Chapter 4
551 Words
I checked my phone—nothing but work-related group chats, no personal messages.
Instead, Rachel had posted again. The video showed Nathan kneeling on the floor with a little girl riding on his back. "Giddy up, Daddy! The princess hates those ugly yellow trophies. Smash them all!"
In the next clip, Rachel was throwing a toy ball at my trophies one by one. They fell from the bookshelf, shattering upon impact. The girl clapped her hands gleefully. "Daddy, did I hit them right?"
Nathan’s face was full of doting indulgence. "Perfect."
Watching this, I trembled with rage, the metallic taste of blood filling my mouth. Those were my trophies—symbols of every achievement I’d earned in the industry, the milestones of my career. Now, they lay in ruins.
Did Nathan really not understand what they meant to me?
I struggled out of bed and demanded my assistant bring a wheelchair. I was going home.
When I arrived, a rubber ball struck my left eye. I clutched my face in agony; it felt like ages before I could even wipe away the tears.
Nathan crouched before me, his face contorted with what looked like genuine concern. "Honey, are you okay?" Realizing his mistake, he quickly corrected himself. "Kiara, how did you end up like this?"
I gave him a cold smile. "Thanks to you, as usual. If I hadn't seen Rachel's post, I wouldn't have known you'd brought them into my home to destroy everything I cherish. Nathan, how could you? You know what those trophies represent! They were the product of countless sleepless nights—and you just let your 'little princess' smash them?"
His face twisted with guilt. "I'm sorry. June is only six; I've spoiled her rotten. Please, just cut her some slack. Someone as talented as you will earn plenty more trophies."
I scoffed. "Each one was a piece of my life you can't replace. And she’s your daughter—why should I make allowances for her? Get out of my house. Now."
At that moment, Rachel chimed in. "Relax, we were on our way out anyway. The formaldehyde in the mansion my husband bought me hasn't fully aired out yet, so we were just stopping by. Actually, I want to sincerely thank you for looking after my husband all these years."
She glanced at June, her expression smug rather than apologetic. "June has been spoiled by both of us since she was a baby. Don't worry, we'll have a talk with her about the trophies when we get home."
Taunted to my face, my hands on the wheelchair trembled uncontrollably. "Save your thanks. Cherish these last few days of comfort, because things won’t be so 'cushy' for you two much longer."
Nathan's face twisted in fury. "Kiara, what are you even saying? Do you still think I'm that same boy you can push around? That your hand still holds my fate? You're overestimating yourself."
June began hitting me, her eyes filling with tears. "You mean, bad woman! You're hurting Mommy and Daddy! I, the princess, will teach you a lesson!"
I shoved her away. "Get out!"
She fell to the ground from the push, finally sending Nathan into a blind rage. "Kiara, was that really necessary? You want to cut ties for good? Is that it?"
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