chapter 4

I scoffed inwardly.

This was his father’s mansion—where his father lounged, where Emily preened, but where I’d always been an outsider.

Just then, Ariana descended the stairs, her heels clicking on the marble.

“I summoned her here. Since you’re here, let’s finalize this divorce today!”

Daniel flinched, frowning at Ariana.

“Mom, this is between Luna and me. Stay out of it.”

Ariana’s voice rose. “Stay out of it? You’re still defending her? What’s so special about this woman? She’s the one who wants a divorce! She’s stalling for money, using Lucas as a pawn!”

Daniel pressed his lips together, eyeing me wordlessly.

Ariana tossed a contract at me.

"Leave now while you still can. Consider this 200,000 dollars a paltry sum of charity.

“Don’t play the ingrate—you’ll never see this kind of money in your miserable lifetime. Sign the documents and vanish from our sight!"

I ignored her, staring at Daniel. “Is this what you want too?”

He stepped closer. “I don’t want a divorce, but you’ve gone too far. Apologize to Emily and my mother, and we’ll let this go.”

“Apologize? Let it go?”

I studied him as if seeing a stranger.

Lucas chimed in, “Mom, stop causing trouble. Apologize to grandmother and Miss Emily, and I’ll ask Dad to keep you. You can't do anything. If Daddy doesn't want you, no one will."

My heart chilled, yet strangely, the pain didn't cut as deep.

I just let out a hollow laugh.

“I won’t apologize. Tell your dad to sign the divorce papers. Oh, and did you know? Your grandmother once forced me to abort you. She always wanted Emily as Mrs. Scott. Now you can have her as your mother.”

They had always said a mother's love knew no bounds, yet in that instant, my heart turned to stone.

For this child, I had quit my career, buried every dream, and gambled everything to bring him into the world.

But now, I wanted no part of him.

That single declaration was all it took to crack the Scott family's carefully crafted facade.

Ariana cursed, and Daniel roared, “Luna, are you deranged? Emily and I are like siblings! Don't project your own sordid mindset onto us!”

Emily stepped forward, voice sickly sweet, “Yes, Luna. Daniel sees me as family. You shouldn’t twist things to hurt Mrs. Ariana Scott and Lucas.”

Her voice was soft, but her eyes gleamed with defiance, as if she was certain I couldn't do anything to her.

The next second, I raised my hand and slapped her across the face—twice.

“Luna! What the hell are you doing!” Daniel shoved her behind him.

I struck again, this time across his cheek.

“Siblings from different parents? How disgusting you are?”

Daniel's stare turned glassy as the truth finally sank in—this time, my divorce resolve wasn’t crumbling.

His mouth fell open mid-protest, but I’d already shut him out.

The second my back turned, his fingers dug into my arm.

“Luna, divorce has never crossed my mind.

“I can overlook what happened with Emily today.

“Just end this charade and come home."

Panic flared in Daniel’s eyes like a match striking wet tinder, but he smothered it quickly.

Maybe I’d coddled him too gently, allowed his every whim until he thought my love was a doormat—like I should crawl on knees for his "mercy".

The irony choked me.

My palm connected with his cheek in a thunderclap.

"Who the hell do you think you are to offer me forgiveness?

“I’ve never been the goddamn villain here!

”When I loved you, I placed a knife in your hand and said, 'Cut deep'."