Chapter 3

Teresa's POV

The next afternoon, I'd just picked up Lily from preschool when a black Rolls-Royce pulled up in front of me.

The window rolled down, revealing Clifford's haggard face.

"Get in." Still that commanding tone, arrogant as ever.

I looked at him calmly, didn't move.

"Eva. Or should I say, Teresa." He stepped out, standing before me, staring at my scar. "We need to talk."

"We've got nothing to talk about, Mr. Ashford."

"Teresa!" His voice turned urgent, then he forced it back down. "Where have you been all these years? Why didn't you contact me? I've been looking for you for five YEARS!"

"Didn't need to. I'm doing fine now."

"You call THIS fine?" He gestured at the rundown neighborhood, getting more worked up. "You're living in Brooklyn! Look at what you're wearing!"

"Not your business."

That pissed him off. He grabbed my wrist. "Come back with me right now. I'll get you the best plastic surgeon, fix your face. I'll give you a black card with no limit, you can move back to the Upper East Side..."

"And then what?" I cut him off with a mocking smile. "Keep being your side piece? Watch you play happy family with that murderer?"

Clifford went white.

"That fire... it was an accident." His voice started shaking. "I didn't know Becky was..."

"You didn't know?" I yanked free, looking at him like he was dirt. "You didn't know she stole Dad's seal? You didn't know she transferred all the assets? You didn't know YOU had me committed, let them pump me full of drugs every day?!"

My voice stayed quiet, but each word hit hard.

Clifford staggered back.

"I'm sorry..." He covered his face. "She fooled me... I thought you really had lost it..."

"Save your pathetic tears, Clifford." I stared at him coldly. "You weren't fooled. You were just greedy. You needed my father's money, and Becky gave you the perfect excuse."

"NO! I loved you, Teresa!" His eyes went desperate. "I know I screwed up. I regret it every single day! Please, just let me make it up to you..."

I watched his performance, feeling nothing.

"Make it up to me? Sure." I laughed. "Go disfigure Becky right now. Have her committed. Let her taste hell too."

Clifford froze, his face darkening. "Teresa, it's complicated now. You know I can't..."

"Why not?" I sneered. "Because she still controls my family's shares? Because Noah's used to calling her Mommy?"

"She... she's been taking care of Noah for five years... and the company..." His voice got smaller.

I cut him off: "So that's what your love is worth?"

Clifford's face went red. "Don't push it! I'm already bending over backwards here! What more do you want?!"

He stepped forward and grabbed me. "Stop this and come back with me. Don't you want to see Noah? He—"

"No." I cut him off fast, then said each word clearly: "Clifford, listen up. You and I are DONE. Forever."

I pulled free and headed for the subway.

"Teresa!" he shouted.

I didn't look back.

Back home, I saw the lock had been messed with.

My heart jumped. I pushed the door open.

The living room was trashed, drawers everywhere.

Becky.

She was scared. Knew I was alive, afraid I had evidence.

I went to the bedroom, lifted the floorboard, pulled out a waterproof box.

Inside was everything I'd risked my life to collect.

I smiled coldly.

You want to play? Let's play.