Celeste’s POV“You’re a lame, toxic mom! Don’t try to ruin our happy family!” Bonnie screeched.Her face scrunched into a hostile scowl that stabbed daggers at my heart.A lame, toxic housewife? I somehow doubted those concepts were in my preschooler’s curriculum.“That’s right, sweetie. Tell the bad woman to stop trying to tear our family apart.” Vanessa said.She stroked Bonnie’s hair like a heartless puppeteer.“All this time, you’ve been poisoning Bonnie’s mind against me, haven’t you?” I asked through clenched teeth. “How could you so blatantly manipulate her to damage our relationship?”She batted her doe eyes. “Little old me? The fact that you would even suspect me of something like that is appalling, Celeste.”I had my suspicions, but the satisfied smirk that cut her face confirmed them.“Vanessa, how could you be so cruel?” I asked, voice strained as I held back the heartache of yet another betrayal. “A child doesn’t come up with such complex ideas on their own.” She shrugged
Celeste’s POV“That’s enough, Bonnie.” Damien scolded. “Don’t speak to your mother that way.”She stubbornly stuck her chin out.“I’m only treating her the way Daddy does.” She said herself righteously. Bonnie hadn’t just been influenced by Vanessa. She watched Damien treat me like I was a useless housemaid for five years and learned how to be ungrateful and cruel.“Can you finally see why I begged you to stop belittling me in front of our daughter all those years? Because a five-year-old does.” I said, voice tense.He gazed down at his princess like he’d been doused in a bucket of ice water.“I’m not your daughter!” Bonnie spat angrily and stood beside Vanessa. “I want Auntie Vanessa to be my mom. Even Daddy thinks she’s a better mom than you.”“Oh, sweetie! I’d love it if you called me Mommy.” Vanessa squealed gleefully.Every fiber of my being wanted to crawl into a hole and disappear. My daughter’s rejection cut a thousand times deeper because she was biologically wired to love me
Celeste’s POV“Thank you for your blessing, Celeste.” Vanessa said in that sickly sweet tone of hers. “The four of us will live happily without you skulking around.”Grace gritted her teeth. “You are the most shameless, two-faced snake ever to crawl the earth.”“Don’t speak bad to my Mommy!” Bonnie yelled.Grace blinked in shock. When she recovered, she squatted down to her level.“Bonnie, your real Mommy is a good person who loves you more than anything in the world. Chasing her away is a big mistake.”The girl huffed. “No, she’s not! She’s boring and strict and never gives me what I want.”“Candy is yummy until your teeth rot. Takeout is great until you’re in the hospital with food poisoning.” Grace smiled gently, but her tone was firm. “Has Mommy ever forgotten you at school or made you sick? Think about it, love.” Bonnie’s light brows furrowed as she considered her words. A wisp of hope unfurled in my chest. What if she could get through to her and I wouldn’t be forced to turn my
Damien’s POV“What’s an impoverished party crasher doing with a tailor-made sports car?” Contempt laced my voice as I eyed the beautiful machine. “Did you rent it or steal it?”Ryan was too busy brushing a thumb over Celeste’s hand and talking to her in low murmurs to respond. The intimate gesture ignited a furnace of possessive rage.How dare this loser touch what’s mine!“Get your hands off my wife.” I said in a low growl and yanked her towards me.Sudden pain flared across my cheek as Celeste dealt a lightning fast slap. I released her arm, and she glared at me with eyes full of venom.“I warned you not to touch me.” She spat coldly. “And get your head out of the clouds, for god’s sake. I haven’t been your wife for months.” Ryan stood behind her with the biggest smirk on his face.It was just begging me to knock his lights out.“Don’t look so smug, home wrecker.” I sneered. “Celeste is using you to make me jealous, and the sooner you back off, the sooner we can mend our family.”Hi
