Chapter 9 - THE MAN WHO THOUGHT I WOULD COME HOME
Daniel read the first page.
Then he laughed.
It was not amusement.
It was disbelief.
“You think you can take Lily from me?”
Jennifer’s expression changed.
Rachel stepped forward immediately.
“No one said that.”
Daniel looked toward the bassinet.
“She’s my daughter.”
Jennifer’s mother held Lily closer.
Jennifer spoke.
“Then start acting like her father.”
Daniel stared at her.
“I am her father.”
“You took money from her emergency fund.”
“That does not mean I don’t love her.”
Jennifer paused.
For once, she agreed.
“I know.”
Daniel looked surprised.
Jennifer continued.
“People can love someone and still hurt them through selfish decisions.”
“That doesn’t excuse the decisions.”
Rachel handed Daniel a second document.
Temporary financial restraining order.
No sale of marital assets.
No new loans secured by shared property.
No unusual withdrawals.
Daniel read it.
His eyes darkened.
“You froze me out?”
Rachel answered.
“The court froze both parties equally.”
Daniel looked at Jennifer.
“You did this before today.”
“Yes.”
“How long?”
“Two weeks.”
Daniel’s face shifted.
The declined cards.
The failed transfers.
His inability to pay the $4,500 hotel balance.
Now he understood.
Jennifer had not merely refused to pay.
She had already ensured he could not quietly drain what remained.
Daniel stepped closer.
“You set me up.”
Jennifer almost smiled.
“No.”
“I stopped cleaning up after you.”
He lowered his voice.
“We’re going home.”
Jennifer stared at him.
“I’m not going home with you.”
Daniel blinked.
“What?”
“My things are already out.”
His face went blank.
Jennifer’s mother looked at her with pride.
During the party, Jennifer’s brother had moved the final suitcases to her mother’s house.
Lily’s crib was already there.
The important documents were already secured.
Daniel whispered.
“You moved out?”
“Yesterday.”
“And you didn’t tell me?”
“You were busy arranging flowers.”
For the first time, Chloe looked away to hide a reaction.
Daniel’s expression became cold.
“You’re enjoying this.”
Jennifer shook her head.
“No.”
“I wanted a husband.”
“I wanted Lily to grow up with both parents in one house.”
“I wanted every message in that folder to have another explanation.”
“I wanted to be wrong.”
She looked at the evidence.
“I wasn’t.”
Daniel’s shoulders dropped.
Then he changed tactics.
The anger disappeared.
His voice softened.
“Jennifer.”
“We can fix this.”
She looked at him.
He continued.
“I’ll end everything with Chloe.”
Chloe stared at him.
Daniel ignored her.
“I’ll repay the accounts.”
“I’ll sell the lake property.”
“I’ll go to counseling.”
“I’ll do whatever you want.”
Jennifer watched him carefully.
Four months earlier, those words might have destroyed her.
Now she heard what was missing.
Responsibility.
He spoke about solutions.
Not what he had done.
She asked.
“Did you love her?”
Daniel hesitated.
Chloe’s face changed.
Jennifer nodded.
“That pause answered enough.”
Daniel shook his head.
“No.”
“I was confused.”
Jennifer looked toward Jacob’s carrier.
“Were you confused when you took the paternity test?”
“Jennifer.”
“Were you confused when you leased her a house?”
“Were you confused when you hired a divorce lawyer?”
Daniel lowered his eyes.
Jennifer picked up the folder.
“We’re done.”
He looked up sharply.
“You’ll come back.”
Jennifer stopped.
Daniel’s voice became almost gentle.
“You’re angry now.”
“You have a three-month-old baby.”
“You’re exhausted.”
“You won’t want to do this alone.”
There it was.
The arrogance beneath the apology.
Jennifer looked directly at him.
“I already was.”
May you like
Then she walked toward Lily.
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