Chapter 2
For a moment, the words did not make sense.
Proposed Guardian.
Madison Pierce.
My husband’s mistress.
Written beside my daughter’s name like she had any right to stand near it.
I looked at Daniel.
“What is this?”
He reached for the paper.
I stepped back.
Lily hid behind me, both hands clutching my sweater.
Daniel lowered his voice.
“Emily, listen. This is not what it looks like.”
I laughed once.
It came out sharp and broken.
“Then tell me what it is.”
Madison folded her arms.
“It’s a transition plan.”
My whole body went still.
“A what?”
She lifted her chin.
“Lily needs stability.”
I stared at her.
“You were digging your nails into her wrist.”
“She was being difficult.”
Lily whimpered.
I turned my body so Madison could no longer look directly at her.
Daniel said, “Emily, we were going to talk to you.”
“When? After you packed our daughter’s medicine?”
His eyes flicked to the backpack.
That was enough.
He knew.
He had packed it.
Or watched it happen.
I took out my phone.
Daniel’s face changed.
“Who are you calling?”
“My lawyer.”
Madison scoffed.
“Of course.”
I dialed Karen Holt with shaking fingers.
Daniel stepped forward.
I pointed at him.
“Do not come closer.”
He stopped.
Karen answered on the third ring.
“Emily?”
I put her on speaker.
“Karen, Daniel’s mistress is in my living room. She grabbed Lily. Daniel packed Lily’s bag. I found a family court form naming the mistress as proposed guardian.”
There was a pause.
Then Karen’s voice changed.
“Emily, say that again slowly.”
I did.
Daniel whispered, “Do not do this.”
Karen heard him.
“Daniel, this is Karen Holt. Touch that child or remove her from the home, and I will make sure every judge in Dallas knows it before sunset.”
Madison’s face paled.
Karen continued.
“Emily, photograph the form, the backpack, Lily’s wrist, Madison, Daniel, everything. Then call police.”
Daniel snapped, “Police? For a misunderstanding?”
May you like
I looked at Lily’s red wrist.
“No,” I said. “For attempted removal of my child.”
