Chapter 111
Antonio saw Mollie and me looking happy, and it just made him madder. “What are you grinning about?” he yelled.
He clutched Mollie’s shirt, threatening, “Spit it out. Who’s the guy?”
Mollie kept her lips sealed.
Antonio bellowed at me, “Did you hand Mollie over to that jerk too?”
A mind full of garbage saw trash everywhere.
Back then, Antonio was with Caroline. She snapped some private pictures of me with another man and then showed them to Antonio to push for a divorce.
Antonio lapped up every word Caroline fed him, and the very next day after we split, he tied the knot with her.
I didn’t bother to answer Antonio.
He was convinced he had it all figured out.
His breaths came out ragged, and he let loose with a few slaps on Mollie.
Mollie, my pride and joy, I had never even raised my voice to her.
Yet, Antonio had already popped her three times.
“You’re just like your mom, a piece of trash!” he spat.
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Mollie burst into tears.
I gaped at Antonio, and it seemed like he got a pang of guilt.
He clammed up right away and then stared at the red marks on Mollie’s face, clueless about how to fix it.
There was a flash of memory, Antonio holding Mollie for the first time.
He was a pretty good dad back then.
But ever since Mollie fell ill, even that sliver of paternal love had dried up.
He showered all his affection on our son, Carson Kaufman.
“Mollie, I didn’t mean that…” Antonio finally apologized to Mollie, his voice soft for the first time.
Mollie glared at him, her usually fair face now streaked with red from his hand, blood trickling from her nose.
I flew at Antonio, claws out. “You beat your own daughter? Are you even human?”
Mollie had been sickly since birth. I was scared he might actually kill her.
–
She was in so much pain that she couldn’t even cry, but she was still trying to shield me. “I’m fine, Mom. Don’t fight with Dad. He might hurt you.”
After I’d left my mark on his face, Antonio raised his fist, but then just stopped.
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He watched Mollie try to stop her nosebleed and then quickly grabbed a cloth to help, his face full of regret.
Antonio said, “I’m just worried about you. Your mom isn’t a good person. Don’t end up like her…”
I stared at him, confused about his game.
If he truly cared about Mollie, why did he cheat on me?
The phone rang. Antonio picked it up, his voice turning gentle in a way I’ve never heard. “Don’t worry, honey. I’m coming home
now.”
His eyes flickered to Mollie.
I had a bad feeling. A chill ran down my spine.
As soon as he was distracted by the call, I grabbed Mollie and made a dash for the door.
If we could just reach the security, we would be out of this nightmare!
The door creaked open, and in strutted Antonio’s mother, Linda Sherman, her dog on a leash.
Linda was surprised to see me and stepped right in my way. “Grace, why are you here? You heard Antonio has got money now and thought you’d try to rekindle things?”
“I’m not here to rekindle things. Just get out of my way,” I shot back, ready to shoulder past Linda.
Linda huffed, but her eyes sparkled when she saw Mollie. “Mollie, I’ve missed you so much these days!
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“Who hurt you? You’re bleeding! Let’s go to the hospital for a checkup.” Linda never had a soft spot for Mollie. She used to lock Mollie out in the hallway and let Mollie go hungry.
When Mollie had a fever at three, wanted to hail a cab to the ER, but Linda thought it was too expensive. She told me to rub Mollie with alcohol at home.
If I hadn’t pulled a knife on Linda, Mollie could’ve died at three.
This whole thing was just off.
I had always had a bad feeling about what Linda and Antonio might be capable of doing to Mollie.
Antonio grabbed Mollie right from behind my back.
He tried to ease me. “I’m taking Mollie to get checked out. Don’t worry.”
He didn’t give me time to respond and just left with Mollie in
tow.
Linda and her maids formed a wall, blocking me. She ordered the maid to lock the door behind them.
“Antonio! What are you doing with Mollie? I’m calling the cops!” I was sure Antonio had some scheme up his sleeve.
Mollie was wailing, kicking, and squirming in Antonio’s grip.
Antonio looked torn, pained.
He gave the struggling Mollie a shot to settle her down and then drove off.
