Chapter 3
“Sorry to disappoint you-but I’m still alive.”
I stared Caleb Stratmore down.
I had to admit, even after six years, Caleb was still as handsome as ever.
Time hadn’t touched him at all-he looked exactly like he did when we got married.
The only difference was his eyes. They used to look at me with love, but now they were cold and distant.
Same person, different heart.
“You… you’re my mom?”
Lila stared at me in disbelief.
Then she threw herself into my arms, sobbing her heart out.
“Mom, I missed you so much! Why didn’t you come back sooner? I dream about you every night, but Dad burned all your pictures. I can’t even remember what you look like anymore.”
I gently stroked my daughter’s hair, letting her cry out all the pain she’d been holding in.
I looked up at Caleb with pure hatred.
“Caleb Stratmore, I don’t blame you for moving on while I was gone. I don’t blame you for marrying someone else.”
“But what did my daughter do wrong? How could you let them treat her like this?”
Caleb’s face darkened at my accusation. He let out a cold laugh.
“Lila’s my daughter too. How I treat her is none of your damn business. You don’t get a say anymore. Annora Sterling, since you’re back, let’s just get the divorce papers signed.”
The crowd around us exploded with chatter.
“That’s Mr. Stratmore’s wife?”
“What wife? That’s ancient history. Everyone knows Mr. Stratmore married Ms. Winchester and they have a kid together.”
“Word is, his first wife died at sea six years ago.”
“With how obsessed Ms. Winchester is with Mr. Stratmore, this woman might as well be dead. If she falls into Ms. Winchester’s hands, she’s gonna
wish she never came back.”
I ignored the gossip and took a deep breath.
“Fine. But I have two conditions.”
“You little bitch, you see how successful our Mr. Stratmore’s company is now and you want to cash in?”
Before Caleb could respond, his assistant Cheryl Dalton jumped in again.
“I’d kill that dream right now if I were you, before you choke on your own greed.”
I shot her a cold look and turned back to Caleb.
“First, I want you to return the dowry my mother gave you.”
“You mean this old thing?”
Caleb frowned and pulled a black pendant from his pocket.
When I saw it, my breath caught.
This was what my mom had personally put around Caleb’s neck when she was dying, asking us to take care of each other.
Caleb stared at the pendant, something flickering in his eyes.
But then he just nodded and tossed it at my feet.
I quickly picked it up and carefully brushed the dust off.
“What’s your other condition? Hurry up,” Caleb said impatiently.
“Second, I want custody of Lila.”
“Absolutely not. Lila’s my daughter,” Caleb refused.
“You have the nerve to call Lila your daughter?”
I was so furious I was practically screaming.
“If you really saw her as your daughter, would you let her get on her knees for your assistant and your bastard son?”
Caleb’s face went dark and he slapped me hard across the face.
“Don’t you dare call him a bastard! That’s my son! Don’t push me, Annora Sterling. Sign the divorce papers now, or I have a hundred ways to make you agree in this city.”
“Dad, please don’t hit Mom anymore. I… I won’t go with her.”
Lila dropped to her knees, begging.
