Unloved In His Own Home

back to her la

oherent, still c

e sofa, intending to

, mistaking him for someon

. It was a blur of alcoh

it him. Guilt gnawed at him. He

urs later, hungov

happened, her face was a

er purse, pulled

ce trembling. "Name your price. J

burning. He wasn't a blackmailer. He

r Grandpa Harrison

Olivia discovered

ached her g

world values and a strong sense

onversation was brief, a co

This was a debt. Olivia needed a h

ranged, swift and

had instilled in the Hayes family, and the undeniable fact of the coming child, agreed. H

a perfect mini

ue eyes, and, as she grew, her mother's innate

loe mirrored Olivia'

her genuine affection, was reserved for Olivia, an

epest wound: their p

turned from Europe, a successful architect, she

ent she met the charmin

xpensive gifts. He told fasci

orkshop and calloused h

an outsider in his ow

ache, a cons

l clinic was just another

he silence of the ca

er-daughter dances he' d planned, only for Chloe to eagerly a

on everything from Chloe' s schooling to vacation

than continued hi

k at their lar

gh the rooms, c

proof locks on the low

erature of the water heate

on the landing and made a ment

unseen, unacknowledged,

he overheard two of the household staff, Maria

of admiration in her voice. "She told me she '

sped. "

Mrs. Hayes to the fun events. S

t Ethan harder than

counter, his breath

seemingly innocent inci

s to the puppet s

ice on the plans for the treeho

' d planned an outing, only for her to be miraculo

orgetfulness. It was

subtly, actively

xt few days, a "spontaneous" trip to

e often did, through

nd himself, laughing on a sun-drenched be

rfect family getaway!

n his phone, a hollow ache

happy, so compl

his thumb hovering

likes, hea

tual acquaintance: "You guys

d liked t

elt like a deliberate endorsement of Julian

nfirming her utter indifference t

Ethan coul

s smiling face turned towards Julian, Ch

tangling around him, the emotiona

yed, he remembered. It was

rt of him, the hopeful part he couldn' t

lled

voice brisk, professional. "Ethan?

, Olivia," he said

Julian is just showing us this amazing pr

She h

ite everything, Ethan found hims

all dinner, Olivia' s

ought a s

d, was a stubbor

ree, a small, flickerin

the front

, her face flush

xclaimed, runn

his legs, an uncharacter

slow warmth spread through

id, hugging her back.

de and pleading. "Daddy, can we go to Adventure Land? Right

s an hour' s drive. I

hloe' s face, the

id, his heart lifting. "L

the car! Can you get my special uni

r to please, to hold onto thi

ticulously decorated room, foun

in hand, unicorn tucked under

si

ed out, walking

Olivia' s car, which she

ran outside, looking

th

, his hands shaking, and

ain and agai

mind racing. Where could

his truck when his phone

id. "This is Officer Davies. We have a

cold. "Is she oka

ew minutes ago. It seems young Chloe played a little trick. She to

nicorn. The su

. A deliberate,

him moments ago was extinguished,