- 6.
John froze, his forced smile faltering. “Lily,
honey, we weren’t-”
“I’m divorcing your father,” I stated plainly.
Lily’s face lit up, pure joy radiating from her.
She rushed to hug John. “Really? You’re
finally divorcing this disgusting old hag!?”
“Yes! I’m staying with Daddy! I don’t want to
be with her!”
I pressed a hand to my chest, willing my
breathing to stay even.
John saw my momentary discomfort and
became more convinced than ever that I was
putting on a show.
He raised an eyebrow, a glint in his eye. “Are
you really sure about this? Because Lily
clearly despises you. There’s no way you’re
getting custody.”
“Unless you agree to leave with absolutely
nothing. Then, and only then, might I consider
Lily’s joy evaporated. “Daddy! What are you
talking about? Even if she leaves with
nothing, I’m not going with her!”
“I want to live with you and Grandma! Even if
you get a new wife, I won’t mind! I’ll be nice
to her and I’ll be the best big sister ever!”
“Daddy, don’t you love me anymore? Do you
want to see me suffer with her?”
Lily’s manipulative words hung in the air,
silencing John.
I feigned a moment of agonizing
contemplation, letting anticipation build in
John’s eyes before sighing dramatically.
“Fine. If Lily loves you so much, she can stay with you.”
く
John choked out, “You!”
Lily jumped up and down, ecstatic. “Yes! You
don’t want me, and I don’t want you! I’m
going to have the best life with Daddy and
Grandma! You’ll be so sorry!”
John stared, dumbfounded. “Are…are you
serious?”
“What? Don’t you want her? Was all that
‘Daddy’s little girl‘ stuff just a performance?”
Lily spat at me. “You evil witch! Don’t try to
come between us! Daddy and I have the best
relationship in the world!”
“Daddy, tell her! Tell her how much you love
me and prove her wrong!”
Г
John, flustered, could only manage a weak,
“Y–yes, of course.”
Lily smirked. “See? It didn’t work! You can be
a lonely, divorced nobody all by yourself!”
I smiled, sliding the divorce agreement back
across the table. “Sign it, John. You get Lily. I
get everything else. We’re done.”
“Daddy, just sign it! I can’t wait to start our amazing new life!” Lily urged.
John’s face grew darker as he studied the
document. “You’re not getting everything.”
I shrugged. “Then I’ll take you to court for
adultery and take back every dime you spent
on your affair. You’ll be penniless and
<
humiliated. Let’s see if your company or
Ashley sticks around then.”
Lily gasped. “Dad, you cheated!?”
John paled.
But Lily quickly recovered. “It’s okay, Daddy. I
support you finding true love! I wouldn’t want
to be with that controlling old witch either.
Just being in the same room with her
suffocates me!”
“Daddy, just give her the stuff. We don’t need
it! You make tons of money. You’ll earn it
back in a heartbeat!”
“Besides, you’ve already given so much.
money to Ashley! Just get some of it back.
We’ll be fine!”
Г
“It’s a win–win, right? Money in exchange for
your favorite woman and your daughter?”
John looked like he might pass out.
I added fuel to the fire. “Your daughter is so
understanding. What are you waiting for? Or
are you just a hypocrite who doesn’t actually
want her?”
Provoked, John snatched the pen and signed
with a furious scribble, practically tearing
through the paper. He flung the pen down.
“Fine, take her. But you stay away from her!
You’re not allowed to contact her ever again!”
I smiled sweetly. “Sure. Whatever you say.”
