. We need to check on the baby first."

Ethan hesitated for a fraction of a second, then scooped Lily out of my arms and walked out of the room with Hailey.

I slumped on the cold floor.

Watching their retreating backs, a bitter ache swelled in my chest.

My tears fell silently, mixing with the blood on my bruised hands.

I forced myself up, leaning heavily against the desk, and dragged myself to the bathroom.

I turned on the shower, letting the hot water wash away the suffocating smell of blood.

After cleaning up, I forced my aching body out of the bedroom.

The moment I stepped into the living room, a heart-wrenching cry echoed through the house.