Chapter 3

Chapter 3

The moment Landon saw my state, panic flooded his face. He stripped off his coat and wrapped it around my shoulders.

"What happened to you?"

"Bridget, did someone at the hospital hurt you? Tell me who did this!"

I shook my head.

The person who hurt me the most was standing right in front of me.

Muffled curses and insults still drifted out from the hospital lobby.

Hearing them, Landon realized what had happened and pulled me into a tight embrace.

"Sierra is delicate, and she's an elementary school teacher. Going to prison would destroy her entire life."

"It doesn't matter if you lost your hospital job. I can support you. And we can always have another baby."

I gently pushed him away.

"In this lifetime, I will only ever have one daughter."

Landon froze, inhaling sharply.

"Fine. I won't argue with you today."

"Let's just go home and have dinner."

When we got home, the dining table was covered in lavish dishes.

Upon closer inspection, almost every single plate was drowned in heavy garlic, which I despised. The only dish without garlic was loaded with wild mushrooms, to which I had a deadly allergy.

Landon didn't notice my worsening expression as he proudly introduced every dish and pulled out a chair for me.

"Bridget, you've been through a lot lately. Close your eyes. I have a surprise for you."

Though doubtful, I closed my eyes.

A second later, the voice I loathed most in this world echoed in the room.

I snapped my eyes open to see Sierra carrying a birthday cake, singing the birthday song with a sweet smile as she walked toward me.

I stood up abruptly.

The legs of my chair screeched against the floor, cutting off her singing instantly.

"Happy birthday, Bridget!"

My eyes locked onto the cake. Resting on the frosting was a little vinyl doll.

It was my daughter's favorite toy when she was alive.

Without a word, I lunged forward and snatched the doll off the cake.

The happy birthday song ground to a complete halt.

"What are you doing, Bridget?"

Sierra's voice carried a timid, tearful whimper.

Landon looked bewildered.

"Bridget?"

I ignored them, carrying the doll to the sink to wash the frosting away, cradling it gently against my chest before turning toward our daughter's bedroom.

"Stop right there!"

Landon grabbed my arm.

"Sierra spent the whole afternoon cooking and baking for you. Is this how you treat her?"

Sierra stood beside Landon, her eyes brimming with unshed tears, looking utterly wronged.

"Forget it, Landon. It's my fault. I didn't know Bridget cared so much about that doll..."

She gently tugged on Landon's sleeve.

"Why are you apologizing to her?"

Landon pulled her hand behind him protectively and glared at me.

"Bridget Mercer, the world doesn't revolve around you."

"Daisy is gone. That's just an ordinary doll. No matter how much you baby it, our daughter isn't coming back."

"Sierra meant well. She wanted you to feel like Daisy was celebrating your birthday with you. Instead, you throw a tantrum and humiliate her. Do you have any idea how hurt she is?"

Sierra piped up softly from behind him.

"When I was little, my mom used to make cakes like this to cheer me up. I just thought it would make Bridget happy..."

Landon glanced back at her, his eyes full of tenderness, before hardening again as he turned to me.

At this point, I had no desire to argue over who was right or wrong.

"Fine. I'm sorry."

Sierra beamed through her tears, picking up a forkful of mushrooms and holding it out toward me.

"In that case, take a bite of the food I made as a truce!"

"Landon loves my cooking the most. You should try it too!"

She held the fork high in front of my face.

I had an extreme, life-threatening allergy to mushrooms.

Just then, my phone buzzed in my pocket. My professor had finally replied to my message.

"Fantastic news! Pack your bags. Report to my lab tomorrow morning, and I'll take you to the base personally!"