Chapter 3

Back in our room, Sophia was still sobbing in my arms.

I gently laid her down on the bed. Her eyes were red and swollen as she looked up at me, her voice trembling. “Mommy, why do Daddy and Granny hate me so much?”

The question cut through me like a knife. I sat beside her, holding her close, but I didn’t know how to answer.

How could I tell her her father was a coward, and her grandmother never considered her family?

“Sweetheart, listen to me.” I stroked her hair softly. “Grandma… she might not love us, but my parents love you very much. They're your Granny and Grandpa, too. They’ve been waiting a long time to meet you.”

Sophia looked up, a glimmer of hope in her eyes. “Really?”

“It’s true.” I wiped her tears away. “Sophia, do you want to leave with Mommy right now? We could go meet them.”

She bit her lip, thinking hard.

“But… but Christmas is almost here.” She whispered, “Daddy promised we’d spend Christmas together.”

Even after everything tonight, I could see she still held out hope for Marco.

I couldn’t break her heart again.

“All right.” I sighed. “We’ll leave after Christmas.”

Christmas Day, the house was eerily quiet.

Marco didn’t come home. Grace was nowhere to be found.

Sophia wore her favorite red dress and sat in the living room all morning, waiting.

“Mommy, did Daddy forget?” she finally asked in the afternoon, her voice small.

Just as I was about to comfort her, the doorbell rang.

Sophia jumped up, her face lighting up. “It’s Daddy!”

She ran to the door, and I followed.

A man in a black suit stood outside, polite but unfamiliar. “Ma’am, Miss, Mr. Romano sent me to bring you to celebrate Christmas.”

“Daddy’s waiting for us!” Sophia turned to me, her eyes shining. “Come on, Mommy, Daddy’s waiting!”

I had a bad feeling, but looking at her excitement, I couldn’t say no.

The car took us to a luxury hotel. Sophia gripped my hand, nearly dragging me through the lobby.

But the moment we were led into the ballroom, my blood ran cold.

This wasn’t a Christmas party.

It was Marco and Claudia’s engagement celebration.

Sophia’s hand went stiff in mine.

She stared at Marco and Claudia embracing on stage, her face draining of color.

“Well, look who’s here.” Claudia spotted us, looping her arm through Marco’s as she approached, a polished smile on her lips.

Her gaze slid over Sophia’s red dress, then landed on me. “What a… surprise.”

“We’re leaving.” I tightened my grip on Sophia’s hand.

“Wait.” Grace appeared, blocking our way. “Since you’re here, you should at least congratulate them.”

She held a champagne glass, and as she passed, she “accidentally” bumped into me. Champagne spilled down my dress, the glass shattering on the floor.

“Oops, I’m so sorry.” She feigned shock. “You really should be more careful.”

“You ran into me,” I said coldly.

“What did you say?” Her face darkened. “How dare you talk back to me?”

A sharp slap landed across my face. I wasn’t expecting it and stumbled.

“Mommy!” Sophia cried out.

“Bitch, who do you think you are?” Grace raised her hand again.

I caught her wrist. “That’s enough.”

“How dare you!” Claudia snapped, her voice icy. “You dare lay a hand on Grace?”

She signaled to the security guards. “Make her kneel and apologize.”

Two guards closed in—one grabbed my arm, the other kicked my knees out from under me. I was forced to the floor.

“Apologize,” Claudia demanded, looking down at me.

“I didn’t do anything wrong,” I said through gritted teeth.

I looked up at Marco.

For a split second, our eyes met. I saw guilt, hesitation—but he just stood there, saying nothing.

He chose silence.

In that moment, the last bit of hope in my heart died.

“Still defiant?” Grace spat. “Teach her a lesson!”

A guard’s fist slammed into my side. Pain made me double over, but I didn’t make a sound.

“Apologize!” Grace shrieked.

“No.” I lifted my head, tasting blood in my mouth.

Another blow, this one to my ribs. I could barely breathe.

“Stop!” Sophia suddenly darted forward, trying to shield me, but a guard shoved her aside.

She fell, skinning her knee, but scrambled up and ran to Marco.

Then, she dropped to her knees, her forehead hitting the floor hard.

“Godfather!” Her voice was raw with pain. “Please, let my mommy go! She didn’t do anything wrong! It’s our fault! We shouldn’t have come!”

Marco froze in place.

His daughter—his Sophia—was calling him “godfather.”

Marco’s face went ghostly white as he saw the blood on Sophia’s forehead. At last, he spoke. “That’s enough.”

The guards stopped.

Marco stepped forward, voice low. “Let them go.”

“Marco—” Claudia started.

“I said, let them go.” His tone left no room for argument.

The guards released me.

I scrambled up and pulled Sophia into my arms.

Marco looked at us, his expression conflicted. He lowered his voice. “Go home. I’ll come by tonight… I’ll explain everything.”

I said nothing. Holding Sophia tight, I left.

Sophia clung to my neck. “Mommy, I don’t want to stay here anymore. Let’s go see your parents. You said they love me, right?”

My throat tightened. “Yes, baby. We’ll leave right now.”

That night, I packed up everything that belonged to me and Sophia.

I was taking her away from this place—forever.