Chapter 2

Chapter 2

Lila stared at me, her eyes wide with disbelief as I pushed her back.

I didn't bother comforting her. I walked away, listening to her burst into tears behind my back.

Desmond's voice was a soothing murmur.

"Don't cry, baby. Mommy probably just feels sick. I'll go check on her."

"Be a good girl for Daddy, okay?"

Lila let out a wet, shaky sob of agreement.

Just as I was about to slam the bedroom door, Desmond shoved his way inside.

Suddenly, his phone lit up with a notification on the nightstand.

"Are you coming over to my place tonight?"

Desmond didn't notice the screen. He stepped closer, his face etched with worry.

"What's going on, Amara?"

I looked down, avoiding his eyes, and got straight to the point.

"I saw the message on your phone."

I grabbed the device before he could react, unlocked it, and thrust it in front of his face.

"Go ahead and reply. Don't keep her waiting. You're clearly in the mood to comfort people tonight."

Panic flashed across his face. He immediately tossed the phone aside like it was trash, trying to prove his innocence.

"My only priority is making sure my Amara is happy. I don't even know who that is."

He leaned in, his lips brushing against mine. His eyes darkened with a sudden, forced hunger.

"Amara…"

He pinned me in his arms. I struggled, but he just smirked and whispered into my ear.

"I knew you couldn't really push me away…"

Just as he buried his face in my neck, a loud, frantic banging echoed from the door.

"Daddy! Mommy! I don't feel good!"

The lust vanished from Desmond's eyes. He sprinted to the door and flung it open.

"Lila? What's wrong?"

Lila was curled into a ball on the hallway floor, clutching her stomach. She immediately switched to German.

"Daddy, I'm faking the stomach ache so we can leave."

"You promised you'd take me to see Auntie Linnette today. That's the only reason I did this…"

She didn't even try to whisper. Her eyes were brimming with fake tears.

I had never realized what a brilliant actress my daughter was. If I hadn't understood her, I would have been frantic with worry.

Desmond processed her words instantly. He put on a show of extreme distress.

"Don't be scared, princess. Daddy's taking you to the hospital."

He scooped her up in his arms and glanced back at me.

"Stay here and wait for us. We'll be back soon."

Lila peered over his shoulder, looking at me with a pouting face.

"Mommy…"

I walked over and gently brushed a strand of hair from her forehead. My voice was eerily soft.

"Don't worry, baby. Mommy will be right here waiting."

Her eyes lit up for a fraction of a second before she resumed her whimpering as Desmond carried her out.

A few minutes later, I looked out the window. I saw Lila jumping for joy as she walked toward the car, holding Desmond's hand.

There was no sign of a sick, hurting child.

I pulled back from the window and bit my lip so hard I tasted blood, refusing to let a single sob escape.

I knew they weren't coming back tonight.

I forced myself to stay rational. I sat at my laptop and contacted the embassy to start my visa process for Germany.

Because I had maintained my dual citizenship paperwork over the years, the reply was swift.

As long as I brought the right documents, I could leave in about two weeks.

After confirming the details, I closed the laptop. I caught my reflection in the vanity mirror and forced a smile.

"Only two weeks until you go home. Be happy."