Chapter 3
She found herself thinking back-back to the days when she used to trail after Nigel like a little shadow.
But really, she hadn’t been following him.
She was following her brother. He was always with her brother.
And the more she saw him, the more she thought: if she could marry someone like him, maybe life would be good.
Nigel had always seemed so gentle, so patient. Every time he came to visit her brother, he brought her little gifts.
Out of all her brother’s friends, he was the most well-mannered. The calmest. The kindest.
The perfect gentleman.
The same “gentleman” who would rather masturbate to photos of his sister-in-law than touch the wife sleeping just down the hall.
Lottie hadn’t expected Nancy to arrive so fast.
She had just finished washing up and hadn’t even gone downstairs when the doorbell rang.
Nancy’s energy practically screamed, If the city hall were still open, I’d have dragged you there myself.
Lottie felt a rare sense of calm as she held the divorce papers in her hands-until a sharp crash sounded from upstairs.
Before she had time to react, Corinne came rushing down, looking distressed and hesitant.
“Mrs. Mathis…”
“What happened?”
“The family photo in your bedroom… Rolland broke it.”
Lottie thought it was just the frame-until Corinne handed her the pieces.
Her face drained of color.
Her parents had died in an accident when she was five. That photo was the only one they’d ever taken as a family.
It was all she had left of them.
She took the shredded pieces in her hands, then turned and marched upstairs.
At the top, she came face to face with Esther, who was just stepping out of her bedroom with Rolland in her arms.
Lottie stared at her coldly, “Esther, the room you just walked into? That’s mine.”
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Chapter 3
288 Vouchers
“My new home is here now,” Rolland shot back confidently. “Nigel said so.”
Then, puffing up his chest, he added, “He also said he’s going to take care of me and Mommy-just like a real dad.”
Lottie glanced at Esther, who made no effort to correct or guide Rolland.
She suddenly let out a soft laugh.
Turning to Rolland, she said, “Do you know what Santa does to kids like you at Christmas?”
The boy raised his chin proudly. “He brings me a ton of candy!”
“Nope.” She shook her head with a smile. “He chops off the hands of kids who break other people’s things, bakes them in the oven, and feeds them to monsters.”
“Waaahhh!”
He might’ve talked big, but he was still just a child.
Rolland burst into tears and clung to Esther, sobbing loudly.
Esther frowned, clearly annoyed. “He’s just a kid. Was that really necessary?”
“You can’t even raise your own child,” Lottie said coolly. “Aside from extreme sports, is there anything you’re actual- ly good at?”
With that, she turned and walked off without looking back.
*****
Later that night, a sleek black Maybach rolled silently into the driveway.
Lottie stood at the floor-to-ceiling window, watching as Nigel stepped out of the car. The moment he did, Rolland ran straight over, dragging Esther along behind him.
The three of them looked like a picture-perfect family.
It was a long while before she heard the door to her room open.
Nigel walked in, sleeves rolled up, still in his white dress shirt. His expression wasn’t pleasant. “You scared Rolland?”
“I did,” Lottie said plainly, pointing to the nightstand. “He tore up my only family photo.”
Nigel froze.
It finally hit him-he hadn’t even asked what really happened.
He reached out, wanting to ruffle her hair in apology, but she stepped away before he could touch her. Assuming she was still upset, he softened his tone.
“That’s on me. And on Rolland. I’m sorry. Tell me what you want-whatever it is, I’ll make it up to you.”