Celeste’s POVThe car thrusted forward, pressing me into the seat. My lips parted as I watched Ryan maneuver the powerful machine with a casual ease.It was ridiculously sexy.He glanced at me before looking back at the road, a smile tugging on his lips.“You’re drooling, Celeste.” Celeste, last night wasn’t a mistake–at least not for me.His teasing simmered down after I shamelessly ignored those words he’d said so tenderly yesterday–but it looked like my reprieve was over.“This car is, uh, incredible.” I stammered, cheeks flushing. “I’ve never ridden in anything as luxurious as this before.”He chuckled, those dimples of his making my stomach flutter when it shouldn’t.“Wanna take it for a spin?”My eyes went round as I vigorously shook my head.“Are you insane? I’d never be able to pay off the repairs if I wrap a car like this around a streetlight.”Ryan’s deep, velvety laugh filled the small space.“What on earth are you doing with such a high end car, anyway?” I asked, curiosity
Celeste’s POVRyan let out a low, guttural moan as I clutched at his shoulders, straining against my seatbelt to close the gap between us. My body ached for him with an insatiable need.A blaring honk made us jump apart.“Get out of the road, you rich, entitled pricks!” A man hollered out of his window as he drove past.We watched him go before turning to each other and bursting into belly deep laughter. I covered my face, grateful for the excuse to hide my embarrassment.I’m certifiably insane for kissing him again.“Are you ever coming out from there?” His teasing voice made me groan internally.I peeked through my fingers. His hair was mussed from me running my fingers through it, and his lips were a scandalous shade of red from my lipstick.“Never.” I said, closing my fingers. “This car should come with a panty dropper warning label.”The engine roared to life as he chuckled.“So it was the sports car you found irresistible, not me?” The gaiety in his voice told me he wasn’t buying
Vanessa’s POVI jolted awake, stomach rolling violently. Stumbling into my ensuite bathroom, I clutched the toilet seat, dry heaving until I felt faint.Morning sickness was a pain in the ass.I didn’t get a wink of sleep, and it showed. My reflection’s pale face and dark circles taunted me as I leaned against the sink. I clenched my teeth, knuckles white.It was all that thirsty slut’s fault.How dare she go after my man? Images of her throwing herself at Damien kept me up all night. She was ruining everything with her independent designer crap. My phone rang, and I wrinkled my nose when I saw the caller ID. It was Sasha–a friend I used to party with at college.“Vee! Why didn’t you tell me you were at the Mars party yesterday?” She spoke at lightning speed. “I saw your posts this morning. You looked fab, by the way.”I smirked at the mirror. Try as she might, she couldn’t keep the envy from her voice–this was killing her.“Oh, sorry Sash. I thought I’d see you there.” My voice was f
Damien’s POV“Oh, dear, what happened?” Bonnie’s teacher kneeled to examine her wounds. I glanced at my watch. Vanessa’s outburst had cost me precious time–I had a stop to make before I headed to the office.“She fell while getting ready for school, but she’s fine now.” I said impatiently.Lily gave me a pointed stare. “I wouldn’t say that. These wounds should have been cleaned and dressed straight away.”“I’m sure you can understand—I’m a busy man.” I said, jaw clenched.She turned to Bonnie. “Please go to the school nurse, dear.” My daughter nodded solemnly and limped inside.“Mr. Kent, I have major concerns about Bonnie’s care.” The teacher gave me a hard stare. “She’s often late for school, fetched hours after pickup time, and now you’re dropping her off in such a neglectful state.”Her accusatory tone sent a spark of anger through me.“That’s none of your concern.” Lily tilted her chin up. “Her academic performance is slipping, and she’s slowly isolating herself from her peers.
