Chapter 7

That pathetic little bitch — deliberately playing the victim to win Damien's sympathy.

But at least she was locked up again.

A caged bird. Renee had all the time in the world to break her.

She smiled coldly to herself.

Damien's phone rang. The office — an emergency meeting.

"Take care of Milo."

He tossed the words over his shoulder and got in the car.

Renee's face was all warmth and obedience until the car disappeared. Then she walked into Milo's hospital room, and the mask dropped. Her eyes fixed on the small boy sitting on the floor with his toys, hard and hateful.

Milo flinched. He scrambled behind his caretaker, Nina, pressing his tiny body against her legs.

"Ms. Barnett." Nina greeted her politely.

Renee barely glanced at her. "You can leave. I'll take over."

Nina's face tightened with worry. She knew exactly what this woman was behind closed doors. But Renee had Damien's backing — Milo's own father. If Damien didn't question it, a hired caretaker certainly couldn't speak up. She'd lose her job. All she could do was what little was within her power.

"Ms. Barnett, Milo's in the middle of a reading lesson. Maybe I could just finish up before—"

"Who do you think you are?" Renee's voice cracked like a whip, cutting her off. All the frustration she'd been swallowing poured out onto Nina. "You think you're qualified to teach Damien's son?"

"You taught him to say 'Mama' too, didn't you? Is that your place? You conniving little tramp — are you trying to use the kid to get close to Damien? Does the hospital know what you're up to? Don't make me file a complaint."

"I — I'm sorry, I didn't mean anything by it. I'll go right now!" Nina fled.

Renee let out a cold laugh.

The nerve. As if she could challenge her.

"Milo." Renee crouched down, arranging her face into something loving. "You like studying, don't you? Why won't you let me teach you?"

Milo shrank into himself, his small body curling tight. "No… Milo is dumb. Can't… can't learn. Nina always teaches. She doesn't hit Milo…"

Milo had spent almost his entire life in this hospital. No friends his own age. The only people he ever saw were Renee, Damien, and the medical staff. He had no concept of how the world was supposed to work. He did whatever he was told. But he understood pain.

Renee's voice turned silky, coaxing. "Milo, do you know why you can never learn anything? It's because Nina is too soft. Being soft is bad. You're a little man. You need to be toughened up, or Daddy won't like you anymore. Daddy doesn't like stupid children."

Fear clouded Milo's eyes. But the thought of his father not liking him was worse. He crawled toward Renee on his hands and knees, summoning every scrap of courage he had.

"Renee is right. Milo will be a man. Milo wants Daddy to like him!"

Renee's lips curled in satisfaction. She picked up a book. "Good boy. You're going to grow up brave, just like Daddy. But if you get one wrong, I punish you. Deal?"

Milo nodded, trembling.

Renee flipped to a random page and jabbed her finger at a word. "What does this say?"

Milo's lips moved soundlessly. He couldn't remember.

Renee reached out and twisted the skin on his thigh — hard, merciless.

"Ah!" Tears sprang from his eyes. An angry red-purple mark bloomed instantly on his delicate skin.

Renee clamped her hand over his mouth, her expression serene and motherly. "Boys don't cry. If the doctors and nurses hear you, they'll tell Daddy."

Milo choked his sobs back down and nodded.

Stupid little pig.

Renee was enjoying herself now. She turned another page. "What about this one?"

"It's… it's…" Milo's whole body shook. He couldn't think.

"Milo?" A familiar voice cut through the room.

Damien stood in the doorway. Neither of them had heard him arrive.

Of course. Right when she was having fun.

Renee's hand darted out, hidden from view, and pinched Milo's thigh viciously.

Milo clamped his mouth shut with everything he had, refusing to let a single sound escape.

Damien's sharp eyes caught the redness rimming Milo's lashes. His brow creased. "Milo, what's wrong? Come here — let Daddy see."

Milo scrambled behind Renee, refusing to come closer.

Daddy couldn't know he'd been crying. Daddy would hate him if he knew.

Damien's outstretched arm hung in the air. Something dimmed in his eyes.

Renee smoothed things over. "Milo, you know Daddy, don't you? What have I been teaching you? Go on — say hi to Daddy."

Milo huddled like a frightened chick. Silent.

"Milo?"

"Forget it." Damien straightened. "If he doesn't want to, he doesn't want to."

He didn't believe in forcing things.

Renee lowered her head. "I'm sorry, Damien. This is my fault. I've been so focused on teaching Milo his letters that I forgot about manners." She sighed. "I guess my methods aren't working. All this time, and nothing to show for it."

She rubbed her temples with a weary gesture, stealing a glance at his reaction from the corner of her eye.

Damien's brow furrowed, a hint of guilt in his expression. "You've done enough. But leave the teaching to the staff. You're not his mother, after all."

Renee's composure cracked for a fraction of a second. "Ha. Right."

"Mama?" The word triggered something in Milo. He suddenly lurched forward and wrapped both arms around Damien's leg, tilting his face up. His eyes were enormous and wet.

"Mama — where is Mama? Milo wants to see Mama."

Damien went still.

Milo almost never came to him voluntarily.

Renee moved quickly, reaching for the boy. "Milo, don't bother Daddy while he's working. Come on — let's go back to our lesson."

But Milo only grew more frantic. "I want Mama! Mama!"

Renee's fingers found Milo's small hand behind Damien's leg. She pried his fingers loose one by one, squeezing hard. Milo couldn't hold it in anymore. He burst into wailing sobs.

A flash of pain crossed Damien's eyes.

Renee scooped Milo into her arms, her movements picture-perfect — gentle, loving. "Shh. It's okay. Milo, don't cry."

Damien was silent for several seconds. Then: "Take care of him."

He turned and walked out.

The moment she was certain he was gone, Renee dropped Milo onto the floor. She towered over him, screaming. "You worthless little bastard! Look what you did — you drove Daddy away! He's never going to love you now!"

"I'm sorry… I just… I just wanted Mama…" Milo's face was swollen and scarlet with crying, tears and snot streaming down.

Renee's patience snapped. Her palm cracked across his face. "Shut up! You're giving me a headache!"

This was all his fault — the little bastard. Already learning to play the victim just like his mother. And he'd actually dared to mention Sylvia in front of Damien.

She couldn't let this go on.