Black leather shoes appeared in my line of
sight. Liam frowned.
“Your voice sounds familiar. Look up.‘
The chef smacked my hat down, hard.
“Didn’t you hear him? Look up!”
A sharp blade sliced across the back of my
hand, leaving a deep gash.
Г
Blood dripped onto the floor. Liam recoiled,
sounding disgusted.
“Can’t even look me in the eye. What did I
expect?”
Serena’s sweet voice floated in, “Liam, what
are you doing?”
Liam shielded her eyes. I glanced at him.
There was a flicker of something that almost
looked like pity in his eyes.
“Don’t look. It’s dirty.”
Married for five years, I’d learned to gut fish,
slaughter chickens. I had gone from someone
who didn’t lift a finger to an expert on
a domestic
Г
Liam had never cared, and every time he
didn’t like the dishes I prepared, he
complained.
The cut on my hand was throbbing, but it was
nothing compared to the ache in my heart.
Liam led Serena away. Danny ran past,
waving a toy airplane, giving Serena the name
I’d dreamed of hearing.
“Mommy!”
Tears streamed down my face. The head chef
barked at me to get my hand bandaged.
When I got back, someone else was peeling
potatoes.
The
Г
The head chef told me to serve, and with a
sigh, I pulled a mask out of my pocket.
I just wanted to get through the night without
being recognized.
I carried a tray into the dining room, just as
the Grants were chatting.
Liam’s father beamed at Liam, talking about
old times.
“Liam, son, thanks to you cozying up to Liv,
we were able to destroy the Owens.”
Liam leaned back, a smile playing on his lips.
“Liv was too stupid. I only had to whisper in
her ear, and she showed me everything in the
company.”
く
Serena giggled, snuggling into Liam’s
shoulder.
“It was Liam who set up that car accident so I
could win the piano competition!”
My mind went blank. I stood frozen in the
doorway.
The Grants were still taking credit for
destroying my family.
One of the servers bumped my shoulder,
urging me forward.
“What are you waiting for? The food’s getting
cold.”
I moved forward mechanically. Liam was
<
holding Serena’s waist, kissing her.
When we first met, Liam had told me his
family was awful.
His father wanted to leave the company to his
illegitimate son, pushing Liam aside.
To help Liam, I begged my dad to mentor
him.
That’s how Liam got into our company.
Memories flooded my mind. Liam, whispering
sweet nothings, promising forever.
“Liv, I will always take care of you.”
My fingers throbbed. Danny ran over to
Serena, cuddling in her lap. “Mommy, I want
<
“Mommy shines when she plays the piano.”
Serena looked at Liam, smoothing Danny’s
hair.
“You can thank your dad for that.”
Liam swirled his wine, smug.
“Liv doesn’t even know the car accident was
my fault.
It was me who made sure her fingers were
crushed. She had no chance of being better
than Serena.”
Chapter Two
I dropped the tray, running away like a
coward.
<
I dropped the tray, running away like a
coward.
Collapsing in a heap in the kitchen, I sobbed.
After the Owens family went bankrupt, the
Grants rose to power.
The day my father jumped from the building,
he pointed at Liam, trying to warn me.
The head chef rolled his eyes, gesturing for
me to serve.
I stood and carried on with work.
The dining room was full of laughter. Serena’s
eyes flickered in my direction.
I tried to avoid her gaze, but she snorted.
く
Serena ruffled Danny’s hair, speaking loudly
for me to hear.
“Danny, who do you love more? Me, or your
old mommy?”
Danny pouted, sounding disgusted.
“I hate that old woman in the apartment.
She smells. You smell good, Mommy. I love
you the most!”
Liam beamed, stroking Danny’s hair.
“That’s my boy. He’s got good taste.”
I’d raised Danny, read him stories, and now,
he acted as if I didn’t exist.
く
Liam had said he wanted time alone with me,
and now I knew it was all Serena’s
machinations.
I couldn’t breathe.
Serena looked at me, taunting, she knew who
I was.
“Liam, let’s get Danny on my birth
certificate.”
