“Did you ever wonder why Ethan was so eager to take you to that new French restaurant last year?”
“It was because he lost a bet with me.The bet was that he would take you out for seafood.Honestly,I didn’t think you would survive it.”
I snapped my head up,my eyes wide with shock.
That was when I suffered a severe allergic reaction.I had spent a whole night in the hospital.The doctor said that if I had arrived a few minutes later,I could have died.
He had stood outside my door,his eyes red,looking helpless.In the end,it was all just a bet?
“Why...”My voice shook as I asked,“Natalie,why?I never did anything to you.”
“Why,you asked?”She laughed and then her tone went cold and cruel.“Because you act so arrogantly.It’s disgusting.”
“The only daughter of the Sinclair Family in town,so special.But you and your family have been nothing but used.Everything you have should be mine.Ethan loves me.He says I make him feel like a real man.Besides having a rich father,what do you even have?”
She took a breath,like she had been holding this in for a long time and her voice climbed.
“And your daughter…that little girl cries so much.But it doesn’t matter.She’ll suffer plenty.Those old men in the mountains won’t mind the noise.Feed her,give her a roof and she’ll be married off.Hahaha.”
“Natalie,you’ll pay for this!”I screamed in despair,tears streaming down my face.
“Give me back my daughter!Give Emma back to me!Ethan!Ethan,you bastard!Talk to me!She’s your daughter!”
I cried and shouted into the phone until my voice went raw.
Then suddenly,another voice came through—it was Ethan.
He sounded impatient,his tone rough,as if he had just woken up.“Jenna,haven’t you had enough?What are you yelling about in the middle of the night?”
“Ethan!”
My chest tightened.I clung to the chance to ask him like a drowning woman grabbing a rotten branch,even though I knew it was hopeless.
“Where’s Emma?Where’s our daughter?Is what Natalie said true?What did you do with her?”
There was a pause.Then I heard Natalie’s soft,whiny voice beside him.“Honey,she’s being so cruel to me.I’m scared…”
Ethan’s voice immediately softened for her.“Don’t be afraid,sweetheart.I’m here.”
But when he turned back to me,his tone was cold and hard.“Jenna,what’s wrong with you?My daughter is with me.She’s fine.You’re always so suspicious.Do you enjoy this?”
“Fine?”I was shaking with fury,my voice trembling so hard I could barely speak.