Daniel’s voice echoed throughout the room.
Vanessa jumped.
Then she turned around, and her expression immediately changed to a fake smile.
“Daniel! You arrived early—”
He didn’t even look at her.
He went straight to his children.
“Lily…”, her voice broke.
She looked at him—
And he shuddered.
She didn’t run towards him.
She didn’t smile.
He shrank back.
That hurt him more than anything else.
“Come here,” he said gently. “Give me your brother.”
She hesitated… then she let go.
Noah was cold. His diaper was soaked.
Daniel’s hands trembled as he held it.
Then he saw Lily’s dolls.
Bruises.
Fingerprints.
Something inside him broke.
“Discipline?” he said slowly, turning to Vanessa. “You call this discipline?”
“Oh, don’t be so dramatic,” she laughed lightly. “They’ve been impossible. I’m exhausted. You have no idea what I’m dealing with.”
At that moment, the housekeeper, Maria, appeared in the doorway.
She met Daniel’s gaze—
and subtly shook his head.