Celeste’s POV“I can’t believe I have to pick up this child myself while I’m pregnant!” Vanessa screeched loud enough to reach me from across the parking lot.My eyes narrowed as she strutted to the reading corner.Bonnie stood, carefully folding the cookie in the napkin. The way she brushed the crumbs into her hand like each one was precious made my heart ache. “Hurry up for god’s sake! I don’t have all day.” Vanessa yelled as she waddled toward her.My knuckles turned white from the force with which I held the iron bars. Was this how the bitch treated Bonnie when Damien and I weren’t around? She was lucky this fence was between us.“What’s that?” Vanessa asked, snatching the napkin from Bonnie’s hands.The girl jumped to take it back, yelping as her scabs cracked open.“Look what you did,” Vanessa scolded as she unwrapped the cookie. “And over this? Have some class.”“No! That’s mine!” Bonnie yelled, but it was too late.Vanessa ate the cookie, smirking as my daughter’s face fell.
Celeste’s POVI had braced myself for the blow, but Bonnie’s outburst still felt like a sledgehammer to the chest.“That woman is not my Mommy!” Her shout echoed in the silence. My heart clenched as I turned to the stunned teachers.“Please forgive Bonnie’s outburst.” I said, voice steady despite my suffering. “She’s going through a difficult time, and I’d appreciate your understanding.”Lily pressed her lips into a thin line, brows furrowed.“Celeste, do you mind if I have a word before you leave?” She said, glancing at the girls. “Rachel, please watch them for a moment.”“Is something the matter?” I asked once we were out of earshot.Lily cleared her throat awkwardly. “I was going to call you to discuss some concerns I’ve had about Bonnie’s well-being that Damien and Vanessa have brushed off or ignored.”“Is this about them refusing to fetch her? I spoke to both of them about it but it was clearly in vain.” I said, shaking my head in frustration.“Unfortunately, that seems to be the
Third-Person POVThe golden rays of sunset stretched long shadows of empty swings on Saint Ambrose’s International Preschool’s playground. Bonnie sat alone, scuffing her shoes in the sand while everyone else left with their parents except her.Lily pursed her lips as she watched the girl. “Four days last week and it looks like today won’t be any different.” She tutted under her breath.She sighed and redialed Vanessa’s number, but the response was what she expected–endless ringing. She tried Damien’s again, but it was the same. No one was coming for Bonnie.“That poor girl is going to be here till dark again, isn’t she?” Rachel, one of the other kindergarten teachers, asked.Lily nodded, tapping her phone against her chin.“Why don’t you bring her to the reading corner? I’m still waiting for a student to be fetched, so at least she won’t look so pitifully lonely.”“How about I leave her with you and I go home at a decent time?” Lily asked, only half joking.“Fat chance.” Her colleagu
Celeste’s POVMy heart squeezed in my chest as dread washed over me.“What do you mean by ‘seriously injured’?” I asked.Damien sighed heavily.“Bonnie accidentally bumped Vanessa’s stomach, and she lost her mind.” He said, shaking his head bitterly. “She shoved Bonnie to the ground, skinning her knees raw.”How dare that woman hurt my sweet daughter?Rage burned in me like a furnace, but I kept my face neutral.“And you’re telling me this why?” I asked, feigning indifference. Damien fixed his pleading gaze on me. “You’re the only one who can keep our daughter safe. Please come home, Celeste.”The tenderness in his voice irked me. Where was all this concern when she was being brainwashed against me? It was too late.Vanessa was her mother now, not me.“Bonnie isn’t my problem anymore.” I said, tone harsh as a winter’s blizzard. “She prefers Vanessa’s abuse and doesn’t recognize me as her mother, so who am I to interfere?”His eyebrows creased, voice heavy with emotion. “Will you real
Damien’s POV“Oh, dear, what happened?” Bonnie’s teacher kneeled to examine her wounds. I glanced at my watch. Vanessa’s outburst had cost me precious time–I had a stop to make before I headed to the office.“She fell while getting ready for school, but she’s fine now.” I said impatiently.Lily gave me a pointed stare. “I wouldn’t say that. These wounds should have been cleaned and dressed straight away.”“I’m sure you can understand—I’m a busy man.” I said, jaw clenched.She turned to Bonnie. “Please go to the school nurse, dear.” My daughter nodded solemnly and limped inside.“Mr. Kent, I have major concerns about Bonnie’s care.” The teacher gave me a hard stare. “She’s often late for school, fetched hours after pickup time, and now you’re dropping her off in such a neglectful state.”Her accusatory tone sent a spark of anger through me.“That’s none of your concern.” Lily tilted her chin up. “Her academic performance is slipping, and she’s slowly isolating herself from her peers.
