“Mommy, this bracelet smells disgusting—just like that horrible woman’s daughter. You’re amazing though! You knew that little brat always played near the flowerbeds downstairs, so you smashed her with a toy car and killed her. Now no one will fight me for Daddy’s attention!”
“Of course. Mommy practiced for a long time to make sure it’d be a perfect kill. Oh, I can’t wait to see Diana’s face when she finds out. She must be crying her eyes out! So what if she’s the legal wife? She’s been dancing to my tune all along!”
My whole body shook with fury. I couldn’t hold back any longer.
I stormed in, slammed Vanessa to the ground, and pinned her there.
Cooper froze in shock, while Vanessa shrieked hysterically under me.
“You murderer! I’ll make you pay for my daughter’s life!”
My vision went red as I raised my hand—but in the next instant, a kick sent me flying across the room.
Anthony clutched Vanessa tightly in his arms, his face twisted with rage as he glared at me.
"Diana, just how long are you planning to keep acting insane?!"
"Anthony," Vanessa’s voice trembled with just the right touch of fragility, "I only felt sorry for Miss Brook after she lost her daughter, so I told my son to treat her with respect in the future. Who would have thought... she accused me of showing off, and even tried to kill me!"
She sniffled, lowering her gaze in pitiful sorrow. "Since she can’t stand the sight of us, I’ll take Cooper and leave. It's better than waiting for the day she actually kills me... But I... I can’t bear to part with you."
Right on cue, Cooper began to wail, clinging to his father and crying about how much he didn’t want to leave.
Anthony wrapped an arm protectively around them both, his eyes cutting into me like ice.
"Diana, you’re even more heartless than I imagined. You lost your daughter—so now you want to see other mothers separated from their children?!"
"Vanessa is generous enough to overlook your past slander, and she’s still willing to have Cooper show you respect. Instead of being grateful, you repay her with malice. Are you even human?!"
A bitter, almost deranged laugh tore out of my throat. I suddenly lunged forward, snatching the pale-gray bracelet from Cooper’s wrist.
Tears burned my eyes as I screamed, "I’m not human? I’m the one without a heart?!"