chapter 5

05

Disbelief washed over me. I snatched the bag, my fingers tracing every seam.

"How could it be fake? This is my exclusive design! See that '008' there? Hand-carved by an Italian craftsman himself!"

The officer maintained a calm, professional tone.

"Ms. Bennett, we're only relaying the brand's official statement."

Vanessa's face lit up with vicious triumph.

"I told you a hundred times my husband bought this for me. You're just being stubborn!" she sneered, "What's wrong? Stealing other women's husbands wasn't enough—you gotta steal handbags now too? Pathetic."

The crowd turned into a pack of wolves.

"Unbelievable. So Rachel Bennett's the kind who pretends to be rich? Those luxury cars she drives to school—probably rented."

"I knew it. Real rich people don't show off like that. Guess she's just another wannabe."

"And her daughter? Acts like a wild boy half the time. Zero manners. Figures."

Chloe snapped. With a guttural cry, she lunged and sank her teeth into the woman's arm.

The woman shrieked.

"Officer! This little monster is trying to kill me! Arrest her!"

The officer looked pained.

"She's a minor. We can only issue a warning. Sweetie, you can't bite people. It's wrong."

Someone in the crowd yelled, eager to stir the pot.

"Hey, man! Which one's actually your wife?"

Vanessa and I looked up at Nicholas simultaneously. Whatever he said, I would make him pay.

He swallowed hard, the sound audible in the sudden silence.

"Vanessa is my legal wife."

The crowd exploded.

"So it's true! Rachel's the home-wrecker! I'm calling the principal—her daughter cannot be in the same school as my son!"

"Ugh, disgusting. Always showing off her money, pretending she's classy. Turns out she's just a side piece. Let's see how she saves face now."

"So Chloe's a… bastard? Sad."

Their words were claws tearing at my child. I wanted to shred their smug faces.

My gaze locked on Nicholas, sharp enough to draw blood.

"'Legal wife? What is this? We have a marriage certificate from City Hall. Are you accusing the government of forging it for me?"

The officer's attention snapped to us, his eyes narrowing at Nicholas.

Nicholas paled. His voice shrank, defensive and weak.

"No—that's not what I meant. Vanessa is my ex legal wife. Liam is my firstborn. I married Rachel after the divorce."

In the breath that followed, Liam lunged. A sharp rock was clenched in his fist.

It was aimed at my daughter's face.

"You stole my daddy! I hate you!"

I moved on instinct, shielding Chloe with my body. The stone bit deep into my arm, blood welling instantly.

Zoo medics rushed over, applying pressure, wrapping the wound.

"Officer, a minor has destroyed property and now committed assault. How do I press charges?"

His reply was immediate.

"You sue the parents. The guardians bear full responsibility."

I pointed at Liam.

"That child shattered my heirloom crystal bracelet, attempted to scratch my daughter's face and ended up cutting my arm instead. I want to press charges against her parents!"

Nicholas saw I wasn't bluffing. He stepped in, a pathetic attempt to calm me.

"He didn't actually hurt Chloe, did he? Is all this really necessary? How much could a bracelet possibly cost? I'll pay for it."

Watching him defend them, a cold certainty hit me:

He was going to dig his own grave.