Chapter 4

Claire's POV

Something twists in my chest. I look at him, the child I nearly died giving birth to. I stopped expecting anything from him a long time ago, but I didn't think he'd go this far.

Elijah walks up to me. "See that? Even Owen's saying you did it. What, you think a six-year-old's gonna make that up?"

Isabelle holds Owen close, wiping her eyes. "Forget it, Elijah. That brooch means everything to me, but I don't want to push this."

She looks so kind, so generous.

But Elijah shakes his head, eyes cold. "Family's got rules. You steal something, you pay for it or you deal with what comes next."

"I didn't steal anything."

"Then pay for it." Isabelle says. "That brooch was the only thing my mother left me. Just give me what it's worth."

"How much."

"Ten million."

I laugh. "That cheap piece of shit is worth ten million?"

"You!" Isabelle's face flushes red.

"Ten million," Elijah repeats. "You've got three days. Bring the money or take what's coming."

"I don't have that kind of money."

"No money?" Isabelle smiles. "If you don't want to pay, just say it. Don't give me some bullshit excuse."

Elijah pulls her close. "Then we do this the family way. Actually works out perfect, since you want out anyway. Clear your debts first."

I look at him. He used to do anything to protect me. Now he'll do anything just to humiliate me.

"Fine," I say. "Handle it your way."

Two guards grab me, drag me to the living room, shove me down. People fill the space around me, everyone watching.

Elijah walks upstairs with his arm around Isabelle. Before going into the bedroom, he glances back at me. His eyes are empty.

"Get on with it."

The door shuts.

The first blow hits my back and I bite down hard. Can't scream. Can't let them see how much this hurts. Turns out holding it in just makes it worse.

The butler snorts. "Back when she was fighting alongside the boss, she probably thought she'd be Donna forever."

A caregiver chimes in. "That's women for you. They think a man's gonna stay loyal. Don't realize men only want the new girl."

"Look at her. Still acting like she matters. Boss hasn't needed her in years."

Each word digs in deep. Upstairs, I hear Isabelle laughing. Light and sweet.

I close my eyes.

"Donna."

One of the older guards crouches in front of me. He came up from the streets with Elijah and me, years ago.

"Let me get a doctor." His voice is low.

"Don't."

"But..."

"Thanks for remembering. But don't."

I see his eyes water. Finally he stands, backs away, head down.

It keeps going. Time blurs. The sounds from upstairs don't stop either.

I think about how he used to take hits for me. How he'd let them beat him bloody before anyone could touch me. How he crawled back to the family that threw him out, got on his knees in front of the father who abandoned him. All of that to protect me. And now I'm down here bleeding while he's upstairs fucking someone else.

People really do change. Love dies. What I spent ten years holding onto disappeared a long time ago.

At some point, it stops.

The guards let go. I'm on the floor, every inch of me screaming. I push myself up slowly, fingers brushing the ring. The Donna ring.

When Elijah put it on my hand, he said it was his promise to me.

I stare at it. It looks ridiculous now. What promise? It's just metal.

I pull it off. Drop it.

The ring rolls across the floor and stops by the butler's foot. Everyone freezes.

I get up, limping toward the door.

"Mom..." Owen's been watching this whole time. His voice comes out nervous. "Where are you going?"

I don't answer. I push the door open. Cold night air hits my face.

I take a deep breath, step outside, don't look back.