He Left Me for His Adopted Sister, Then Begged Me to Return

Chapter 4

A thunderclap boomed outside the window, startling my daughter Ruby awake, and she came running to me. I quickly gathered her into my arms to comfort her.

"It's okay," I said softly. "I'm here. It's just thunder, nothing to be afraid of."

She buried her face in my neck, her eyes red‑rimmed, and her voice choked with emotion as she said, "Mommy, where's Daddy? He promised me yesterday that tomorrow he'd take me to the amusement park to ride the carousel."

My heart ached, but I forced a smile and coaxed her, "Daddy went to work. He'll be back tomorrow."

She pouted, insisting on calling Daddy right now.

My heart turned cold.

At that moment, Rowan was definitely still at the hotel, having fun with Violet.

But I couldn't bear to shatter my daughter's idealized image of her father, so I could only coax her softly, "Ruby, be good. It's so late. Daddy must be asleep. Let's not disturb his sleep, okay?

"I promise I'll text him right away and remind him to come back tomorrow, so he can take you to the amusement park."

After coaxing my daughter to sleep, I dialed Rowan's number.

All I heard was a short beep. He had hung up instantly.

I patiently redialed over and over until, on the last try, he finally picked up.

Before I could even speak, Rowan's cold and irritated voice exploded from the other end.

He said, "Are you ever going to stop? Calling me nonstop in the middle of the night! Didn't I make myself clear? We have nothing to talk about except divorce! If you're still dragging your feet and refusing to sign, don't bother me again!"

I suppressed all my anger and simply relayed my daughter's message. "There was a thunderclap just now," I said. "Ruby woke up scared and wouldn't stop asking for you. She said you promised to take her to the amusement park tomorrow."

There was a brief silence on the other end. Clearly, he had remembered his promise to our daughter, and his tone softened slightly.

He said, "The amusement park? I remember that."

The next second, Violet's voice cut in, deliberately taunting.

She said, "Nova, did Ruby really say that? I find it a bit hard to believe. Did you make that up because you don't want Rowan to keep me company while I get some air?

"If you really mind it, you can just say it. There's no need to keep using the child as bait, is there?"

When it came to my daughter, I saw red. I was about to retort.

Yet Rowan was easily swayed by her words. He snapped at once, "Nova Dean, that's enough! To avoid divorce, you'll even use the child as an excuse. I was such a fool to have married you!"

From the other end came the sound of him about to hang up.

Not wanting to let my daughter down, I forced down my humiliation and offered a compromise.

"If you want a divorce, fine. But tomorrow morning, you must come home."