Calla linked her arm with Emery, her smile wide and bright, hiding the pride and venom in her words.
A woman’s petty games; how could Elliot not see right through them?
Yet, he said nothing.
Instead, he looked at her with indulgence, then clapped his hands. “Since my wife prefers peace, let’s switch to something softer.”
The cellist quickly adapted and the gentle melody of Forest Song filled the room.
On the surface, Elliot’s gesture seemed considerate toward Emery, but deep down, he hadn’t spared a thought for her feelings. If he had, he wouldn’t have invited so many guests to their home for this celebration.
Jaxon, now intrigued, jumped off the sofa. “Mommy, stay! Aunt Calla is going to teach me to play cards!”
When he mentioned “cards,” he was referring to poker, a game commonly played in the Pinecrest City. But as the future heir to the Carter Family, Jaxon was too young for such games; something the family patriarch had made clear.
Emery’s gaze automatically flicked to Elliot. He said nothing, his attention still on Calla, amusement dancing on his face.
Since Elliot was unconcerned, Emery saw no reason to speak up.
She had no interest in being part of another petty struggle between two women fighting for attention, only to please the strange desires of these two men. Lifting her hair, she revealed her bare ear and said, “Sorry, without my cochlear implant, I can’t really hear what you’re saying.”
With that, she shook off Calla’s hand and turned away.
The sudden force sent Calla stumbling and she collapsed to the ground. Her wine glass shattered, the sharp shards leaving small scratches on her arm.
The room fell into stunned silence and the eyes of everyone in the room turned to Emery, their disapproval clear.
Seeing Calla injured, Elliot quickly sprang from the sofa and lifted her in his arms. “Emery, have you lost your mind? Even if you didn’t want to celebrate with Calla, there’s no need for violence. You’re disgusting!”
Emery couldn’t hide her surprise at how such a simple act had thrown Elliot into a rage. Sometimes, she wondered; was it because he loved Calla so deeply, or was it because he thought so little of her?
Either answer was equally ironic.
Emery tilted her head, meeting Elliot’s gaze. “The police station is always open. If you’re so worried about her, why not take her to the hospital? You’d better hurry, or her wounds might heal before you can do anything about it.”
Her response took Elliot by surprise, but when he saw Calla’s pained expression, he held back from snapping. Instead, he carried Calla gently out to the car.
Jaxon rushed after them, pausing only to shoot Emery a look of pure hatred. “You’re the worst mommy ever! I hate you!”
Hate? Emery felt a bitter taste rise in her throat.
Wasn’t it just the same feeling that twisted inside her when she looked at everything around her?
But she didn’t have to endure it much longer.
As father and son left, the once lively atmosphere of the house quickly fell into a heavy silence.
Keeping her composure, Emery offered the guests a calm smile. “Just a minor accident. Please, make yourselves at home. Maeve, take care of everyone.”
With that, she walked toward the kitchen as though nothing had happened. She spotted a beautifully wrapped box in the corner, picked it up and made her way back to her room, gliding past the crowd.
Inside the box was a cake.
Emery had two birthdays: the day she was born and the day she was adopted by the Carter Family.
At five years old, she had been trafficked to the Pinecrest City, where she met Elliot, who had also been abducted.
Together, these two children, both barely in double digits, found the strength to survive the horrors of human trafficking by depending on each other.
