Chapter 4
I pulled my daughter up from the ground.
“Lila, remember-he’s not your father anymore.”
“A man like that doesn’t deserve you getting on your knees for him!”
That slap from Caleb Stratmore had destroyed whatever was left between us.
After this, he couldn’t blame me for showing no mercy.
“Bitch, Mr. Stratmore doesn’t deserve her, but you do? At least Mr. Stratmore raised Lila.”
Cheryl looked me up and down with a sneer. “Look at yourself. You can barely take care of yourself, let alone Mr. Stratmore’s daughter.”
Before I could respond, Caleb said coldly, “You want to take Lila? Fine. But prove to me you can actually provide for her. Otherwise, what’s to stop you from selling her off to some backwater town and disappearing again?”
“How do you want me to prove it?”
I clenched my fists, voice ice cold.
I’d been so eager to see them that I’d rushed back in my old lab clothes.
They looked raggedy, but they were radiation-proof and bulletproof.
That’s why after getting jumped by all those security guards, I just looked banged up but wasn’t seriously hurt.
“Whatever you’ve got, bring it out. Let’s see what you’re working with,” Cheryl laughed mockingly.
“Mom, I secretly saved up ten thousand dollars over the years. It’s all on this card. I don’t eat much, and I can take care of stray dogs and cats. I can take care of myself.”
Lila quietly slipped me a card.
The tears I’d barely stopped started flowing again.
I gently put the card back in her pocket, my voice hoarse. “Don’t worry, baby. Mommy’s going to show them exactly what I’m capable of.”
I took a deep breath and dialed that number.
“Ha! Annora, you finally make it home and instead of spending time with your husband, you’re calling me?”
The voice on the other end chuckled.
“Sir, there’s something I need to tell you.”
I took a deep breath, my voice grave. “My husband married someone else and they have a child together. I want custody of my daughter back, but they want to see what I’m capable of.”
Before I could finish, Cheryl snatched my phone away.
“Listen up, old man! You’re that bitch Annora’s boss? Ha! She wants you to show off in front of Mr. Stratmore. That’s hilarious! I dare you to actually show up, you old fart!”
The person on the other end went silent.
He’d probably never had anyone call him an old fart before.
“Ha… alright then. I’ll take you up on that dare. I’m sending people over right now.”
Then he hung up.
“Annora, your friend’s as good at bluffing as you are. He’s sending people over? What’s he gonna do, send some of your construction worker buddies to impress me?”
Cheryl burst out laughing.
Caleb shook his head in disappointment.
“Annora, sign the divorce papers and get out while I’m still being nice. Otherwise, you won’t be able to leave even if you want to.”
“Lila, come back here!”
“Remember, you don’t have a mother anymore.”
My daughter clutched my sleeve, not wanting to let go.
But under Caleb’s threatening stare, she could only lower her head and reluctantly walk toward him.
I gently pulled her back.
“My baby, you never have to be afraid of anyone again. At least in this country, no one will dare hurt you.”
“Stop acting tough, bitch! Mr. Stratmore owns this city!”
“Well, this city’s about to change hands!”
As soon as I said that, the roar of aircraft engines filled the air.
A lot of people instinctively looked up.
“What kind of planes are those?”
“Those don’t look like civilian aircraft. Why are they flying so low?”
Under everyone’s stunned gaze, several aircraft landed right in front of Stratmore Enterprises.
The downdraft hit everyone in the face.
Every single person’s expression changed in that instant.
