Chapter 4

Ellie ran straight into Nathan's arms.

“Mommy, you tricked me! Daddy came home for my birthday!”

I stared at him. He was holding a present and looking at our daughter with unmistakable affection.

He hadn't celebrated her birthday with us in years. I'd stopped expecting him to care.

He took her hand to help her unwrap the gift. As he passed me, he swallowed.

“I know she'll be living with you, but she's still my daughter. From now on—”

“It's her birthday,” I cut in sharply. “We aren't discussing anything else.”

His expression stiffened. Then he nodded and sat down without another word.

Ellie looked between us.

“Are you fighting?”

The room went quiet. Nathan glanced at me, his expression difficult to read.

I forced a smile and served Ellie some dinner.

“No, honey.”

When it was time to make a wish, she asked if we wanted to hear it.

I smiled and shook my head.

“If you tell us, it won't come true.”

Nathan frowned at that.

“Go ahead, Ellie. Daddy wants to hear.”

“I wish we could always be together. You, Mommy, and me.”

She paused and looked at him.

“And I wish you'd spend more time with Mommy. She works so hard. She has to do everything by herself…”

I went rigid.

“That's enough, sweetheart…”

“No! I want to say it!” Ellie lifted her chin stubbornly. “Mommy comes to parent conferences. Mommy comes to the holiday concert. She's the only one who comes to family day. The kids at school ask if I even have a daddy!”

“When Mommy got hurt and had to stay in the hospital for two weeks, you didn't come then, either. Don't you care about us?”

Nathan flinched and looked up sharply.

“Hospital? When? Why didn't I know?”

I kept my eyes down.

“It wasn't a big deal. I fell down the stairs carrying some boxes. Broke a few bones.”

I made it sound simple. Only I knew how much it had hurt.

Several expressions crossed his face. After a long silence, he finally nodded.

“Okay. I'll do better.”

I cut Ellie's cake and let the subject drop.

“Let's eat before everything gets cold.”

After dinner, Ellie took a slice of cake next door to a classmate.

Nathan's voice broke the quiet, as cutting as ever.

“Why haven't you told her about the divorce?”

I kept clearing the table.

“I haven't had the chance.”

He scoffed. “Haven't had the chance, or you're afraid she'll blame you?”

I finally looked at him.

“Think whatever you want. This is between you and me. Leave our daughter out of it.”

He was about to answer when his assistant called.

“Mr. Caldwell, you need to come to the office. Vivian's by an open window. She's very upset. I think she's going to jump…”

Nathan shot to his feet and immediately called Vivian.

A few seconds later, her sobs were loud enough for me to hear.

“Why are you calling me, Nathan?

“I'm just a secretary. I don't belong in your circle, and your father would never let me into the family. Why won't you stop hurting me?”

Nathan froze. Those were his words. How could she possibly know them?

“No. Who told you that? It's a lie…”

“Don't bother explaining. The things you said to Ms. Bennett are all over the internet. Everyone knows I'm just someone you used. Someone you can throw away…”

The call ended.

He gripped his phone, then seized me by the collar.

“Look what you've done, Claire!”

His face was inches from mine.

“How can you be this vicious?”