When I pushed open the door and went inside, a toy car hit my feet.
"You wicked woman! Get out of my house!"
"You unloved mistress, you want to steal my father! Who do you think you are?"
It was Mallory's child, Christian Storm.
At only six years old, he could already speak such venomous words. I didn't believe he had learned this on his own.
Mallory, standing next to me, gave me a provocative smile. "Roxanne, you've been occupying my place for so many years. It's time to go back to where you belong."
"Jordan loves me and you're nothing but a replacement."
I watched the mother and son duo sing their praises to each other with a cold expression.
Out of the corner of my eye, I noticed something at Christian's feet and my pupils contracted sharply.
Those were the toy dolls I had bought for my daughter and now they were all crushed beyond recognition.
I trembled with anger. "Who gave you permission to touch my daughter's things?"
Christian rushed forward and continued to throw toys at me. Then, I pushed him away in frustration.
He fell to the ground and burst into tears.
The commotion startled Jordan on the second floor.
"Waa, waaa. Bad woman! You're bullying me! I'm going to tell Dad."
"Roxanne, take it out on me instead. Christian is still a child. What kind of adult bullies a child?"
Mallory sobbed as she hugged Christian in her arms.
When Jordan came downstairs and saw what was happening, he walked straight up to me. He raised his hand, then slapped me hard across the face.
We had known each other for ten years and he had never laid a hand on me before.
But now he was striking me harshly for Mallory and her son.
I clenched my fists, my teeth nearly biting through the soft flesh.
The man's authoritative voice rang in my ears. "Apologize to Mallory and Christ!"
Forcing me to apologize without asking for an explanation was Jordan's usual approach when dealing with Mallory.
"Why is my daughter's toy here?" I retorted.
Jordan ignored me, his anger boiling over. "I told you to apologize to Mallory and Christian. Can't you hear me?"
Seeing that I remained silent, Jordan grew even more furious. "If you don't apologize, get out and kneel in punishment!"
"You can only get up when Mallory and Chris forgive you!"
"Jordan, why is my daughter's toy here?" I asked again.
Jordan frowned impatiently and said, "Christian likes it, so I took it out for him to play with. What's wrong with that?"
"You still have the nerve to talk about your daughter? Mallory and the others have been here for so long, but she hasn't even come out. Have you really let her go?"
I was stunned. I never expected Jordan to speak so harshly about his own daughter.
"It's definitely because you didn't raise her properly. Look at how well-mannered Mallory's child is. Why is yours so poorly behaved? And look at you, you don't even come out to greet guests when they visit your home."
Jordan continued to berate my daughter and me.
I couldn't bear to listen anymore and finally exploded. "My daughter is already dead."
Mallory's eyes flashed with guilt and she immediately smiled to smooth things over. "Roxanne, you're really something. You just want Jordan to pay more attention to you, right? Is it necessary to curse your own child like this?"
Jordan's face was filled with anger. "Roxanne, when did you become so malicious? You even dare to harm your own daughter?"
"Go kneel in punishment. You won't get up until you know you're wrong."
