Chapter 3
708 Words
"Ignore her. Let's go in."
At last, Declan spoke. But even as he said the words, he didn't even bother to glance my way.
When Trina saw him turning to leave, she darted forward and wrapped her arms around Declan. "Daddy, don't ignore me..."
The very next second, the man's brow furrowed in irritation. He wrenched his arm up and shoved Trina hard away, his voice ice-cold with fury. "I am not your father."
The words hung in the air for a heartbeat.
Then Declan turned and strode straight into the restaurant, not sparing either of us another single glance.
I don't even remember how I got out of that restaurant after that. All I can recall is lunging forward to grab my daughter into my arms, then Westlyn stepping right in front of me.
She tilted her chin up, looked down her nose at me, and spat, "You'll spend your whole life under my heel, and you'll never get out."
*****
No sooner had I gotten Trina settled and asleep than ping, a notification popped up on my phone.
It was a message from Declan.
Declan: Everything that happened today was sudden. Don't overthink it, okay?
I stared down at those words on the screen, and an ache I couldn't name bloomed deep in my chest, climbing up until it clogged my throat.
"This was just how Declan always was, wasn't it? He always hits you with a slap, then tosses you a half-hearted consolation prize," I said to myself.
My phone pinged again, cutting through my thoughts.
This time, it was a message from Westlyn.
Westlyn: Now that you're back in the country, come to the company tomorrow. It's time we finally settled on who gets the company inheritance once and for all.
I glanced over at my daughter, sleeping soundly in her bed, then dialed my best friend's number.
"Hey, long time no see! What's up?" she answered.
"Do you have time tomorrow? Can you watch Trina for me for the day?" I asked.
"Wait, you're back in the country? Where's Declan?"
I froze for a second, then let out a bitter, hollow laugh. "He's busy. Busy getting married."
As soon as the words left my mouth, my best friend blew up at the other end of the line. "What the hell? Is he treating you like a sidepiece?!"
Yeah, I couldn't even explain it.
After I hung up, I stared at the flood of new notifications popping up on my phone screen, my mind going completely blank.
Every single one was from Declan.
The first was an address.
Followed by another message.
Declan: I'm swamped with work right now. You and Trina can stay in the rental apartment for the time being.
Declan: Starting tomorrow, I want you to bring all three meals to my office every day. I'm still used to the food you cook.
Declan: Oh, and the day after tomorrow is Westlyn's birthday. You're her older sister, don't forget to prepare a gift for her.
The second those words popped up on my screen, a scorching, unnameable rage exploded in my chest and surged all the way up to my temples.
Even now, Declan hadn't bothered to explain a single thing to me. Instead, he just ordered me around like he always did. He didn't even remember that today was Trina's birthday.
My fingers trembled as I slowly typed out the words on the screen.
Eunice: Declan, do you remember what today is?
He never replied after that.
I was so bone-deeply tired that I drifted off to sleep right there, caught up in that hazy fog.
The next morning, when I blinked awake still groggy, my daughter Trina was sitting up in bed holding my phone, grinning at me all excited.
"Mommy! Dad sent you money!"
I grabbed the phone over on instinct and checked.
Declan had replied to my message back in the early hours of the morning.
Declan: What day?
Declan: Are you short on cash again? If you need money, you don't have to cook up these dumb excuses. Just take the money.
And by now, Trina had already accepted the red envelope.
It was one dollar.
It wasn't even enough for a single ice cream cone.
- Writer
