Chapter 84

Kaia took a deep breath to calm herself down, but her mind and heart refused to cooperate. She felt her eyes fill to the brim with tears, and she had to take a step back; she would not let this woman see just how much she had hurt her. "Why, Melissa? Right now, that's the only thing I want to know. What good comes from hurting me, from destroying my family?"

Melissa had grown used to her daughter's indifference, her stoic face, and the hatred that occasionally dripped from her lips—the utter distaste she had for her and Mike—but never in her life had she seen Kaia cry from any kind of hurt she had conflicted. The only time she had seen a bit of emotion from her daughter was in the few months they had gotten along. Kaia had worked hard to keep her emotions in check, but like any child, she had sought comfort in her mother's presence.

"Trin---," Melissa tried in a shaky voice, then remembered the disdain Kaia had for the name. "Kaia I swear I had no hand in kidnapping Lulu. I love yo