Vanessa’s POVI jolted awake, stomach rolling violently. Stumbling into my ensuite bathroom, I clutched the toilet seat, dry heaving until I felt faint.Morning sickness was a pain in the ass.I didn’t get a wink of sleep, and it showed. My reflection’s pale face and dark circles taunted me as I leaned against the sink. I clenched my teeth, knuckles white.It was all that thirsty slut’s fault.How dare she go after my man? Images of her throwing herself at Damien kept me up all night. She was ruining everything with her independent designer crap. My phone rang, and I wrinkled my nose when I saw the caller ID. It was Sasha–a friend I used to party with at college.“Vee! Why didn’t you tell me you were at the Mars party yesterday?” She spoke at lightning speed. “I saw your posts this morning. You looked fab, by the way.”I smirked at the mirror. Try as she might, she couldn’t keep the envy from her voice–this was killing her.“Oh, sorry Sash. I thought I’d see you there.” My voice was f
Celeste’s POVRyan let out a low, guttural moan as I clutched at his shoulders, straining against my seatbelt to close the gap between us. My body ached for him with an insatiable need.A blaring honk made us jump apart.“Get out of the road, you rich, entitled pricks!” A man hollered out of his window as he drove past.We watched him go before turning to each other and bursting into belly deep laughter. I covered my face, grateful for the excuse to hide my embarrassment.I’m certifiably insane for kissing him again.“Are you ever coming out from there?” His teasing voice made me groan internally.I peeked through my fingers. His hair was mussed from me running my fingers through it, and his lips were a scandalous shade of red from my lipstick.“Never.” I said, closing my fingers. “This car should come with a panty dropper warning label.”The engine roared to life as he chuckled.“So it was the sports car you found irresistible, not me?” The gaiety in his voice told me he wasn’t buying
Celeste’s POVThe car thrusted forward, pressing me into the seat. My lips parted as I watched Ryan maneuver the powerful machine with a casual ease.It was ridiculously sexy.He glanced at me before looking back at the road, a smile tugging on his lips.“You’re drooling, Celeste.” Celeste, last night wasn’t a mistake–at least not for me.His teasing simmered down after I shamelessly ignored those words he’d said so tenderly yesterday–but it looked like my reprieve was over.“This car is, uh, incredible.” I stammered, cheeks flushing. “I’ve never ridden in anything as luxurious as this before.”He chuckled, those dimples of his making my stomach flutter when it shouldn’t.“Wanna take it for a spin?”My eyes went round as I vigorously shook my head.“Are you insane? I’d never be able to pay off the repairs if I wrap a car like this around a streetlight.”Ryan’s deep, velvety laugh filled the small space.“What on earth are you doing with such a high end car, anyway?” I asked, curiosity
Damien’s POV“What’s an impoverished party crasher doing with a tailor-made sports car?” Contempt laced my voice as I eyed the beautiful machine. “Did you rent it or steal it?”Ryan was too busy brushing a thumb over Celeste’s hand and talking to her in low murmurs to respond. The intimate gesture ignited a furnace of possessive rage.How dare this loser touch what’s mine!“Get your hands off my wife.” I said in a low growl and yanked her towards me.Sudden pain flared across my cheek as Celeste dealt a lightning fast slap. I released her arm, and she glared at me with eyes full of venom.“I warned you not to touch me.” She spat coldly. “And get your head out of the clouds, for god’s sake. I haven’t been your wife for months.” Ryan stood behind her with the biggest smirk on his face.It was just begging me to knock his lights out.“Don’t look so smug, home wrecker.” I sneered. “Celeste is using you to make me jealous, and the sooner you back off, the sooner we can mend our family.”Hi