The moment I opened it, a sharp, metallic scent hit me. It was blood, thick and overpowering. Before I could even react, I heard the nanny scream behind me, followed by my daughter’s startled cry as she woke up.
“Take her out of here,” I said, my voice steady even as my stomach churned. Only once the door clicked shut did I let out the breath I’d been holding.
I gritted my teeth, forcing myself to look at the contents of the box.
A baby rabbit. A dead baby rabbit.
Its once-white fur was now soaked in blood, staining it a deep red.
I held my breath and immediately dialed Gabriel’s number. He picked up quickly.
“Aria,” his voice was hesitant, like he wasn’t sure how to approach me. “You finally agreed to see me.”
I raised a hand, cutting him off before he could say more. With a single motion, I gestured toward the box on the table.
There was a long pause before he spoke again, his tone heavy with dread. “Who sent this?”
“Who else?” I said, my voice cold as ice. “Your mistress.”
Gabriel stood frozen, but I didn’t give him a chance to speak again.
“My daughter has only been in this world for sixteen days,” I said, each word deliberate and filled with cold fury. “And already, she’s been cursed with something this malicious. You may not love her, Gabriel, but as her father, you will never harm her. Not like this.”
I stared at him, my eyes unwavering. “This afternoon, I want that signed divorce agreement in my hands. If not, I’ll be filing for divorce in court tomorrow.”
The weight of my words hung in the air, heavy and final. I wasn’t looking for excuses, explanations, or apologies anymore. I was done.
Gabriel, once the man I thought I would spend my life with, had betrayed me in the most despicable way. And now, I had no more patience for him or his lies.
Thanks to Lily, though, I finally had the leverage I needed to end this once and for all.
